11th Rathenow Swede Days

The Historical Battle of 1675 as a Lived Reenactment

On June 25, 1675, a Brandenburg contingent of around 1,000 soldiers reached the Havel city of Rathenow and attacked the approximately 700-strong Swedish garrison from several sides – via the Havel Gate and by water. The Swedish occupation – allied with France – was decisively defeated. This Battle of Rathenow is considered the prelude to the Battle of Fehrbellin (June 1675), where Elector Friedrich Wilhelm received the epithet "the Great Elector". A baroque sandstone monument from 1736 commemorates the liberation of the city to this day – according to art historians, one of the most significant baroque monuments in Northern Germany.

The Swede Days 2026 – 11th Edition

The eleventh edition of the Rathenow Swede Days will take place on Saturday, June 27th, and Sunday, June 28th, 2026, on Weinberg in Rathenow. The organizer is the non-profit association Rathenower Schwedentage e.V., which has been combining historical remembrance with living experience since 2015. History here is not read from archives – it is made tangible through showmen, reenactors, and craftsmen.

Program Highlights – Volleys, Blacksmiths, Equestrian Games

A historical camp will be set up on the Weinberg grounds. The focus will be on:

• Military Historical Reenactments – Historical societies from all over Brandenburg will reenact the siege and liberation of Rathenow.
• Cannon and Musket Volleys at regular intervals.
• Historical Market with Crafts: Blacksmith, potter, leatherworker, weaver.
• Equestrian Scenes in period costume.
• Public Entertainment for the whole family – historical games, archery, children's program.
• Period Gastronomy: simple Schmandkuchen, bread from a clay oven, beer.

Rathenow in Havelland

Rathenow is the district town of Havelland in Brandenburg, located on the Havel River between Berlin and Magdeburg. With around 24,000 inhabitants, the city is the economic and cultural center of the northern Havelland. The Weinberg, formerly actually planted with vines, offers a wide view over the Havelland landscape – the ideal stage for a historical spectacle with a line of sight to the battlefields of the 17th century.