Rattelsdorfer Kirchweih

Kirchweih Tradition in the Bamberg Region

Rattelsdorf is a market town in the Bamberg district in the administrative region of Upper Franconia, located north of the World Heritage city of Bamberg. As in many Franconian communities, the Kirchweih – colloquially known as "Kerwa" – holds great importance here. The Rattelsdorfer Kirchweih is the central Kerwa festival of the main town and a social highlight of the year.

Franconian Kerwa Culture

The Kirchweih dates back to the consecration of the local church and has evolved over centuries into a secular folk festival with religious origins. Typical for the Franconian Kerwa are beer service, hearty Franconian specialties, brass band music, the Kerwabaum (festival maypole), and the convivial gathering of the village community. The exact program schedule is announced locally by the market town of Rattelsdorf.

A Dense Network of Kirchweih Festivals

• Rattelsdorfer Kirchweih as the central Kerwa of the main town
• Embedded in a rich regional calendar of Kirchweih festivals
• Numerous district Kerwas throughout the year (including Poppendorf, Ebing, Medlitz, Freudeneck, Zaugendorf, Mürsbach, Höfen, Busendorf)
• Franconian hospitality, brass band music, and customs

Living Traditions

The multitude of Kirchweih festivals around Rattelsdorf shows how deeply the Kerwa culture is rooted in the Bamberg region. Almost every district maintains its own Kirchweih – a living testament to Franconian village community and conviviality. The Rattelsdorfer Kirchweih is representative of this identity-forming tradition in the Bamberg district.