Roswitha-Festjahr 2026 Bad Gandersheim

Roswitha of Gandersheim — The First German Female Poet

Roswitha of Gandersheim (also Hroswitha) lived around 935 to after 973 in the then-important Gandersheim Imperial Abbey. She is considered the first German female poet and the first named female writer from the German-speaking world. Her works include Christian legends in verse, six comedies in the style of the Roman poet Terence, an epic about the deeds of Otto the Great, and a work on the beginnings of the Gandersheim Abbey. Her literary education, her sense of form, and her theological-philosophical depth make her a key figure of the Ottonian Renaissance.

Themenjahr 2026 — The 1000-Year Literary City

In 2026, Bad Gandersheim honors Roswitha's literary heritage with a comprehensive themed year. The motto Roswitha — The 1000-Year Literary City refers to the more than thousand-year literary tradition that began with Roswitha and is still palpable today in the spa town on the edge of the Harz mountains. The festival year comprises a wide variety of events spread throughout 2026.

Program Highlights

The program includes:

• Strong Women Film Series at the cinema — films about and by outstanding female personalities
• City Tours tracing the footsteps of Roswitha and the abbey's history
• Monastery Visits Brunshausen — visit the historic Brunshausen Monastery, which is closely linked to the abbey's history
• Asparagus Buffet with literary accompaniment
• Lectures on Roswitha, her works, and the Ottonian era
• Concerts with thematic relevance
• Special Exhibitions in museums and libraries
• Special Programs with the Gandersheim Cathedral Festival (Domfestspiele)

Connection with the Cathedral Festival

The Roswitha-Festjahr is closely linked to the 67th season of the Gandersheim Cathedral Festival (Domfestspiele) (June 14 to August 16, 2026). The festival takes place in front of the collegiate church — the very place where Roswitha lived and worked over a thousand years ago. This connection makes the 2026 season a particularly rich cultural period in Bad Gandersheim.

Bad Gandersheim as a Spa Town

The combination of literary tradition, medieval history, and a modern spa town atmosphere makes Bad Gandersheim a unique destination. The Roswitha-Festjahr is an occasion to rediscover the multifaceted nature of the town.