Historic Säumerfest Grafenau

The White Gold and the Golden Road

In the Middle Ages, salt was the "white gold" — one of Europe's most valuable trade goods. It was transported by Säumer (muleteers) with packhorses from the salt pans of Bad Reichenhall and Hallein to Bohemia. One of the most important routes led through the so-called "Golden Road" (Gulden Strass) via the present-day Bavarian Forest — from Passau via Grafenau to Bergreichenstein in Bohemia. The town of Grafenau owes its economic importance in the Middle Ages to this trade; Emperor Charles IV granted it town rights in 1376.

650 Years of Grafenau Town

The Historic Säumerfest celebrates precisely this history. For three days, the historic town centre is transformed into a medieval fair. The 2026 event is dedicated to the 650th anniversary of Grafenau's town charter (1376–2026). The event is organised by FESTevent Grafenau GbR in cooperation with the town and the Bavarian Forest Tourism Association.

Three Venues, One Festival

The Säumerfest takes place at three locations simultaneously:

• Grafenau Town Square — historic market with craftsmen, market stalls, minstrels, sword fighting shows, and salt assaying
• KurErlebnispark BÄREAL — large medieval encampment with reenactment groups, battlefield reenactments, camp life
• Haus im Wald — the actual Säumer encampment, where the packhorse caravan stops

Säumer Procession and Salt Assaying

The highlight of the festival is the grand Säumer procession on Saturday: a historically equipped salt merchant caravan with packhorses, minstrels, jugglers, fire-eaters, and jesters enters the town square. There, the salt assaying and market proclamation takes place — a medieval ceremony where the quality of the delivered salt is checked and the market is officially opened. Afterwards, knight fights, historical theatre, market scenes, and street art unfold throughout the day and evening.

Partner Towns along the Golden Road

The Säumerfest connects three partner towns historically linked by the salt trade: Schärding (Austria), Grafenau (Bavaria), and Bergreichenstein/Kašperské Hory (Czech Republic). Representatives from all three towns participate in the Säumer procession and camp life — a cross-border festival tradition.

Grafenau and the Bavarian Forest

Grafenau is located in the district of Freyung-Grafenau on the edge of the Bavarian Forest National Park and is considered the "Bärwurz capital" as well as the gateway to the National Park. A visit to the Säumerfest can be ideally combined with a hike in the National Park or a trip to Lusen and Großer Rachel.