Schlossbergfest and Bassgeigengala Bernburg

A Festive Day Between Renaissance and Bass Sound

When Bernburg Castle opens its gates on the second Saturday in June, it's Schlossbergfest time. The combination of Schlossbergfest and Bassgeigengala – two formats running in parallel – is a Bernburg specialty. The Schlossbergfest dates back to the turn of the millennium (2026 = 25th edition), and the Bassgeigengala has an even longer tradition (2026 = 34th edition). The venue is the entire castle area between St. Aegidien Castle Church and the castle courtyard, situated above the Saale river.

Bassgeigengala — Basses from Around the World

The highlight: the Bassgeigengala in St. Aegidien Castle Church. Here, an "international bass orchestra" with around 20 double bass players – musicians of all generations and skill levels – performs. In 2025, the motto was "A Bass Goes Around the World"; the concert lasts about 90 minutes and is an extraordinary experience both acoustically and atmospherically. This format is rarely found elsewhere in Germany.

Castle Courtyard as a Stage

Parallel to the Bassgeigengala, the Schlossbergfest takes place with numerous stages and program items in the castle courtyard: youth bands, jazz ensembles like Mákkord, international drumming groups, theatrical performances (in past years, among others, Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"). For children, there's archery, bungee trampolining, instrument-making stations, and face painting. Street food, bratwurst, soups, and Ukrainian specialties satisfy hunger.

Bernburg Castle — Renaissance on the Saale

Bernburg Castle towers high above the Saale river and is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Central Germany. Originally the residence of the princes and later dukes of Anhalt-Bernburg, it was expanded into a representative court seat in the 16th century. Today, it houses the Bernburg Castle Museum, the Eulenspiegelturm, and the Bernburg Kunsthalle. The city is the district capital of the Salzlandkreis in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and will be the focus of attention in 2026, as Bernburg will also host the Sachsen-Anhalt-Tag in the same year.