Schützenfest der Schützengilde Lürschau von 1907

Tradition in Northern Schleswig-Holstein

Lürschau belongs to the Amt Arensharde in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, a rural part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein between the Schlei fjord and the Danish border. Marksmen's guilds have a long history here, as in many North German villages: they cultivate tradition, conviviality, and club life, without slipping into military folklore. The guild's motto — the cultivation of friendly and village conviviality — sums up what it's all about.

Vogelschießen, Crowning of the King, Schützenball

The centerpiece of the festival is the Vogelschießen: Marksmen compete with air rifles, shoot at a wooden bird, and thus elect the new dignitaries of the guild — the Marksmen King, the Marksmen Queen, and their adjutants. Afterward, the royal couple is honored with the king's chain. A week later, the Schützenball follows in the festively decorated community center, with dancing, a band, and a shared meal. Both dates are must-attend events in Lürschau — the guild is one of the oldest clubs in the village.

For over 115 years

Founded in 1907, the Lürschau Marksmen's Guild has survived two world wars, several political upheavals, and demographic change in the rural north. Today, it is a classic village club with a manageable number of members but great identity-forming significance: anyone who moves to the village will sooner or later come into contact with the guild, whether as a marksman, a guest at the ball, or a helper on the festival committee.

Lürschau and the surrounding area

Lürschau has around 800 inhabitants and is located about a ten-minute drive west of Schleswig. Visitors to the Schützenfest can combine their visit with a trip to the mouth of the Schlei or the Viking settlement of Haithabu.