Schwarzebeersfest Vesser

Vesser — a village on the Rennsteig

Vesser is a district of the independent city of Suhl and is located in the Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserve, directly on the famous Rennsteig ridge. The village is often described as the “most beautiful valley in Central Germany” — a high valley situated between 600 and 800 meters above sea level, surrounded by dense spruce forests and mountain meadows. The Vesser, a small stream, gives the valley its name, which in turn has older Slavic roots (Slavic “Vesera” — waterway).

The Bilberry as a Cultural Asset

Wild bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) grow in abundance in the southern Thuringian Forest — the local population used to call them “Schwarzebeere” because the juice stains hands and mouths dark blue-black. For centuries, berry picking and processing were a central part of rural subsistence: bilberry wine, jam, cake, and juice shaped the regional cuisine. The Schwarzebeersfest originated from this tradition 25 years ago.

Heimatabend with Queen Election

The emotional start is the Heimatabend on Friday evening. In a festive ceremony, the new Bilberry Queen (or, more rarely, a Bilberry King) is crowned — a young woman from Vesser or the region who will represent the festival and the region externally for one year. The Queen is handed over by the outgoing royal couple, a song by the Heimatkapelle (local band) plays, and the village celebrates exuberantly.

Sunday: 100 Trays of Berry Cake

The second day of the festival is entirely dedicated to berry cake. In the Offenstall — a long festival hall — the women of Vesser present around 100 homemade trays of berry cake, each according to their family’s own recipe. The trays are sold in small portions, accompanied by coffee and whipped cream. Those who embark on a tour through the cake variety can taste different types of berries (some women mix bilberries with blackberries or lingonberries), different doughs (shortcrust, yeast, quark), and different toppings (crumbles, meringue, icing).

Thuringian Dishes and Craft Market

In addition to berries, the festival offers the full spectrum of Thuringian cuisine: Bratwurst, Rostbrätl, Klöße (dumplings) with Rouladen, Schweinebraten (roast pork). A craft market showcases traditional Erzgebirge art, toys from nearby Lauscha (a major center for Christmas tree ornaments), pottery, and wood carvings. An entertainment program with brass music, folk dance, and local bands spans both days of the festival.

Rennsteig.TV as a Documentary

The regional internet television channel Rennsteig.TV documented the festival in the years 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2017 — a valuable visual resource for the festival’s development over the decades.