6th Slavic Fairy Tale Festival

Burg (Spreewald) and Dissen — Centre of Sorbian-Wendish Culture

Burg (Spreewald) is a state-recognized health resort in the Spree-Neiße district, located in the heart of the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, about 25 km northwest of Cottbus. Burg is one of the central tourist destinations in the Spreewald — known for its punt boat tours, sauna landscape, and Sorbian-Wendish customs. The Dissen Local History Museum in neighbouring Dissen is an authentic open-air museum preserving the everyday cultural traces of the Sorbs/Wends — traditional costume, architecture, crafts, and above all, the oral narrative tradition.

The Slavic Narrative Tradition

The Sorbs/Wends are a West Slavic people who have lived in Lusatia for over 1,500 years. Their narrative tradition — featuring figures like the Noon Witch (Pripoldnica), the Water Man (Wodnik), witches, and dragons — constitutes an independent mythology that exists parallel to the Germanic world of sagas. The festival makes this tradition accessible to a broad audience, connecting it with Slavic fairy tales from Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Ukraine.

Program July 4th and 5th, 2026 — 11 am to 5 pm

On both days, the program runs from 11 am to 5 pm at the Dissen Local History Museum. The stage will feature storytelling theatre (a format where storytellers bring tales to life scenically), puppet theatre (with handmade marionettes and rod puppets), and independent storytellers who present sagas in a relaxed atmosphere. The program is aimed at families, children, adults interested in Slavic culture, and anyone wishing to spend a peaceful summer day in the Spreewald.

More than a Fairy Tale Festival — Identity Preservation

The Slavic Fairy Tale Festival is more than just entertainment: it is a contribution to the preservation of Sorbian-Wendish identity — one of the four officially recognized indigenous minorities in Germany. With its 6th edition, the festival has established itself as a fixed summer event in the Spreewald, attracting visitors from all over Lusatia, Brandenburg, and Saxony.