Soester Winterstrahlen

Light Meets the Middle Ages

Soest is one of Westphalia's best-preserved medieval Hanseatic cities, with an almost completely intact city wall and a dense network of half-timbered houses, churches, and squares. For several years now, the city has been using this architectural substance for its own light festival: the Soester Winterstrahlen. Familiar places become magical settings, and the medieval urban fabric becomes a stage set in light and color.

When and Where is the Festival?

The Soester Winterstrahlen 2026 run from Friday, February 13th to Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 – ten days and ten nights. Daily operating hours: from dusk (around 5 PM) until 10:00 PM. All locations are free to access.

The Ten Locations

The light artists illuminate ten historically significant sites in Soest's old town:

• Aldegrever-Gymnasium – impressive historic school building
• St. Paulikirche and surrounding park
• Rathaus III – facade projection
• Cloister of St. Patrokli Cathedral – silent light play
• Vreithof – historic square
• City Library – interior and exterior spaces
• Teichsmühle Garden
• Soestbach – light reflections in the water
• Theodor-Heuss-Park
• Market Square – the city's main stage

Accompanying Program

Moonlight Shopping on February 20th, 2026

Extended opening hours for shops until 9:30 PM, light installations remain active, city center gastronomy open late – the traditional highlight of the Winterstrahlen week.

WWF Climate Art at the Wilhelm Morgner Museum

Eight animated videos from the WWF show climate-changed versions of famous landscape paintings – in various formats at the museum from February 13th to 21st, 2026.

How to Experience the "Strahlen" (Gleams)

• Stroll along a recommended route through the old town
• Choose your own route – the ten stations are all within the city walls
• Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for the full circuit with breaks
• Map and program available at so-is-soest.de and at the Tourist Information
• Guided tours for groups can be booked through the city marketing

Soest – Hanseatic City in the District of Soest

Soest is the district town of the Soest district and, with around 50,000 inhabitants, one of the most important medium-sized cities between the Ruhr area and the Sauerland. In the Middle Ages, the city was one of Germany's wealthiest Hanseatic cities, and its historic city center is therefore exceptionally well-preserved. The Winterstrahlen are a modern attempt to re-experience this medieval substance in a winterly staging.