Stapelburger Burgfest

Castle, Mountain, and Middle Ages

Stapelburg is located on the northern edge of the Harz mountains, near the border with Lower Saxony, in the Harz district of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The mountain, which gives the town its name, bears the remains of a medieval castle that was important in the 14th century and is now the venue for one of Saxony-Anhalt's most vibrant medieval festivals: the Stapelburger Burgfest.

Organized by the Interessengemeinschaft Burgberg e.V., the festival has grown into an institution over two decades. What began as a small summer festival is now a two-day medieval spectacle that draws hundreds of participants, showmen, craftspeople, and musicians from all over Germany to Stapelburg.

Knightly Tournament, Market, and Camp Life

The program follows the classic format of a medieval festival: a large medieval market with craftspeople demonstrating their skills live – blacksmiths, basket weavers, potters, leatherworkers; knight fights with historically equipped show combatants from several German knightly orders; a large camp with hundreds of tents, transforming the Burgberg into a medieval settlement; archery for adults and children; craft demonstrations and spirit distilling demonstrations.

In addition, there are musical acts: medieval bands, bagpipers, drummers, jugglers, and fire shows after sunset. The castle tavern offers hearty food – suckling pig, bratwurst, bread – and the beer comes from the castle brewery. A hands-on program for children with a fairy tale forest, medieval games, and face painting complements the offerings.

The Harz as a Stage

Stapelburg is located in the middle of one of Germany's most scenic regions. The Harz mountains, with their mix of dense forests, rock formations, and old castles, provide the ideal setting for a medieval festival. Visitors to the castle festival often combine it with a weekend in the Harz: Wernigerode with its castle, Quedlinburg as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Brocken as the highest mountain in Northern Germany, the Bodetal valley with the Hexentanzplatz – all are within an hour's drive.

A Festival Tradition with a Volunteer Backbone

Like many traditional festivals in Saxony-Anhalt, the Stapelburger Burgfest relies on the commitment of its club members. The Interessengemeinschaft Burgberg e.V. organizes the festival on a voluntary basis, in close cooperation with the municipality of Nordharz. It is precisely this genuine club culture that constitutes the charm of the event.