Tholey Herb Market and Monastery Festival

Where Herbs and Monastic Life Meet

Tholey is one of the oldest settlements in Germany — and the Benedictine Abbey of St. Mauritius on the Schaumberg is considered the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world (founded in the 7th century). It's no coincidence that a herb market with a monastery festival takes place here: for centuries, Benedictines were leading herbalists throughout Europe, and their monastery gardens cultivated medicinal and culinary plants used in the first pharmacies and monastic kitchens.

Over 35 Exhibitors with a Variety of Herbs

The stalls spread out across the Rathausplatz and adjacent streets — more than 35 exhibitors bring a curated mix each year:

• Herbal teas and medicinal herbs — from chamomile to nettle, from regional wild collection and organic cultivation
• Essential oils and aromatherapy products
• Herbal liqueurs and spirits — monastic liqueurs, gin with juniper berries from the Saarland
• Spices sold loose — from wild garlic salt to Saarland game spice
• Herb plants for your own garden or balcony
• Natural cosmetics — soaps, ointments, lotions with herbal extracts
• Sausage and cheese specialties refined with herbs
• Honey from local beekeepers
• Books and literature on herbalism
• Decorative items and dried flowers

The Monastery Festival in the Monastery Garden

In parallel with the market, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Mauritius celebrates its monastery festival. The monastery garden — usually a place visited by few — opens its doors to a wider audience on this day. Monks and sisters are available for conversations, and there are often guided tours of the abbey church with its spectacular Gerhard Richter windows (the famous abstract glass windows unveiled in 2020, which have made the abbey an art pilgrimage site).

Music Program

In the afternoon, a brass ensemble traditionally plays in front of the Rathaus — in recent years often Der Blechhaufen — between 3 PM and 5 PM. A soundscape that fits the relaxed atmosphere.

Tholey in the St. Wendel District

Tholey is centrally located in the St. Wendel district, at the foot of the Schaumberg — at 569 meters, one of the highest elevations in the Saarland. The municipality is one of the oldest settlements in Central Europe, and the Schaumberg observation tower is one of the most popular excursion destinations. A combination of the herb market, a monastery visit, and a climb up the Schaumberg makes for a perfect summer Sunday in the St. Wendel district.