Thüringer CHORschätze Heidecksburg

Choral Music in Thuringia's Palaces

The Thüringer CHORschätze is a statewide choral festival jointly organized by the Schatzkammer Thüringen and the Thuringian Choir Association since 2022. For three days, palaces, residences, and castles open their halls and palace churches as concert venues for choirs from across the Free State. The third edition, from June 19th to 21st, 2026, will span around fifteen historic venues throughout Thuringia — one of them being the Residenzschloss Heidecksburg high above Rudolstadt.

Heidecksburg — A Baroque Backdrop for Choral Music

The Heidecksburg sits enthroned 60 meters above the town of Rudolstadt in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district and is considered one of Thuringia's most magnificent Baroque palaces. Built from 1737 onwards under Prince Friedrich Anton von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, it today houses the Thuringian State Museum with Rococo halls, a festival hall, the Schallhaus, and the famous «Rococo en miniature» — a unique model of a Baroque residential town. For the CHORschätze, the Schallhaus, an open pavilion built into the palace park, becomes a concert stage with special acoustics.

The 2026 Heidecksburg Program

At Heidecksburg in 2026, six Thuringian choirs will perform over two consecutive days. The opening act will be «Cocktail a cappella» with the choir Corona Carminum Geraberg on Friday evening, followed by the women's chamber choir mechoria Erfurt on Saturday morning (11:00 AM), and a joint concert by the mixed choir «Dreiklang» Bad Lobenstein with the men's choirs Oberweißbach and Eintracht Thurn on Saturday afternoon (3:00 PM). The repertoire ranges from a cappella pop and sacred choral music to women's choir literature and classic men's choir singing. Each choir receives an expense allowance for their performance, and the palace provides the acoustically tested space, drinks, and catering.

Rudolstadt and the Schwarzatal Valley

Rudolstadt in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district is one of Thuringia's historically richest small towns. Schiller frequented the von Lengefeld family here, composer Bernhard Sekles was born in Rudolstadt, and the Rudolstadt-Festival (Folk, Roots, World Music) makes the town an international meeting point every July. Visitors to the CHORschätze can combine their stay with hikes into the neighboring Schwarzatal valley and a visit to the Heinrich-Heine-Park.