Tonnenabschlagen Wustrow

An Equestrian Custom with a Long History

The Tonnenabschlagen is an old folk custom, primarily practiced on the coasts of Mecklenburg and Pomerania. Riders gallop down a track and, from horseback, strike a high-strung, decorated barrel with a wooden Tonnenknüppel (barrel club). In Wustrow, the Tonnenbund Wustrow e.V. organizes the festival annually on the second Sunday in July on the festival grounds at Direktor-Schütz-Weg.

UNESCO Cultural Heritage

The Tonnenabschlagen was added to the Federal Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 and recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by the German UNESCO Commission in 2017. This makes the custom one of Germany's officially protected living traditions — a heritage passed down through generations in Wustrow.

Bodenkönig, Stäbenkönig, and Tonnenkönig

Three dignitaries are determined during the competition: The Bodenkönig knocks down the base of the barrel, the Stäbenkönig the side staves, and the Tonnenkönig the entire barrel. The crowning of the kings is the convivial highlight of the festival day and is celebrated with pride in Wustrow.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Vorpommern-Rügen

Wustrow on the Fischland peninsula belongs to the Vorpommern-Rügen district. Alongside beach gallop races and Zeesboot regattas, the Tonnenabschlagen is one of the defining festivals of Fischland tradition, offering visitors an authentic piece of Northern German folk culture.