Wilhelminenfest Mosigkau

Castle Festival at the Rococo Summer Residence

When the festival flags wave in the park of Schloss Mosigkau on the second weekend in June, it's time again for one of the most beautiful historical festivals in Dessau-Roßlau: the Wilhelminenfest. The festival commemorates Princess Anna Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau (1715–1780), the builder of the Rococo summer residence, and combines historical remembrance with a lively folk festival atmosphere.

One of the Most Beautiful Rococo Palaces in Central Germany

Schloss Mosigkau (built 1752–1757) is considered one of the most beautiful preserved Rococo ensembles in Northern Germany and is part of the UNESCO Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm. The Knobelsdorffallee — named after the architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff (though Christian Friedrich Damm is considered the actual builder) — connects the palace with the surrounding park. Against this backdrop, the Wilhelminenfest unfolds its special atmosphere.

Equestrian Tournament, Tattoo, and Beer Barrel Tapping

The program combines representative elements with folk festival classics: an equestrian tournament on the festival grounds in front of the palace, the traditional Musical Tattoo as a ceremonial highlight, a beer barrel tapping accompanied by accordion and choir, as well as a craft market with regional vendors and vintage car exhibitions. In the evenings, discos and dance events take over the program.

Anna Wilhelmine as a Cultural Figurehead

Anna Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau was the daughter of Prince Leopold I — the famous 'Old Dessauer' — and had Schloss Mosigkau built as her summer residence. She was artistic herself and collected a significant art gallery, which can still be seen in the palace today. The Wilhelminenfest builds on this cultural heritage and honors a personality from the Garden Realm context each year.

Nestled in the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm

Dessau-Roßlau in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district is the cultural center of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm — one of Saxony-Anhalt's most important UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Wilhelminenfest is one of the summer highlights of the event calendar and combines well with visits to the other palaces in the Garden Realm (Wörlitz, Luisium, Oranienbaum, Großkühnau).

Atmosphere

Historical, festive, family-oriented. With an equestrian tournament, the mayor's beer barrel tapping, accordion accompaniment, and a craft market, the Wilhelminenfest combines the dignity of a castle festival with the down-to-earth nature of a folk festival. A must-attend event for families from the Anhalt region.