Peter and Paul Festival

Welcome to the time of the Middle Ages, of citizen militias and fanfare bands. The Peter and Paul Festival is much more than a large historical city festival – it is a time travel experience for the whole family. Every year on the first weekend of July, the activities of 4,000 historically costumed participants invite visitors to observe, marvel, and join in. Scenic representations and a colorful camp life of mercenaries, city guards, craftsmen, and farmers provide insights into the everyday life of a medieval town. Musicians, jugglers, fanfare bands, and citizen militias offer a varied program.

The origins of the festival lie in the siege of Bretten in 1504 by the Duke of Württemberg and the successful sortie of the besieged, which form the historical backdrop for the activities in the late medieval town, where the traditions of the citizen militia, fanfare bands, and the shepherd's leap are also prominently featured in the festival program. Around 50 historical groups from near and far participate in the Peter and Paul Festival, which is organized by the Alt-Brettheim association in cooperation with the city of Bretten. Each festival day has its own theme: on Friday, it is "Brettheim prepares itself," on Saturday "Brettheim defends itself," on Sunday "Brettheim pays homage to the Electoral Prince and celebrates his victory," and on Monday "Brettheim celebrates."

Special attention is also given to families with children: on Saturday afternoon in the Simmelturm Arena and in the church square, as well as on Monday afternoon during the popular games "From Squire to Knight," the younger generation can fully enjoy themselves. The Peter and Paul Festival is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The German UNESCO Commission has honored the festival as "identity-forming for the people of the region and of great integrative power for all population groups," and in 2014 it was included in the "National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage" – a noble accolade for Peter and Paul. We feel committed to this recognition. From generation to generation, we carry forward the spark of lived tradition that ignites young and old alike each year anew, making history tangible.