Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Peter-and-Paul-Festival in Bretten
The Peter-and-Paul-Festival in Bretten (Baden-Württemberg) takes place every year on the weekend following the Church Day of St. Peter-and-St. Paul under the motto "Eine Stadt lebt ihre Geschichte" (A city makes its history come alive).
Facts & figures
Crucial date: 1st weekend of July
Inscription: 2014
Domains: social practices, rituals and festive events
Where to find: Bretten, Baden-Württemberg
Contact
Vereinigung Alt-Brettheim
City Bailiff Peter Dick
@email
www.alt-brettheim.de; www.peter-und-paul-fest.de
Almost 4,000 women, men and children present various episodes from the city’s history wearing historical costumes. The main focus is on the besieging of the city by the Duke of Württemberg, Ulrich, in the year 1504.
On the Friday the spectators see how the people of Bretten armed themselves in their defence; on the Saturday how the successful sally was prepared and implemented and on the Sunday how the people of Bretten celebrated their success, for example during the great festival procession.
Monday, as the last day of the festival, lives from the spontaneity of the participants and a leisurely finale featuring jugglers. The festival also includes the presentation of the tradition of the militia, the “Peter-and-Paul-Shooting”, the appearance of the two Bretten marching bands and the shepherds’ run.
Singers, musicians, jugglers, fire acrobats and spontaneous scenes played out at various sites throughout the Old City ensure that boredom does not stand a chance. Throughout the entire weekend there are also a number of events aimed specifically at children. Up to as many as 140,000 visitors participate in the festival.
