Felsen­bühne Wald­stein Open-Air Theatre

The stage of this open-air theatre is right at the summit of the Großer Waldstein. Every summer it hosts the Waldstein Festival.

The Wald­stein Fest­iv­al plays are staged by a non-profit asso­ci­ation with 150 mem­bers. Tick­ets are avail­able from the Spa & Tour­ist Inform­a­tion.

The his­tory of the Wald­stein Festival:

The first Wald­stein play, “Der Cith­er­schläger und das Gaugericht” (The Zith­er Play­er and the Dis­trict Court), was staged in 1954. From 1923 to 1925 the Münch­berg branch of the Fichtel­ge­birgsver­ein (Fichtel Moun­tains Club) per­formed “Des Wald­steins Wun­derblume” (The Wald​stein’s Magic Flower). In 1929 audi­ences could enjoy the play “Des Roten Schlosses Unter­gang” (The Fall of the Red Castle).
In 1995 the asso­ci­ation Felsen­bühne Wald­stein e​.​V. was founded.

This was fol­lowed by:

  • 1998/99: “Des Wald­steins Wun­derblume” (The Wald​stein’s Magic Flower)
  • 2001/02: “Des Roten Schlosses Unter­gang” (The Fall of the Red Castle)
  • 2004/05: “Das Geheim­nis des Wald­steins” (The Secret of the Waldstein)
  • 2007/08: “Das Ver­mächt­nis” (The Legacy)
  • 2010/11: “Der Ket­zer” (The Heretic)
  • 2013/14: “Des Wald­steins Wun­derblume” (The Wald​stein’s Magic Flower)
  • 2016/17: “Des Roten Schlosses Unter­gang” (The Fall of the Red Castle)
  • 2018: fest­iv­al break
  • 2019: fest­iv­al break
  • 2020: The fest­iv­al was cancelled
  • 2023: “Anno 1523”

Dates 2023:

Sat­urday, 22 July 2023
Sunday, 23 July 2023
Fri­day, 28 July 2023
Sat­urday, 29 July 2023

Wald­stein Fest­iv­al 2023 (in Ger­man)Down­load

From 1 April 2023, tick­ets are avail­able from these advance book­ing outlets:

  • Bäckerei Gün­ther (bakery), Sparneck
  • Raif­feis­en­bank Hoch­franken West, Zell
  • Wald­stein­haus, Waldstein
  • online at: www​.event​brite​.de

The fest­iv­al is chaired by Pro­fess­or Dr Rein­hardt Schmalz.

Fur­ther inform­a­tion: Felsen­bühne Wald­stein.

More cul­tur­al high­lights in Weißen­stadt at www​.weis​sen​stadt​.de/kultur.

Impres­sions from past festivals:

Three people in horned, demon-like costumes surround a seated man with a short beard and a light tunic, who appears calm. The scene, reminiscent of the productions at the Waldstein-Festspiele, takes place outdoors against a misty, wooded background.
A large group of people in medieval costumes poses outdoors in front of a woodland backdrop, flanked by a small stone building and a castle tower, suggesting a themed event or performance, possibly as part of the Waldstein-Festspiele.
During the lively Waldstein-Festspiele, a group of people in historical costumes gathers around a wooden cart filled with straw while a man gestures expressively and a brown goat stands beside it.
On an open-air stage at the Waldstein-Festspiele, a performer breathes fire, surrounded by people in medieval costumes. The spectators watch the spectacle in awe, with tall trees in the background.
Three people in rustic medieval clothing stand with a donkey and a wooden cart carrying white ducks in a straw basket in front of a stone building, capturing the lively atmosphere of the Waldstein-Festspiele.
Pho­tos: Felsen­bühne Waldstein