Events

Exhibition: "The weapons of an imperial city"

To mark the ‘500 Years of Peasants’ War’ theme year in 2025, the special exhibition at the RothenburgMuseum vividly illustrates the confrontation between urban bourgeois and peasant and aristocratic weaponry.
‘Weapons’ had to be understood in several senses at the time: As an actual material weapon made of iron, but also in a figurative sense: as ‘weapons’, so to speak, for asserting interests in the political, legal, economic and social spheres. In some cases, financial resources, legal titles and legal petitions could be more powerful than many a hand weapon.
The exhibition, which opened in 2024, combines the major Rothenburg anniversary year 2024 (‘750 years of Rothenburg ob der Tauber’) and the theme year ‘500 years of the Buaernkrieg’ in 2025.

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Exhibition: 'Rebellion of the common man - 500 years of peasant uprisings'

Kunsthalle Vogelmann Heilbronn is dedicating a special exhibition to the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' Revolt. At the center is the Barbara Altar by Jerg Ratgeb, who himself was involved in the uprising and executed. This is complemented by works by Käthe Kollwitz, HAP Grieshaber and Alfred Hrdlicka, which show how the events have been received since the 20th century. In addition, four contemporary art projects address the current relevance of the uprising and historical figures such as Margarete Renner. The exhibition illuminates the historical, artistic and socio-political aspects of the Peasants' War from several perspectives.

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Special exhibition: “an unheard-of outrage” 500 years of peasant unrest

500 years ago, Upper Swabian farmers demanded social change, fewer taxes and free use of forests and hunting with the “Twelve Articles”. Supported by craftsmen and citizens, they formed armed groups and sometimes used violence to enforce their demands. The special exhibition sheds light on the dynamics of the unrest, its background and changing historical interpretations.

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Special exhibition “500 years of the Peasants' War - castles in the Peasants' War”

This exhibition is a cooperative exhibition at the German Castle Museum Veste Heldburg, the Veßra Monastery, the Natural History Museum Schleusingen, the Wilhelmsburg Castle Museum in Schmalkalden and the Henneberg Museum Münnerstadt. There will also be a conference on this topic in Schweinfurt.

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“Kraichgau pile on the Steinsberg” Peasants' War of 1524/1525

500 years ago, the Peasants' War shook the country. As Agnes von Venningen, the castle guide Marita Hesch tells of this time and the events at Steinsberg Castle. Agnes was the wife of Ludwig von Venningen, who acquired the castle in 1517. The tour sheds light on the causes of the uprising, the role of serfdom and the effects of the war on the castle and its suppression.

Dates:
- 17.05.2025
- 18.05.2025
- 25.05.2025
- 01.06.2025

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Herbal medicine from 1525 and pharmacy today - seminar and menu

What happens when the farmer's wife Michalea Köhler from 1525 meets the pharmacist Ute Engelhardt from 2025 at the Rappenhof? Go on a herb hunt with the two of them and learn interesting facts about the use of medicinal herbs in everyday life and in medicine in the past and today. With practical examples and tasting. The day is crowned with a 3-course menu, refined with fine wild herbs, and a welcome drink - at the Rappenhof, of course!

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The Peasants' War in Württemberg-Franconia and the castle festival in Kirchberg

A varied program will commemorate the Peasants' War in southern Germany, which came to an end 500 years ago.  The Peasants' War is over, but the story lives on. Back then it was about serfdom, today about civil rights, back then about rule, today about freedom of opinion, back then about the simplest liberties, today about human rights. The farmers present themselves with market stalls, information stands and discussion panels, interrupted time and again by musical interludes from the Saloniker. Academics are on hand to speak and historians present their views.

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‘Uffrur! ... on the road’ - spectacle, celebration and sensation (mobile event)

As part of its roadshow, the major Baden-Württemberg state exhibition commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War will also be making a guest appearance on the market square in Rothenburg. The theatre spectacle in ten acts transforms the market square into a lively, immersive open-air pop-up festival.

Admission is free.

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Theater-Roadshow "UFFRUR! ... on the road"

The open-air play brings the historical events and the motives of the people of the time to the stage in a vivid and entertaining way, without losing sight of the serious background to the story. A varied supporting program provides entertainment for all age groups, with special offers for children and families. The performance is a joint project of the city of Heilbronn and the Württemberg State Museum.

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‘You are Judas too’ - narrative theatre in St. Jacob's in front of the Holy Blood Altar

Tilman Riemenschneider, one of the most important sculptors around 1500, created the Holy Blood Altar for St. Jakob, which movingly depicts the Passion story. In 1525, he sympathized with the peasants in the uprising, was arrested and lost his livelihood. A 60-minute scenic performance in front of the altar impressively links Riemenschneider's time, the Passion story and the present day.

Due to the limited number of seats available, we strongly recommend booking tickets in good time at reservix.de or at the Tourist Information Centre at Marktplatz 2.

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Theatre: ‘Silence in the eye of the storm’

Markus Grimm's current theatre solo focuses on three important protagonists of this failing revolution: the great farmer Margarethe Renner from Böckingen, known as the ‘Schwarze Hofmännin’, the Würzburg councillor and sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, and the commander of the Swabian army Georg Truchsess von Waldburg, the so-called ‘Bauernjörg’. These three figures alternate at the centre of a narrative text that focuses exclusively on their inner perspective and allows them to speak in private. This makes the play far more than just a historical observation.

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Italian opera gala - ‘I thirst for freedom!’

The concept of freedom also has an eventful and eventful history in opera, which allows it to shine in all its facets. And sometimes opera itself has even triggered revolutions. ‘Opera Classica Europa’ presents an “Italian Opera Night” with highlights from the operas of Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donzetti and others. The programme with international vocal soloists represents the passionate world of Italian opera - right in the middle of Rothenburg's market square!

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“500 years of the Peasants' War” - exhibition by Nik Golder

To mark the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War of 1524/1525, the Städtische Galerie im Alten Spital is showing an exhibition by the artist Nik Golder, born in 1959, until September 7, 2025. The works not only show scenes drawn realistically in terms of content - the artist has also adapted the painting techniques to the Renaissance period of the time.

‘You are Judas too’ - narrative theatre in St. Jacob's in front of the Holy Blood Altar

Tilman Riemenschneider, one of the most important sculptors around 1500, created the Holy Blood Altar for St. Jakob, which movingly depicts the Passion story. In 1525, he sympathized with the peasants in the uprising, was arrested and lost his livelihood. A 60-minute scenic performance in front of the altar impressively links Riemenschneider's time, the Passion story and the present day.

Due to the limited number of seats available, we strongly recommend booking tickets in good time at reservix.de or at the Tourist Information Centre at Marktplatz 2.

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History group play on the events of 1525 as part of the ‘51st Imperial City Festival’

The ‘Schillingsfürster Bauernhaufen’ and the ‘Schwarze Schar Ohrenbach’, who have been part of the traditional groups at the Rothenburg Imperial City Festival for decades, will stage a re-enactment of the Rothenburg events of 1525 on the market square.

The performance will take place as part of the Imperial City Festival from 5 to 7 September.

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