Châteaux & Légendes Festival
Enchanting day at Château du Hohlandsbourg around Rhenish legends and creatures of the earth
About Châteaux & Légendes
A festival born from a passion for Rhenish castles
Launched in 2023 by the European Collectivity of Alsace as part of the cross-border project "Rhenish Castles – Burgen am Oberrhein", co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Upper Rhine program with 2.9 million euros, the Châteaux & Légendes Festival has established itself in a few editions as one of the major cultural events of the Alsatian summer. Each year, about ten Alsatian fortresses — from Haut-Koenigsbourg to Hohlandsbourg, including Fleckenstein, Lichtenberg, Ferrette, and Kaysersberg — become the setting for enchanting shows blending heritage, imagination, and artistic creation.
Hohlandsbourg: a medieval setting for an exceptional night show
Perched at an altitude of 620 meters above Wintzenheim, Hohlandsbourg Castle offers a spectacular setting for the festival's performances. This 13th-century fortress, restored and managed by the European Collectivity of Alsace, overlooks the Alsatian plain and the Colmar vineyards. At nightfall, its ramparts, towers, and inner courtyard transform into an immersive theater where stone, light, and sound tell the legends of the Rhine.
A show by John Howe and Jim Danton
The artistic direction of the festival is entrusted to John Howe, a Canadian illustrator world-renowned for his artistic concept work on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Working with director Jim Danton and the Compagnie du Reflet, he creates an original fiction each year adapted to the Alsatian castles. The show is presented as a nocturnal walking tour around nine stations, combining video projections, theater, live music, horsemen, and pyrotechnic effects for a duration of about two hours.
Renewed themes each year
Each edition explores a new facet of medieval and fantasy imagination. The first edition in 2023 was dedicated to Dragons, the second in 2024 to the Tournament of Giants, and the 2025 edition was titled "Engagez-vous!". For 2026, the theme "The Song of Stones" invites us to dive into an underground, mysterious, and vibrant universe, where earth creatures symbolize the worlds of stone and depths. This constant renewal guarantees a unique experience with each visit.
A large-scale cross-border event
Beyond Alsace, the festival extends across the Upper Rhine region, in partnership with the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, as well as Swiss cantons. With tens of thousands of spectators each summer, family workshops, medieval tournaments, storytelling, and dances, the Châteaux & Légendes Festival helps to keep alive and promote Alsace's exceptional castle heritage while offering an internationally renowned spectacle.
Châteaux & Légendes — edition 2026
The 4th edition of the Châteaux & Légendes Festival, titled "The Song of Stones", takes place from May 8th to June 28th, 2026 in eleven Alsatian fortresses. At the Château du Hohlandsbourg in Wintzenheim, the main animation day is held on Sunday, May 31st, 2026 from 10 AM to 6 PM, with shows, workshops, concerts, and medieval combat around the theme of earth creatures — dwarves, kobolds, gnomes, and stone guardians — under the artistic direction of John Howe.
2026 Edition — "The Song of Stones" at Hohlandsbourg
The fourth edition of the Châteaux & Légendes Festival takes place from May 8th to June 28th, 2026 in eleven Alsatian fortresses: Fleckenstein, Haut-Barr, Engelbourg, Kaysersberg, Lichtenberg, Wangenbourg, Hohlandsbourg, Spesbourg, Haut-Koenigsbourg, Ferrette, and Hugstein. At the Château du Hohlandsbourg, the festive day is held on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Under the artistic direction of John Howe, illustrator of The Lord of the Rings, the festival invites visitors to dive into an underground universe where the song of stones still resonates. The Genius of the Rhine has entrusted its precious gems to the creatures of the earth — dwarves, kobolds, gnomes, and stone guardians — who are at the heart of this edition.
An immersive day at Hohlandsbourg
Throughout the day, the 13th-century fortress perched at an altitude of 620 meters transforms into a living theater. Shows for young and old, artistic workshops, music, storytelling, dances, stone carving, makeup school, medieval games, and combat scenes follow one another in the inner courtyard and on the ramparts. Reservation required with the castle.
Programme Châteaux & Légendes 2026
Sunday, May 31st, 2026 — Hohlandsbourg, 10 AM to 6 PM
Shows
- 11 AM and 3 PM — "Les folles noces de Biergottsaubersheim" by la Caravane des illuminés avertis · interactive comedy featuring three dwarves and their marital misadventures
- 1 PM and 4 PM — Combat scenes by Lames d'en Temps · demonstrations of medieval combat techniques
- 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM — Concert "Erdmannele – The Song of the Dwarves Under the Mountain" by La Compagnie des Regains / KALAMUS · ancient instruments, percussion, and Germanic, Scandinavian, and Celtic songs
Continuous Activities (10 AM - 6 PM)
- Lames d'en Temps — medieval encampment, demonstrations of weapons and armor, ancient games
- Stone Art — live stone carving and engraving workshop
- Candice Mack Makeup School — artistic makeup for all ages
- Les Mondes de Lundazepa — cartography workshop (from 8 years old)
Full official program on chateaux-rhenans.eu and chateau-hohlandsbourg.com. The festival continues in other Alsatian castles until June 28th, 2026.
Highlights Châteaux & Légendes 2026
Highlights for the 2026 edition
- Day at Hohlandsbourg: Sunday, May 31st, 2026, from 10 AM to 6 PM
- Overall Festival: from May 8th to June 28th, 2026 in 11 Alsatian castles
- Theme: "The Song of Stones" — earth creatures and underground worlds
- Artistic Direction: John Howe (illustrator of The Lord of the Rings)
- Shows: "Les folles noces de Biergottsaubersheim" at 11 AM and 3 PM, concert "Erdmannele" at 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM
- Activities: stone carving, makeup, cartography, medieval combat
- Prices: 10 € full / 8 € reduced / 32 € family pass (2 adults + 2 children 6-17 years old)
- Reservation required
Prices Châteaux & Légendes 2026
Practical information — Châteaux & Légendes
Practical Information
Access
By car: Château du Hohlandsbourg is located on the Route des Cinq Châteaux, in 68920 Wintzenheim. From Colmar (10 km), take the D417 towards Wintzenheim then follow the signs for «Château du Hohlandsbourg». Free parking on site.
By public transport: Colmar SNCF train station (10 km), then Trace bus line 10 to Wintzenheim. Inquire with the tourist office for a possible shuttle service on event days.
Hours
Event day for the Châteaux & Légendes 2026 Festival at Hohlandsbourg: Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Shows and activities run throughout the day.
Prices 2026
- Full price: 10 €
- Reduced price: 8 €
- Family price (2 adults + 2 children aged 6 to 17): 32 €
Booking required on the castle's website or by phone.
Catering
Refreshment stand and light catering available on site on event days.
Contact
Château du Hohlandsbourg
Route des Cinq Châteaux, 68920 Wintzenheim
Phone: 03 89 30 10 20
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chateau-hohlandsbourg.com
Overall program for the Châteaux & Légendes Festival (11 castles): chateaux-rhenans.eu/chateaux-et-legendes
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Where does it take place — Châteaux & Légendes
Château du Hohlandsbourg
Route des Cinq Châteaux, 68920 Wintzenheim