Pfifferdaj - Festival of the Minstrels

The Pfifferdaj: Six Centuries of Tradition in the Heart of the Alsatian Vineyard

The Pfifferdaj, literally "the day of the fifes" in Alsatian, is much more than a simple medieval festival: it is a living heritage dating back to the 14th century. Every first Sunday of September, the charming town of Ribeauvillé, nestled at the foot of the three castles of Ribeaupierre on the Alsace Wine Route, celebrates the memory of the minstrels—those traveling musicians, acrobats, and jugglers who roamed the roads of Europe in the Middle Ages.

The Heritage of the Lords of Ribeau Pierre

In the Middle Ages, the lords of Ribeau Pierre granted their protection to the brotherhood of Alsatian minstrels, which established its headquarters in Ribeauvillé in 1481. Each year, the musicians gathered there to elect their king and celebrate their art. This tradition, unique in Europe, has endured through the centuries and forms the basis of the Festival of the Minstrels today, with the first written record dating back to the 14th century.

The Grand Historical Procession

The highlight of the Pfifferdaj is the grand historical procession, which parades through the streets of the old town on Sunday afternoon. More than a thousand participants in medieval costumes—minstrels, jugglers, fire-eaters, dancers, knights, and ladies of the court—accompany decorated floats and brass bands, following a theme renewed each year, drawing from medieval history and legends.

The procession is a true journey back in time, punctuated by music, dances, and skits that bring the Middle Ages back to life in all its splendor. The public is invited to vote for their favorite floats, and the results are announced at a festive ceremony the following day.

A Weekend of Medieval Festivities

The festivities extend throughout the weekend. On Saturday, a medieval market is set up in the courtyard of the media library, offering arts and crafts, local produce, and Alsatian specialties. Medieval music groups entertain the streets throughout the day. In the evening, a torchlight procession illuminates the town before a ball and a festive evening under a marquee.

On Sunday morning, the minstrels of the Harmonie municipale Vogesia awaken the town from the Tour des Bouchers, before the festivities resume with the medieval market and street performances, in prelude to the grand procession in the afternoon.

A Unique Atmosphere on the Wine Route

The setting of Ribeauvillé, with its half-timbered houses, Renaissance fountains, and cobbled streets dominated by the silhouettes of the castles of Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg, and Haut-Ribeau Pierre, offers an exceptional natural backdrop for this medieval festival. It is also an opportunity to discover the great crus of the Ribeauvillé vineyard—Geisberg, Kirchberg, Osterberg—and to taste Alsatian gastronomic specialties in a warm and authentic atmosphere.