Schwerin celebrates its first world heritage festival: a royal spectacle!

Schwerin celebrates its first world heritage festival: a royal spectacle!

The Historic Castle Festival in Schwerin was a very special event this year: for the first time, the festival was celebrated under the banner of UNESCO World Heritage. On Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II and his wife welcomed the enthusiastic festival community at Schwerin main station. “Up, up, up!” echoed through the streets as the monarch accepted the friendly greeting of his people. Nordkurier reports, that the festival included a carriage ride through the city center, with hundreds of visitors taking part in around 140 costumed people.

The market was musically accompanied by a lively dance performance and the state police orchestra. State Parliament President Birgit Hesse (SPD) welcomed those present at the castle and handed over “rule” to the Grand Duke for one day. During his audience, citizens had the opportunity to express their wishes and concerns - including a request for support for a drinking water pipeline.

Entertainment and historical fascination

The attractions of the castle festival were diverse. Numerous entertainment events took place in and around the castle. Arriving guests were able to try on historical costumes and experience lectures and fencing demonstrations. Regular actors such as Henry Menzel and Juliane Schmalz added zest to the celebrations with their costumes. Schwerin-Lokal toasts this that the popular light show “Son et Lumière” marked the start of the festival on Friday evening.

On Saturday, the highlight of the celebrations, the program was particularly rich. Over 150 costumed people celebrated the castle's history from 1857 and recalled important moments from Schwerin's past. In addition to the parade and the Grand Duke's audience, the day featured historical fashion shows, courtly dances and tours of the castle church and castle museum, giving visitors a glimpse into the building's rich history.

A legacy that connects

Schwerin Castle is considered a landmark of the city and is a place of political decision-making. It was recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage List because it meets at least one of the six criteria necessary for recognition. This includes, for example, its status as an excellent example of a building type that embodies important periods of human history - a point that World Heritage Tour highlights.

The event attracted an estimated 20,000 guests who expressed not only their love of history but also community celebration. In the coming days there will be an open day at the castle, which will offer visitors the opportunity to look behind the scenes of state politics and exchange ideas with members of parliament.

In short, the castle festival in Schwerin was more than just a celebration; It was a lively journey through time that captured the hearts of visitors and impressively showcased the city's rich culture and history.