Big baroque and wine festival at Königstein Fortress

In 2025, Königstein Fortress is celebrating a special anniversary!

In 1725, the largest wine barrel in the world at the time was inaugurated here in the presence of Augustus the Strong. Reason enough to send visitors on a journey through time!

The anniversary guests of 2025 will get a glimpse of the Baroque splendour 300 years after the original spectacle and can look forward to a magnificent show: the royal court will come to life once more, and the famous barrel will be revived in a modern form. The celebration will last two days, following the historical model – with dining, fighting, singing, and dancing. Visitors are invited to take an active part and will find themselves right in the middle of the action.

Magdalene's Castle before its conversion into a provisions magazine Festung Königstein gGmbH
Graphic illustration of the giant wine barrel in the cellar of the Magdalene's Castle Festung Königstein gGmbH
Today, a modern installation made of tens of thousands of Bordeaux bottles stands in place of the historic giant barrel. Festung Königstein gGmbH
The replica of the barrel made from thousands of wine bottles is bathed in light and can be experienced during a musical journey through time. Festung Königstein gGmbH

In 1725 on the King's stone...

The construction of the giant wine barrel had begun two years earlier in the cellar of Magdalenenburg Castle, which is carved deep into the rock of the Königstein. The patron, Augustus the Strong, took the opportunity to attend the inauguration party himself with a large entourage. Such a distinguished visit was a logistical challenge. The equipment – party tents and furniture, food and drink – was brought along. The court orchestra played and court jesters entertained the guests.

Anna Karolina Countess Orzelska in conversation with Augustus the Strong Augustus Rex e.V. - Dresden
The Höfische Gesellschaft e.V. is expected at Königstein. Höfische Gesellschaft e.V.
Fortress commander Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Kyaw was known for his sense of humor. Augustus Rex e.V. - Dresden
Visitors can practice fencing under expert guidance. Theaterfechter Dohna

Program overview

30th/31st August - Saturday & Sunday

11:00 a.m.	Welcoming of the procession	Parade ground
	Salute shooting of the Strong Augusta	Gate house
11:30 a.m.	Inauguration of the giant wine barrel (replica)	Magdalene's castle
	Myths and magical worlds - dance performance	Parade ground
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Feast of the court with dance and performances	Parade ground
12:00 - 12:30 p.m	Historical fencing performances	Frederick's castle
1:00 a.m.	Baroque organ sounds	Garrison church
1:30 p.m.	How to speak with a fan?	stage at Parade ground (fortress plan no. 22)
1:30 p.m.	Myths and magical worlds - dance performance	Magdalene's castle
1:45 p.m.	A Fashion Journey Through the Centuries	Parade ground
1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Courtly ladies and gentlemen stroll across the fortress plateau
2:00 p.m.	Baroque organ sounds	Garrison church
2:00 p.m.	Courtly dances to join in	Frederick's castle
2:30 p.m.	The Saxon court inspects the cannons	Gate house
3:00 p.m.	Baroque organ sounds	Garrison church
3:00 p.m.	Show weighing with the scales of Augustus the Strong	New Armoury
3:30 p.m.	Courtly dances to join in	Frederick's castle
3:30 p.m.	Court gossip with Countess Cosel	stage at Parade ground (fortress plan no. 22)
3:30 p.m.	A Fashion Journey Through the Centuries	Parade ground
3:45 p.m.	Augustus the Strong visits the Garrison church	Garrison church
4:00 p.m.	Baroque organ sounds	Garrison church
4:15 p.m.	How to speak with a fan?	stage at Parade ground (fortress plan no. 22)
4:30 p.m.	Myths and magical worlds - dance performance	Parade ground
4:30 p.m.	Saxons and Prussians chat from history	Frederick's castle

A magically wild faun... INCANTO Erlebenskünstler
... Oberon, a ruler from the fairy kingdom INCANTO Erlebenskünstler
...a forest fairy INCANTO Erlebenskünstler
...and a water woman walk and dance around the fortress INCANTO Erlebenskünstler

Tickets

For the visit to the Grand Baroque Festival “Baroque Meets Wine at Königstein” the regular admission prices for the fortress apply. There is no surcharge for the event. The exhibitions remain open as usual and are also included in the admission price.

In the online ticket shop, simply book the option “Flex Ticket – Main Season.”

All types of tickets at a glance

tickets	prices	explainations
day ticket	15 €	Regular rate - for all visitors aged 17 and over.
concessions	12 €	Students, apprentices and trainees and disabled persons qualify for concession prices. Refugees: on presentation of a residence permit or proof of tolerated status Children up to 6 years of age are admitted free of charge, but they must have their own ticket within a family ticket. For online tickets, the entitlement to a discount will be checked at the entrance; if this cannot be presented, the full admission price must be paid at the box office.
family ticket	38 €	For 2 adults and max. 4 children up to 16 years of age.
mini-family ticket	23 €	For 1 adults and max. 2 children up to 16 years of age.
group ticket	12 €	for groups of 15 an more people ordering via online ticket shop is possible, minimum order quantity: 15 tickets For groups, the presentation of the tickets in printed form is mandatory!

At our ticket counters we accept the following types of cards:

Book your ticket online

Car park & alternative parking spaces

Please use ONLY the signposted parking spaces! Parking on the edge of the B 172 federal road is prohibited!

Fees in the car park "Festung Königstein"

up to 1 hour: 2 €
up to 4 hours: 8 €
day ticket: 13 €

Alternative Parking

In case of a large number of visitors, free alternative parking areas are available. These parking areas are signposted along the main road B172.
Attention – please follow the traffic guidance system!

Address: Leupoldishain, Königsteiner Straße 45 (Company parking lot of Wismut GmbH)

Shuttle buses (for a fee) will take you from the alternative parking lot to the fortress.

Important: The distance from the alternative parking areas to the Königstein Fortress is approx. 3 km. The path runs parallel to the B172 main road through the forest and is not signposted.

Shuttlebus Alternative Parking <-> Fortress - ticket fees

Leupoldishain/Wismut → Fortress

Adult single journey

Adult return journey

Concessions return journey

Family

5,50 €

7,50 €

2,50 €

15,50 €

Fortress Express

The Fortress Express runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every half hour from the city to Königstein Fortress and in shuttle service from the car park "Festung Königstein".
The Fortress Express is NOT a public transport service, but is operated by a private company.

Fortress express - ticket fees

Königstein /Reißiger Platz → Fortress
Adult single journey Adult return journey Concessions return journey Family	5,50 € 7,50 € 2,50 € 15,50 €
Car park → Fortress
Adult single journey Adult return journey Concessions return journey Family	3,50 € 5,50 € 2,00 € 12,50 €

Limited Wine Edition »Barock trifft Wein auf Königstein«

To celebrate the Giant Wine Barrel anniversary, the Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth has created a limited special edition for Königstein Fortress – only 700 bottles of the elegant cuvée from Saxon grape varieties have been produced. The gold foil label depicts the legendary barrel from 1725.

Only at the shop on site

EURO Souvenir – Anniversary Edition “300 Years of the Giant Wine Barrel”

The 3rd limited edition of the “Königstein Fortress” series features on the front the legendary giant wine barrel commissioned by Elector Augustus the Strong, which was kept in the cellar of Magdalenenburg from 1725 to 1819. On the back is a collage of famous landmarks from European cities: the Colosseum, Brandenburg Gate, Eiffel Tower, and Sagrada Familia.