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The Festival – European Youthweek at Ludwigstein Castle
For decades, the European Youth Week (Eurowoche for short) has brought young people from all over Europe together. It is a week full of encounters, music, dance, and shared experiences – driven by the spirit of friendship and understanding.
History & Idea behind the European Youthweek
Background
The tradition of the European Youth Week began in 1953 at Ludwigstein Castle. In the years following the Second World War, the idea arose to provide a meeting place for young people from different European countries.
From the very beginning, the goal of this encounter was to promote understanding, respect, and peaceful and friendly coexistence.
Ludwigstein Castle was deliberately chosen for this gathering. Located directly on the former border between East and West Germany, it is, then as now, a symbolic place of togetherness. From the outset, singing, music-making, and dancing have been central to the festival and serve as the unifying elements across linguistic and national borders.
What happens during the week?
For one week, participants share their daily lives: they live together, learn from each other, laugh, discuss, make music, and dance.
Each group organises its own country day during the festival, when the castle is theirs to celebrate. They decorate the castle in their colours, teach songs and dances from their countries, and present their homeland in a variety of ways. In the evenings, the highlights of each week take place: each group presents a performance introducing participants and visitors to the traditions of their respective countries.
Participants also take part in daily workshops where they learn new dances and musical pieces together or engage in creative activities. They showcase the results of these workshops at the grand finale event – ​​the Eurokirmes (European Fair). The European Youth Week is not a consumer festival, but a space for participation, experimentation, and connection. Everyone brings something unique – and takes home new perspectives, friendships, and memories.
Spirit/Values
The European Youth Week stands for friendship, openness, and lived understanding. It thrives on curiosity about other cultures, on listening, and on shared experiences. Here, Europe is not merely an idea on paper, but a living, breathing community that continues to grow.
Especially in times of crisis and war, it becomes clear that closeness and solidarity in Europe are not a given. The European Youth Week therefore sees itself as an active contribution to strengthening these connections and keeping them alive for the future.
Ludwigstein Castle: a Historical Place for new Stories
The setting for our gatherings is as symbolic as the week itself. Ludwigstein Castle lies directly on the former inner-German border and has always been a centre for youth movements. Where division once reigned, we now create a space for encounter.
The European Youth Week's influence extends far beyond the castle walls. Through events in the region and traditional opening ceremonies in the surrounding market squares, we invite the public to become part of this European spirit.
Upcoming Dates
65th European Youth Week
66th European Youth Week
67th European Youth Week
01.08.26 - 09.08.26
31.07.27 - 08.08.27
29.07.28 - 06.08.28