From the cella to the cells
Ecumenical Night of the Churches on Whit Saturday in and around the Minster.
6.30 pm Closing with the tower brass band
Followed by a colorful program from the various Christian churches in Radolfzell.
21.30 Ecumenical night prayer
Reading of the historical Lake Constance novel “Flüsterzeit” – Petra Palumbo
“Flüsterzeit – zwischen Herkunft und Sehnsucht” tells the moving story of the Manogg family over several generations. Rooted in the picturesque landscape between Lake Constance, Hegau and the Swabian Alb, the descendants wrestle with the shadows of the past and the challenges of an uncertain future. From the turmoil of the German Empire to the collapse of the Weimar Republic, personal destinies are interwoven with the great upheavals of the time. Between the southern German provinces and pulsating metropolises, the life of a family unfolds as they set out without denying their origins. A captivating novel about home, departure, loss and new beginnings and an impressive testimony to the times.
“Flüsterzeit – zwischen Herkunft und Sehnsucht” is the first historical novel by Petra Palumbo, who was previously known as a crime writer under the name Luzi van Gisteren. Petra Palumbo was born in 1973 in Singen am Hohentwiel and studied business administration before working for an international corporation in Munich for more than twenty years. She now lives with her family in Radolfzell on Lake Constance, where her father’s roots lie. Writing has been her passion since early childhood: the author wrote her first book at the age of 13. She has been teaching creative writing to young people and adults for many years, including at adult education centers and as part of literary education projects. She works professionally in marketing.
Please register:
museum@radolfzell.de
or
Tel. 07732/81-530 (Thu-Sun, 11am-5pm)
Anniversary weekend
The traditional Old Town Festival takes place on Saturday, complemented by exciting time islands and other activities. On Sunday, the focus is on historical and religious events – including a church service, procession and other special activities.
The weekend was deliberately chosen because September 13 is the anniversary of the death of Bishop Radolf, the founder of the city.
Further information on the program:
Anniversary weekend Saturday incl. Old Town Festival
On the Saturday of the anniversary weekend, the Radolfzell Old Town Festival invites you to experience the historic town center as a lively meeting place full of music, enjoyment and a variety of activities. Look forward to atmospheric live music, regional delicacies, exciting offers for the whole family and a colorful children’s program. Whether strolling through the market stalls, browsing the flea markets, romping around on the bouncy castle or partying with friends – the Old Town Festival offers the ideal opportunity to spend sociable hours in a unique atmosphere.
The festival is complemented by time travel stations in the city centre and in the Stadtgarten. There, performers bring past eras of Radolfzell to life and invite young and old to marvel, discover and join in.
Jubilee weekend Sunday: New Mass
The Sunday of the anniversary weekend is all about history and faith. The day begins solemnly with the premiere of a new mass at 9.15 am in the cathedral. It was created especially for this place, this special occasion and for the people who sing, make music and celebrate worship together here. Afterwards, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the time travel stations invite you to immerse yourself in the different eras of Radolfzell and experience history up close.
In addition, exciting historical activities await you, which will be presented in more detail over the course of the year – let us surprise you!
Jubilee weekend Sunday: Minster brass concert
At the end of the anniversary weekend, the Münsterbauverein and the Münsterbläsern will be organizing a top-class festive concert.
Two top-class soloists have been secured for this concert – the trombonist
Uwe Schrodi from Radolfzell-Markelfingen and the trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich. By engaging Reinhold Friedrich, one of the world’s
leading trumpet virtuosos of our time, this concert promises to be a very special kind of listening pleasure.
Tickets available from 16.03. at the vicarage on the market square and at muensterbauverein-radolfzell.de
New permanent exhibition at the Stadtmuseum
As a first step, the foyer on the second floor was completely redesigned. The newly designed exhibition invites visitors on an interactive journey through time, giving them an overview of the town’s settlement history.
An important element is the wide range of interaction options in the new room. Drawers can be pulled out and their contents viewed, flaps can be opened or a district puzzle can be played. The lighting has also been modernized to improve the overall visual impression. The final element is a display case, which is filled with a new object every year, be it a new addition to the museum or a loan from the public. Because every everyday object can make history – perhaps the object that particularly moved us this year will one day be on display in a museum.
Public tours of the extended permanent exhibition will take place on Friday, March 27 and Friday, April 17, both at 3 pm.
The new room is the centerpiece of the city museum’s permanent exhibition and can be visited from Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from January 22.
Special exhibition Stadtmuseum: Ratoldescella – Radolfzell
Radolfzell celebrates – and looks back on more than 1200 years of eventful history. To mark the town’s anniversary, the Radolfzell Town Museum will be showing the special exhibition “Ratoldescella – Radolfzell” from May 17, 2026.
The exhibition begins with the founding of the town of Radolfzell in 826 by Bishop Radolt of Verona. With the “Ratoldescella”, a first ecclesiastical settlement, he laid the foundation stone for today’s town. The presentation traces his life as a religious and political player in early medieval Europe – from Reichenau via Aachen and Rome to Verona. Historical views and reconstructions bring the old cityscape back to life. An interactive display of Heber’s map from 1708 shows many exciting details of the Radolfzell area during the Baroque period. At the same time, the exhibition also sheds light on the vanished Radolfzell, from the Hölle brewery to the “Café Achteck”, and commemorates people from Radolfzell who sought their fortune abroad. Their stories show how home lives on in memory.
The exhibition can be seen in the Radolfzell City Museum from May 17th. It invites all visitors to embark on a multifaceted journey through the past of the town on Lake Constance.
The city museum is open Thursdays – Sundays from 11.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Children’s holiday program in the city museum
In its anniversary year, the Radolfzell City Museum is offering a varied vacation program. In workshops, we play, paint and write like in the Middle Ages. We discover medicinal herbs, design dream cities and explore medieval depictions of saints. The detailed program can be found on the website of the Stadtmuseum.
Herbalism with a brush and microscope:
09.04.2026, 10-13 h, From 10 years
Radolfzell through the ages – I paint my town:
28.05.2026, 10-13 h, from 8 years
Preparation of a herbal ointment:
02.06.2026, 10-13 h, from 8 years
Playing like in the Middle Ages:
06.08.2026, 10-13 h, from 8 years
The saints in Radolfzell – painting with the hosts:
07.08.2026, 10-13 h, from 8 years
Painting and writing like in the Middle Ages:
29.10.2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., ages 8 and up
Registration is required for participation:
museum@radolfzell.de or Tel. 07732/81-530 (Thu.-Sun. 11.00-17.00).
Volunteer fair
You make the difference!
At the volunteer fair, committed associations and volunteer initiatives provide non-binding information about their offers and the many opportunities to volunteer in Radolfzell. Numerous interactive offers and activities for all ages invite you to join in and try things out.
The town of Radolfzell would like to support the already great commitment of the people of Radolfzell with this colorful day and offer a platform for even better networking of volunteers.
Free admission.
Children’s and youth literature days
The Children’s and Youth Literature Days take place from November 15 to 18. There will be picture book readings, a reading day, workshops and much more for schoolchildren.
Information at: stadtbibliothek-radolfzell.de
Contact: bibliothek@radolfzell.de
Culture night
Every year on October 2nd, Radolfzell is transformed into a huge stage for the independent art and culture scene during the Culture Night.
The extensive program offers a variety of different events, including exhibitions of paintings, photographs and sculptures, music, dance, as well as literature, film and theater performances. The program takes place at various locations – from large conference centers to retail stores and small studios – so that visitors can be inspired by artistic performances throughout the city and its districts. This year, the anniversary will be celebrated artistically.
International Summer Academy Radolfzell
Since 1994, the master classes have been attracting students from all over the world to the lake and have presented enthusiastic audiences with a series of performances.
Anke Dill, Gustav Rivinius and Florian Wiek, outstanding international musicians and renowned university professors, lead the masterclasses in violin, cello and piano. They traditionally open the academy with the lecturers’ concert on August 4 in the Christuskirche.
During the daily master classes in the following week, interested visitors can directly follow the honing of technique and interpretation and experience the young course participants and their results on various concert stages in a series of open-air and evening concerts.
The highlight of the Summer Academy is the final concert and award ceremony in the Christuskirche. This will be followed in September by the conducting master class under the direction of Zurich professor Johannes Schlaefli. In this second part of the Summer Academy, which was offered for the first time in 2016, six selected conductors are given the opportunity to work on a highly challenging concert program with the Lake Constance Philharmonic Orchestra and bring it to the stage.
THE SUMMER ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
” Tue, 04.08.26, 7 pm: Opening concert of the lecturers
in the Christuskirche, Brühlstr. 5a, Radolfzell
” Wed, 05.08. – Wed, 12.08.26: open lessons in the master classes
for violin, violoncello and piano at the Radolfzell Music School,
Güttingerstr. 19. Admission free
” Fri, 07.08. – Tue, 11.08.26, daily at 7 pm: Open-air and evening concerts
by the students in the Christuskirche. Free admission
” Sat, 08.08. & Sun, 09.08.26, 10.30 am: Matinee concert at
Mettnausteg at the Strandcafé, Strandbadstr. 102. Free admission
” Wed, 12.08.26, 7 pm: Final concert of the students with
award ceremony in the Christuskirche. Free admission
” Mon, 14.09. – Sat, 19.09.26: Conducting master class