Break open my heart’
An interreligious reflection on setting out, being on the move and arriving in two stages Founded by Bishop Radolt of Verona in 826, the “Radolf Cell” is still a place of prayer in today’s “Cathedral of Our Lady”. It testifies to the courage to follow an inner impulse to move on and to trust that, wherever we are, the relationship with the divine, with our inner essence, will remain. In this respect, it is also an encouragement to fail, to follow the heart and the spirit. And it is always a step into the unknown, a step into the unknown – which is only meant to become home.
” 1st station: “Setting off” 17.07.26, 18.30 hrs
An interfaith prayer ceremony with representatives from different religions in the cathedral, followed by an interfaith exchange in the Friedrich-Werber-Haus – with musical interludes.
” 2nd station: “Being on the road & arriving” 24.07.26, 6 pm
An interreligious exchange in the Protestant church/ parish hall – with musical interludes.
From monastic medicine to modern pharmacy
From monastic medicine to modern pharmacy
Michael Dohm is a third-generation pharmacist and has been running the Scheffel pharmacy in Radolfzell since 1964. In his lecture in the old town pharmacy, the pharmacist with an interest in pharmacy history talks about the development of medicines from monastic medicine to modern pharmacy. The monastery island of Reichenau is home to the famous medicinal herb garden, modeled on the “Hortulus” by Abbot Walahfried Strabo from the 9th century, a treasure that extends far beyond the island’s borders. Monasteries were regarded as centers of medicine in the Middle Ages and into modern times. Monks collected medicinal plants, produced medicines and recorded their knowledge in herbal books. With the advent of universities, the wealth of knowledge became increasingly well-founded. How did things develop here? The first documented mention of a pharmacist in Radolfzell was in 1610/11 during the plague epidemic. Franz Zangerer opened his pharmacy on Seetorplatz in 1689. A privilege from the Viennese government assured him that the newly built half-timbered house would be the only pharmacy in Radolfzell for the rest of time. After his death, the pharmacy passed into the hands of the Bosch family, who held the privilege for almost 170 years. In 1908, the pharmacy was taken over by Albert Ehrhardt. His son Wilhelm founded the Scheffel Pharmacy in 1964 and was the last pharmacist in this time-honored patrician house, which today houses the town museum.
Culture night
Once a year, Radolfzell is transformed into a lively venue for art, culture and creativity: at the Culture Night, artists from the independent scene present a varied program throughout the town and its districts.
Whether fine arts, photography, sculpture, music, dance, literature, theater or film – the Culture Night brings together a wide variety of forms of expression and makes them accessible to all. From large venues to small studios and retail outlets, Radolfzell becomes an open cultural space that invites you to discover and linger.
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.
Admission is free.
Please register:
museum@radolfzell.de
or phone 07732/81-530 (Thu-Sun, 11am-5pm)
Radolfzell on the move
“Radolfzell in motion” transforms the market square into a lively sports arena where various stations are set up in the open air. Each station offers a different sporting challenge and is supervised by local clubs, which can thus present themselves to a wide audience. The clubs will also provide on-site catering. The marketplace becomes a meeting place where visitors can linger, watch and, above all, get active themselves – whether in friendly competition or trying out new disciplines. The requirements are deliberately designed so that all age groups and people with disabilities can participate equally and experience the fun of movement and community together.
DämmerShoppen – the Radolfzell city center becomes a catwalk!
The city is celebrating a big anniversary – and so is the action group! To celebrate this in style, the association has put together an extraordinary civic project sponsored by the city. On Friday, 08.05.2026, the city center will be transformed into a large catwalk for the retail trade at “DämmerShoppen” from 18.00 hrs.
Until late in the evening, the stores invite you to take a relaxed stroll and enjoy a variety of promotions and offers. Some retailers offer attractive discounts. At the Glückssträhne hairdressing salon, for example, glitter strands can be incorporated, Mode Sonja invites customers to a photo shoot, Peppe Gelato organizes an ice cream bingo and the tourist information office offers a tasting of Radolfzell’s anniversary schnapps, among other things. The market square becomes a lively meeting place: Radolfzell craftsmen and industrial companies present themselves there and provide exciting insights into their skills and work.
And, of course, the gastronomy sector will also be on hand with culinary delights. A special highlight: each participating restaurant has created its own anniversary drink for guests to sample. They can then choose their favorite from all of them. Who is likely to come out on top here?
In addition, light installations make the entire city center shine in a very special glow and turn a shopping trip into a real experience for all the senses.
The atmospheric supporting program is complemented by walking acts that perform in the middle of the action. These mobile performances as well as impressive light juggling at 9.00 pm at the Forsteibrunnen and at 9.45 pm in Schützenstraße provide unforgettable experiences. The illuminated fairy “Sabrina’s Dreamland” and the Casanietto Circus from the Engen Gymnastics Club will also be performing.
In order to arouse anticipation for the “DämmerShoppen”, an entertaining quiz about the Radolfzell retail trade invites visitors to discover the town center in a playful way in the run-up to the event.
Mögging Castle Festival
On the last weekend in June, the castle courtyard of the moated castle in Mögging will be the setting for the castle festival, revisiting the legendary open-air performances of the post-war period, the glittering highlight of which was the 1960 production for the 1,200th anniversary celebrations. This tradition was revived with the “Indian Princess” for Möggingen’s 1,250th anniversary celebrations in 2010 and the “Living Chess Spectacle” in 2017 on Möggingen’s village square. Among other things, this year’s play sheds light on the quartering of French officers in the castle, the involvement of individual residents of Mögging in the National Socialist movement, interpersonal conflicts during the occupation and the persistence of right-wing extremist ideas to the present day. However, the title of this year’s play “Albinle the Castle Ghost” suggests that it won’t just be about serious things. In addition to the theater performance, there will be musical entertainment afterwards: the “Alläfänzigä” from Immendingen on June 26 and the band “Sound Kitchen” on June 27. The program is complemented by a children’s afternoon on Saturday, food and drink stands (“Möggingen kocht”) and a castle illumination at the end of each performance.
Percussion meets accordion
There is a special musical highlight for the anniversary year:
The Radolfzell Accordion Orchestra and the percussion ensemble of the Radolfzell Music School join forces to present a newly composed work on October 17 and 18 in the small hall of the Milchwerk.
The focus is on history, culture and development:
” Two successful ensembles from the Radolfzell music world perform together.
” Musicians and audiences experience music beyond their own horizons.
” Creativity, encounters and cultural exchange unfold in a unique concert.
A concert full of sound diversity, rhythm and cultural bridges!
Radolfzell in detail-scavenger hunt with the cell phone
The smartphone photo tour invites amateur photographers to explore Radolfzell down to the smallest detail. Each participant receives an album with a list of detailed motifs, which are sought out in the city during the 2.5-hour tour and each documented with a selfie. The number of participants is limited to 30 to ensure a personal atmosphere and good support. At the end, each person receives a memory game “Radolfzell from 0 to 100” and two scoops of ice cream as a refreshing souvenir.
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Derschka
Around 1,200 years ago, Bishop Radolt of Verona had a church built on Reichenau land, which is rightly regarded as the starting point of Radolfzell’s town history. This raises questions: What motivated a bishop from northern Italy to act in this way outside his diocese? Moreover, there is no founding document that could vouch for this process. We read about it in a literary text of uncertain credibility. Are there nevertheless indications that allow us to outline the foundation in terms of facts and time? The lecture shows what can be reliably reported about Radolt and his work on Lake Constance.