Historic Apple Festival at Castle Britz

With historical music, a fruit exhibition, artistic performances and fun activities, the festival at Britz Palace celebrates Germany's most popular garden fruit - the humble apple.

Historic Apple Festival (Apfelfest)

The grounds of the historic Castle Britz in Berlin become a festival of fun and celebration on September 28-29. Acrobats, wandering musicians, actors, magicians and clowns from the troupe Cocolorus Diaboli will entertain visitors young and old, and interactive activities abound.

Younger children can enjoy all kinds of creative crafts, marvel at the giant wooden marble run and Viking boat, as well go on pony rides. For the older kids and adults, there's axe throwing, archery, crossbow shooting and a gigantic bungee trampoline. A William Tell archery tournament lets you put your skills to the test and aim your arrows at apples (although not balanced on anyone's head!).

For those of you wondering "But what about celebrating the apples?", never fear! The festival in honour of the autumn staple offers a fruit exhibition and the opportunity to try freshly pressed single-variety juice from a historic hand press. There are delicious apple-related treats such as apple fritters and apple mead as well as fresh fruit from the organic farm. Visitors can also bring their own apples and pears to have them identified by a pomologist, or apple specialist.

On Saturday evening, the day is rounded off with a spectacular fire show which the whole family can enjoy!

Castle Britz

Germany is never short on castles to visit, although Castle Britz is technically misnamed. As it's never been a royal residence, it shouldn't be called a Schloss, but locals have done so for hundreds of years, so why stop?

There has been a manor house on the site of Castle Britz since the middle ages, and it is first mentioned in writing in 1375 as being owned by the von Britzke family. It was substantially rebuilt in the early 1700s, and has been remodelled by its various wealthy owners several times. The splendid house now contains an exhibition on how people lived in the Gründerzeit, Germany’s late 19th-century industrial expansion, and is the venue for many events and concerts.

Many of the workman's buildings on the grounds are also preserved, including a blacksmith's forge and the stables. Hour-long carriage rides through the village of Britz in a historic coach pulled by heavy horses are available but must be booked in advance.

Attending the Historic Apple Festival

Castle Britz has very little parking and the organisers do not recommend driving to the event. It is easy to get there by public transport. U-Bahn station Parchimer Allee is the closest. It's a 15-minute walk to the castle from there, or just five minutes on bus M46 to stop Fulhamer Allee, which is located almost directly outside the castle.

The castle has extended opening hours during the festival so you can spend the whole day there!

• Saturday, September 28: 10am-10pm
• Sunday, September 29: 10am-7pm

You can find out more about the castle and the festival on the Castle Britz website (in German) or the Berlin visitor information website.