Mindelheim celebrates "1522 - Homecoming of Bicocca": The program at a glance

Created: 06/16/2022, 07:21

By: Melanie Springer-Restle

The photo of the castle festival in 2013 gives an idea of ​​how atmospheric the ambience will be at the Mindelburg, which this year is one of two locations for the replacement festival of the Frundsberg Festring.

© Frundsberg fixed ring

Mindelheim - Many a Frundsbergfest fan may be a little sad that Mindelheim's historic city festival is only taking place in a slimmed-down version this year.

But the two weekends celebrating under the motto "1522 - Homecoming of Bicocca" are more than just a consolation.

First, a small excursion into linguistics, because those who do not speak Italian may be inclined to pronounce the Milan district, which is part of the motto by name, "Bikotscha".

After all, that's how you do it with a cappuccino.

But be careful: the correct pronunciation is “Bikokka”.

Because in Italian, a double c is only pronounced like "tsch" if it is followed by the vowel "e" or "i", otherwise the double "c" is pronounced like a "k".

But why Bicocca at all?

From there Georg von Frundsberg and his troops returned to Mindelheim in 1522 after a battle via the Duchy of Milan.

In view of the war events in the Ukraine, the Frundsberg Festring has refrained from depicting wars this year, the first chairman of the Frundsberg Festring, Norbert Sliwockyj, informed our editorial team shortly after the plan change became known.

The focus of the festival this year is not on war history performances, the heart of which is usually the Battle of Peutelstein.

No, this year's theme is "Coming Home" - something that many Ukrainian refugees are currently dying for.

Over two weekends, visitors can immerse themselves in the history of Mindelheim.

The historic festival has two locations this year: the Mindelburg and the Schwabenwiese.

With the motto "1522 - Homecoming of Bicocca", the Frundsberg Festring would like to remind of the prudence of Georg von Frundsberg as "father of the mercenaries", who returned 500 years ago from Italy to "his Mindelburg".

The physical well-being is taken care of: Various market stalls offer their goods for sale and the cooking and roasting places together with the taverns hardly leave out a culinary wish.

Mindelburg and Schwabenwiese

Both the Mindelburg and the Schwabenwiese will be filled with colorful camps of lansquenets and courtly society including the nobility.

Drummers, whistle-blowers, minstrels, crossbowmen, flag-wavers and many more provide entertainment during a social get-together. Of course, guests only have to pay for the entrance once.

No matter where you “check in”, you will receive a wristband that will serve as your ticket to both locations.

Children under the age of 16 get free entry if they are accompanied by their parents, for everyone else the entry fee is seven euros.

The visiting hours are from 24 to 26 June and from 1 to 3 July on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

An overview of the program so far:

Friday June 24th:

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• 8 p.m./Schwabenwiese: Opening of “Game and Banner”, fanfares, flag-wavers and Helfensteiner drummers

• 9 pm /Mindelburg: Official opening, welcome words, delegations from all groups, fanfares and drummers from the Frundsberg Fähnlein

Saturday June 25:

• 8 p.m./Schwabenwiese: play “D'Landsknecht kommat”, all ensigns with drummers in the field camp

• 9 pm/Mindelburg: “Palatium” play, entry of the emperor(s) with the imperial trabants and the nobility, fanfares and drummers from the Frundsberg Fähnlein.

Sunday June 26:

• 3 p.m./Schwabenwiese: Play “Homecoming of Bicocca”, Georg von Frundsberg returns from Italy with his entourage to Mindelheim and is welcomed there

Friday, July 1:

• 8 p.m./Schwabenwiese: Opening of “Game and Banner”.

• 9 pm/Mindelburg: Opening of "Colonel and Emperor", Frundsberg moves in with emperors and nobility.

Saturday, July 2nd:

• 8 p.m./Schwabenwiese: play “D'Landsknecht kommat”.

• 9 p.m./Mindelburg: play “Palatium”.

Sunday 3 July:

• 3 p.m., Schwabenwiese: play “Bicocca's homecoming”.

Medieval market included

The well-known medieval market will also take place again this year, where guests can expect a colourful, medieval all sorts of things.

"It should be a festival, a celebration, a togetherness," says Frundsberg Festring employee Doris Kawan at the end of the conversation with the weekly KURIER.