The uprising - a performative journey into the collective Pongau memory of the Salzburg Peasants' War

In May 1525, the Pongau and Pinzgau peasants and the Gastein miners gathered, crossed the Salzach Valley and forced the keepers of the archbishop's castles to surrender. Fortress Hohenwerfen was taken by the rebels. After the Battle of Schladming on July 3, 1525, one of the few victorious battles ever fought by the peasants, the castle became the place where the governor of Styria, Siegmund von Dietrichstein, was held hostage until the end of the uprising in August 1525.

Now, 500 years later, the Pongau region and Fortress Hohenwerfen are to become a symbolic forum for the local population once again, based on historical events that are brought into the here and now.

In the form of a contemporary, performative reconstruction of history, director Christine Eder condenses the essential events of the Salzburg Peasants' Wars in a way that is both fact-based and humorous. Historical-artistic research and, above all, the active involvement of local associations, clubs and interest groups attempt to build an artistic bridge from historical scholarship to everyday culture in the staging of a reconstructive play. It questions the shared memory of a region about the brief existence of a "peasant castle" 500 years ago.

The significance of the events of that time for the country and society are discussed and compiled with the local population in a participatory and interactive way in the form of a theatrical reconstruction. This art project from the Innergebirg region translates the interests of the time for the present day in an entertaining and informative way. By opening Fortress Hohenwerfen as a stage for a collective experience for all, which makes no distinction between professionals, amateurs or the public, the past enters into a credible dialog with the present.

"The Uprising" of June 21, 2025 will be extensively documented and then transformed into a walk-in installation at Fortress Hohenwerfen Castle. In the castle's Zeughaus exhibition area, this manifestation of a contemporary historical image will become part of the experience, history and cultural education on offer at the property from April 2026.

The project is part of the province of Salzburg's overall activities to mark 500 years of the Salzburg Peasants' War and cooperates with other projects such as regional and provincial museums.

Contributors wanted!

Fortress Hohenwerfen is looking for people from the region to take part in the project.

500 years later, people from Pongau and Salzburg will once again take possession of Fortress Hohenwerfen. In a re-enactment of the events of that time on June 21, 2025, they will not only take possession of the castle, but also sit at the table of the rulers.

The search is on:

Farmers, amateur actors, musicians, singers, sportspeople, schoolchildren, choirs, clubs, interest groups from the region and from all areas of society and age groups who would like to take part in this evening as a group or as individuals!

The aim is to make this, the longest day of the year 2025, an unforgettable event for all participants and for the entire region before sunset.

We need you on June 21, 2025 at Fortress Hohenwerfen!

Contact and further information at:

Gaby Schall (Production Manager "The Uprising"), Mobile: +43 650 4347508

[email protected]
www.burg-hohenwerfen.at