Neustadt an der Donau celebrates anniversary: festive weekend with Neutadt meeting

Whether in the Neustadt-Mile, dancing to live music coming from various stages or at the sales booths of the local associations: Guests and local Neustadt residents celebrated the city´s great anniversary together.

750 years of „city rights“ – it is a special anniversary that Neustadt an der Donau celebrated. Fort the town festival, which is held every year, Neustadt an der Donau was also very pleased to welcome visitors from many other Neutadts. Because on the occasion oft the big anniversary year also the meeting oft the consortium „Neustadt in Europa“ took place on this festival weekend.

Reception in the castle moat

The blue carpet (the same blue of the Neustadt an der Donau logo) was specially rolled out in the moat to receive all the Neustädter who had traveled there. The celebration started with music form the Bad Gögging brass band. Thomas Memmel, First Mayor of Neustadt an der Donau, warmly welcomed the approximately 900 Neustadt residents, as did Petra Bieber, Chairwoman of the „Neutadt in Europa“ consortium. Short clips gave impressions oft he last Neustadt Meeting and a film introduced Neustadt an der Donau as this year´s host.

The guests had traveled a total of almost 9.000 kilometers line of sight on their journeys to Neustadt an der Donau- In the castle moat, it was only a few meters across the blue carpet that one resident of each Neustadt carried the respective city coat of arms to the stage, where a group photo was taken as a memento.

Alley as a lasting memory

On Saturday morning, the mayors oft he participating Neustadts met in the board room oft he town hall. Following the mayors` meeting, the participants walked together through the city and the fesival area to a special alley: Especially as a lasting reminder of the Neustadt Meeting 2023 an alleys of trees were planted – one tree representing each participating Neustadt. The mayors and representatives ceremoniously watered their tree.

Music, specialties and insights

With performances of music groups and booths in the Neustadt-Mile, the Neustädter also participated in the city festival program: from wine or sausage specialties, informations and raffles to even brass music from near and far Neustadts.

Conversations and new acquaintances were made, Neustadt residents got to know each other and new places, people celebrated and exchanged ideas: „A successful Neustadt meeting an a great festival weekend, ``everyone agreed at the end of the three-day city festival.

Due to the current development of the Corona pandemic and the resulting lack of planning security, the city of Neustadt/Harz has decided to cancel the 44rd Neustadt Meeting.

Due to the current development of the Corona pandemic and the resulting lack of planning security, the city of Neustadt in Holstein has decided to cancel the 43rd Neustadt Meeting from June 25 - 27, 2021.

Unfortunately, the planned Neustadt meeting 2020 in Neustadt an der Aisch from July 3 to 5 had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic.

From 28 to 30 June 2019 the big family of Neustadt cities met for the third time, after 1979 and 1999, in Bad Neustadt an der Saale and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Neustadt movement. On a beautiful sunny day 1200 Neustadt citizens from a total of 28 Neustadt cities and six European countries came to the city on the Saale River and celebrated a fabulous anniversary city festival. Two stages were packed with all-day entertainment, many guests were able to get a taste of several regional Neustadt culinary specialities along the Neustadt mile. Absolute highlight was the festive parade of all Neustadt cities which wound through the mediaeval city.

Mayor Bruno Altrichter hosted the Neustadt Meet-up already for the second time and left no wish open in order to ensure that the guests had a great time. For the Chairperson of the Working Group Neustadt in Europe, Petra Bieber, this year’s Meet-up was a “home game” and she was very pleased by the turnout. “The European thought behind the idea is also catching on”, she stressed on the evening of the festival. On this evening. Heinz-Jürgen Huber from Neustadt/ Hesse was honoured by the Director of the Working Group Martin Franck, already for the 25th time he has ridden his bicycle to the Neustadt Meet-up.

With an ecumenical service on Sunday and a following Jazz "Frühschoppen" (late Sunday morning drink) event the festival slowly came to a close. What is left is the memory of a wonderful Neustadt Meet-up with many friendly encounters between the Neustadt cities of Europe.

From 1 to 3 June 2018 a Meet-up of the Neustadt family in Poland took place for the first time in Nowe Miasto nad Pilica. City Mayor Mariusz Dziuba has sent out the warmest invitation to “his” Neustadt. The sister city has approx. 4,000 inhabitants and is located 80 kilometres south of Warsaw.

Here, the press review:

• Many apples and Neustadt citizens
• Celebratory gunfire at the Neustadt Meet-up
• Neustadt Meet-up for Europe
• Contagious friendship
• Working Group Neustadt in Europe wants to consciously make its mark
• Opinions about the Neustadt Meet-up in Nowe Miasto nad Pilica

In 2016 the Neustadt Meet-up took place on 17 and 19 June in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. A comprehensive program with guided tours through the historical old town with the night watchman, wine cellar tour with sparkling wine tasting, a wine village and music shows on various stages were presented to the visitors. The highlight was again the large, colourful parade with several hundred participants through the historical old town.

2017: Neustadt b. Coburg
2016: Neustadt an der Weinstraße
2015: Neustadt am Rübenberge
2014: Neustadt-Dosse
2013: Breuberg-Neustadt
2012: Neustadt an der Orla
2011: Neustadt (Hessen)
2010: Nové Mésto na Moravé (Tschechien)
2009: Neustadt an der Spree
2008: Neustadtl an der Donau (Österreich)
2007: Neustadt in Holstein
2006: Neustadt bei Coburg
2005: Neustadt in Sachsen
2004: Neustadt am Rennsteig
2003: Neustadt am Kulm
2002: Neustadt (Dosse)
2001: Nove Mesto nad Metuji (Neustadt an der Mettau)
2000: Titisee-Neustadt
1999: Bad Neustadt an der Saale
1998: Neustadt-Glewe
1997: Neustadt an der Orla
1996: Breuberg-Neustadt
1995: Neustadt in Sachsen
1994: Wiener Neustadt
1993: Bergneustadt
1992: Neustadt an der Donau
1991: Neustadt am Rübenberge
1990: Neustadt an der Aisch
1989: Neuenstadt am Kocher
1988: Neustadt (Hessen)
1987: Titisee-Neustadt
1986: Neustadt an der Weinstraße
1985: Neustadt (Wied)
1984: Neustadt bei Coburg
1983: Wiener Neustadt
1982: Neustadt an der Waldnaab
1981: Neustadt in Holstein
1980: Neustadt an der Aisch
1979: Bad Neustadt an der Saale