Stories. Schloss Neubeuern.
Schloss Neubeuern ACADEMY
01.10.2025
The Neubeur traditional costume - much more than just a
"Gwand" to celebrate
On Wednesday, 1 October 2025, the stage floor of the ballroom at Schloss Neubeuern shook in the afternoon. For the second time, our school was given the honour of an exclusive performance by the youth group of the Volkstrachtenverein Edelweiß Neubeuern.
Accompanied by the “Ziachspieler” Alois Pichler, twenty young “Dirndl” and “Buam” gave our pupils an impressive taste of Bavarian customs. As part of our Education Plus programme “Schloss Neubeuern ACADEMY”, the Edelweiss Association supported us with a cultural contribution on the traditional costume of Neubeuern. The school and the association have a long history together. Our school founder, Julie Freifrau von Wendelstadt, was very close to the market town and always a passionate supporter of the “traditional costume cause”. It is thanks to her efforts that women were also allowed to dance in the traditional costume association.
A newspaper article documents the honourable event that was bestowed upon the Folk Costume Preservation Association on 7 July 1913:
“The local folk costume preservation association “Edelweiß” Neubeuern, under the tireless leadership of Mr Haustetter, earned great merit and recognition last Sunday on the occasion of the 10th Gaufest of the Inngau Association. In addition to the large number of members that the association provided, it also brought along a group of 32 girls and women dressed in authentic Inn Valley costume. The association received general praise for its uniformly beautiful costume. There was also great joy when it was announced that the honorary prize (golden cup) donated by the high protector of the Inngau Association, Baroness von Wendelstadt, had been awarded to the association. The noble patroness of traditional costumes, as well as all that is good and beautiful in the Inn Valley in general, has thus placed a new memorial stone in the hearts of the people of Neubeuren. May the association and its valiant board of directors continue to cultivate and promote the traditional costume cause to the delight of its protector and the entire population of Neubeuern.”
Enriching cultural contribution
Manfred Karl, Chairman of the Edelweiss Neubeuern Folk Costume Preservation Association, told this story to our pupils with great pride and showed them a historical shooting target that was painted in honour of Jan and Julie von Wendelstadt. Together with his wife Sabine Karl and the youth leaders of the association, Kerstin Schlosser and Mario Bauer, he explained the different historical costumes of Neubeur, which they had dressed up in especially for the presentation.
This was a truly “exotic afternoon” for our pupils, many of whom come from faraway countries. However, it is important for the school to develop an awareness of the culture of their “second home” among the young people and to teach them the importance of local traditions.
Of course, it was also an exciting event for the young Trachtler – to finally be able to see the rooms of the old castle and get an impression of our pupils. They were happy to give the young guests priority at the evening buffet, which was prepared in a Bavarian style to match the occasion. The children naturally mingled with the pupils in the dining room and enjoyed the extraordinary ambience. Outside, there was even a little kickabout on our streetball pitch in a new friendship. A successful late afternoon that could not have been more beautiful and brought the castle and market community a little closer together. We look forward to seeing you again in May – if all goes well – with a traditional maypole erection.
Many thanks to the Edelweiss Neubeuern folk costume association, who are always so friendly, cheerful and helpful – “Thank you!”
Katrin Burkamp
"Servus beinand!"
It was great to see how the young traditional costumers mingled with our pupils, who were very impressed by this special traditional costume and dance performance. Some friendships were made that afternoon.
