Euskirchen - Donatus-Mai-Kirmes

Today's Donatus-Mai-Kirmes originated over 200 years ago. Named after the patron saint of St Martin's Church, St Donatus, today's nationally renowned fair originated from the Donatus Festival, which was first held in 1784.

St Donatus is regarded as the patron saint against storms, lightning and conflagration. The bones of the Roman martyr were laid out for veneration in St. Martin's Church on 29 June 1652 after being transferred from the St. Agnes Catacombs in Rome. On the morning of 30 June 1652, when the remains were to be taken in solemn procession to the Jesuit church in Münstereifel, a terrible thunderstorm broke out. Lightning struck the church and the priest celebrating at St Mary's altar was struck by a loud clap of thunder. The priest's vestments are said to have been on fire. After a prayer to St Donatus, the priest, who was thought to be dead by the faithful, was healed to such an extent that he was able to accompany the transfer of the remains of St Donatus to Münstereifel on the same day.

130 years later, on 12 March 1782, lightning struck St Martin's Church again; this time the burning spire fell onto the neighbouring houses, mostly covered in straw, and caused a serious fire in the town. The people of Euskirchen remembered the ‘Donatus miracle’ in 1652 and asked the dean of Münstereifel for a particle made from the bones of St Donatus, as they believed it would provide good protection. In 1783, Pastor Carman finally received the requested particle, which is still kept in a requiliar in St Martin's Church today. The church and the town then decided to hold a festival on St Donatus' Day, which was framed by a small fair. On 13 January 1784, the Elector and the Vicariate General of Cologne granted the parish of St. Martin permission to celebrate the feast of St. Donatus every year on the second Sunday in May. Over the years, the Donatus May Fair developed from this Donatus festival.

Until the 1950s, the opening of the fair was always linked to the procession of St Donatus on Sunday morning. This link between the original Donatus Festival and today's fair has been abandoned.

Today's traditional Donatus May Fair is one of the largest city centre fairs on the left bank of the Rhine. On the second weekend in May, a 1.6 km long course runs through Euskirchen town centre from Friday to Monday. Starting from the Alter Markt, via Annaturmstraße, Annaturmplatz, Grünstraße, Grünplatz, Bergerstraße and Carmanstraße, it runs all the way to Charleviller Platz. The Euskirchen funfair is a mixture of funfair and folk festival and always promises a wide variety and range of offers. There is something for all ages. From numerous carousels for children, fast-paced rides, games of skill, a well-balanced range of snacks and drinks, to the extensive assortment of merchants.

Source: City of Euskirchen

Travel information:

By public transport:

- by train - Euskirchen railway station (distance 500 m)

- by bus - bus stop Kirchstraße

By car:

- Venue: Charleviller Platz / city centre

Parking facilities:

- Spiegelstraße multi-storey car park (Spiegelstraße 15)

- Kirchplatz car park (Kirchstraße 7-8)

- Veybach-Center multi-storey car park (Veybachstraße 3)