The grey skies, the intermittent downpours and the rising level of the Danube in front of the museum doors could not dampen the festive and informative mood: over 11,000 visitors came to the House of Bavarian History in Regensburg on Saturday and Sunday to take part in the wide range of programs on offer as part of the Festival of Democracy. Friday was also a busy day: over 2,000 interested visitors took advantage of the free guided tours of the museum's permanent exhibition and the Bavarian exhibition "Ois anders: Großbaustellen in Bayern 1945-2020".

At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, our museum balloon made its premiere flight from the heart of the Bavariathek into the Regensburg sky in the presence of Bavaria's Minister of Social Affairs and Youth Ulrike Scharf and Dr. Richard Loibl, Director of the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte.

The maiden voyage was attended by (from left to right): Dr. Richard Loibl, Director of the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte, Bavaria's Minister of Social Affairs Ulrike Scharf, artist Katharina Gaenssler, Irene Dullinger, CEO of Sparkasse Regensburg, sponsor of the event, and Günter Wetzel (far right) with his partner Monika Plieniger. Wetzel, his family and the Strelzyk family managed to escape from the GDR in a balloon in 1979.

In addition to eyewitness accounts, democracy workshops and guided tours of our exhibitions, the Festival of Democracy also offered plenty of opportunities to party and dance the night away:

Whether it was live music with, for example, Pale Boy Tanning, June Calls, Latinophonia or the now legendary club night on Saturday evening in the foyer of the museum: atmosphere and sound for all age groups. The youngest were once again particularly keen to party: the well-known TV duo Rodscha and Tom gave them two great performances in the Donausaal on Sunday

All images © Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte | Photo: www.altrofoto.de