Winobranie Wine Festival in Zielona Góra

In September, Zielona Góra surrenders to grapes: for 9 days the city hosts Winobranie, the largest wine festival in Poland and the most important cultural event of the region. Bachus, the King of Winobranie, rules the city, while streets fill with processions, concerts and a fair full of regional products and local wines. The main stage of the celebrations is the Market Square and the city centre.

The winemaking roots of the city

The winemaking traditions of Zielona Góra probably go back to the 12th century, although the first written mention of local vineyards comes from 1314. Grape growing was favoured by the moderate, relatively warm climate and the hilly terrain of the Zielona Góra Ridge. As a city festival, Winobranie has been proclaimed by the municipal council since 1842, which makes it one of the oldest customs of this kind in Poland. The city was famous for its vineyards and winemaking for centuries, and the memory of that tradition returns every year with the September celebration.

Bachus takes over the city

The heart of the festival are performances and processions linked to the King of Winobranie, Bachus, who becomes the host of the city for the duration of the festival. Over the 9 days there are concerts, a trade fair and presentations of regional products, the most important of which are wines from Lubusz vineyards. It is also a good opportunity to explore the city itself: combine sightseeing with a stroll around the Market Square and visit the Lubusz Land Museum or the Botanical Garden, just a few minutes from the centre.