Mödlareuth: The divided village is a reminder of German unity with a cultural festival and political headwinds

The small village of Mödlareuth has a big, moving history behind it. Just like Berlin, it was divided at the time of the Iron Curtain. On the Day of German Unity (October 3rd), the place on the border between Bavaria and Thuringia comes into particular focus: There is a cultural festival under the heading “Mödlareuth endlessly colorful”, the CSU's Germany Festival with party leader Markus Söder and Thuringia's Prime Minister Mario Voigt (CDU) - and for several years also an AfD event.

But the German-German Museum, which was redesigned last year, also offers an expanded program, as the Hof district office announced: Lectures, film screenings and free short tours are planned on the outdoor area and at the Heinersgrün border tower.

Increase in visitors to the museum

After the opening of the new museum building in autumn 2025, the flow of visitors to the museum increased significantly, it said. From the beginning of January to the end of August 2026, 55,253 visitors were registered - a good 25 percent more than in the same period last year.

For many years, the CSU has been inviting people to the Germany Festival on October 3rd in Mödlareuth, each with prominent speakers. This year, the party leader and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder is traveling himself, and Thuringia's Prime Minister Voigt is also there.

The AfD's tradition of holding a rally in Mödlareuth is much more recent. This year, the Upper Franconia district association announced, among others, Bavaria's party leader Stephan Protschka and the AfD parliamentary group leader in the state parliament, Katrin Ebner-Steiner.

Cultural festival planned

For more than 30 years, various organizations in Mödlareuth have been inviting people to a festival for democracy on October 3rd. This year's organizer is the “WE in the State” alliance, which includes initiatives from Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia. Doritta Kolb-Unglaub, chairwoman of the Plauen association “colorido” and co-initiator, said that for a long time they were able to celebrate a peaceful festival alongside the CSU in coexistence on October 3rd and accepted each other. But since the AfD was also in Mödlareuth, the situation has changed.

However, she emphasized that the democracy festival with around 1,000 registered participants did not want to be “against anything”, but rather to show “we are here, we are diverse”. The alliance for the festival in Mödlareuth brings together many different actors, such as the DGB, Verdi, church organizations, the alliance against right-wing extremism in the Nuremberg metropolitan region and the workers' welfare organization. “Together we are setting an example for an open, diverse and inclusive society,” it continued. Plans include, among other things, an ecumenical devotion, speeches and music.

A village is “Little Berlin”

At the time of the division of Germany, Mödlareuth was also separated. A wall had been built through the village, one part belonged to the GDR and the other to the Federal Republic. That is why Mödlareuth gained international fame as “Little Berlin”. The museum in Mödlareuth was founded in 1990 shortly after the wall was partially demolished. Today around 50 people live in the village - some belong to Thuringia, some to Bavaria.