Exhibition: 100 Years of the Winegrowers' Revolt – Protest in Democracy

Exhibition on the Winemaker Uprising of 1926: Protest, Democracy and its Impact – then and now.

Lecture and panel discussion with Peter Müller, former Prime Minister of Saarland and former Federal Constitutional Judge on February 25 in the Goods Hall, Bahnhofstraße

On February 25, 1926, a demonstration of 5,000 Moselle winemakers erupted in a violent protest against the tax office in Bernkastel due to their existential plight. This protest, unique in tax history, effectively led to the abolition of the wine tax by the Reichstag.

The events of 100 years ago have numerous references to protest movements in our current democracy. Especially the farmers and winemakers in the region repeatedly draw attention to their current economic situation.

The historical event provides an opportunity to reflect on protest in democracy as well as to explore chances, limitations, and effects.

To this end, we have conceived an exhibition which will be on display from February 26 to December 31, 2026, in the foyer of the Verbandsgemeinde Bernkastel-Kues.