A lifelong friendship and a shared love for their homeland inspired Michael Schmidt, President of MHS Holding and the Michael Schmidt Foundation, and Peter Maffay, musician and founder of the Tabaluga Foundation, to launch the Haferland Week Festival in the summer of 2012.

Their vision was to preserve the cultural heritage of the Transylvanian Saxons and to promote the traditions and historical heritage of the “Oatland” (Haferland), the region stretching between Brașov and Sighișoara. Today, the festival brings together the communities of Archita, Roadeș, Saschiz, Meșendorf, Cloașterf, Bunești, Homorod, Rupea, Criț and Viscri, celebrating Saxon culture and the deep connection between people and their homeland.

While the first edition brought together only a few hundred participants, mainly Transylvanian Saxons returning to their homeland during the summer, attendance has steadily increased over the years. Since its beginnings, Haferland Week has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors, including Saxons from the diaspora, as well as Romanian and international tourists drawn by the region’s beautiful landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

“Haferland Week, through its long-standing tradition, the wide range of events hosted over the years and the large number of visitors, is a testament to the vitality of the Saxon communities in Romania. It is essential to ensure that these communities preserve their traditions while building a sustainable future and a thriving local economy.
The return of the Saxons during the summer has become a new and vibrant tradition that helps sustain the life of Saxon communities in Haferland and beyond, enriching our shared cultural heritage.
We warmly welcome everyone who wishes to discover this extraordinary region, its traditions and its people, to join us at Haferland Week.” — Michael Schmidt