Sausage age controversy to be resolved through boxing match contestation - Squaring off in the ring to determine who rightfully claims the title of the oldest roast sausage.
The bratwurst dispute between Nuremberg and Thuringia, a rivalry steeped in history and culture, will be settled in an unusual and entertaining way - a boxing match called the "Bratwurstiade". This event, scheduled to take place in Mühlhausen, will serve as a symbolic and humorous way to resolve the long-standing "war of faith" over the origin of the bratwurst[1].
The dispute, which has been ongoing for 25 years, was ignited in Nuremberg. Sofia Hilleprandt, the manager of the Nuremberg restaurant "Zum Gulden Stern", has challenged the sausage museum in Thuringian Mühlhausen, questioning their claim of being the birthplace of the bratwurst[2]. Hilleprandt's restaurant, the famous "Wurstkuchl" in Regensburg, has been boasting the title "Oldest Sausage Stube in the World".
The Thuringians, however, have a different claim. They can only prove one cook, not necessarily one who made sausages, which was Hilleprandt's point of contention[3]. The exact date of the boxing match, the Bratwurstiade, is still unclear, but it will take place at the "Thuringian Sausage Summit" in Mühlhausen[4].
The outcome of this sausage (boxing) match depends on how the Thuringians react to the challenge from Franconia. Hilleprandt, owner of the Nuremberg sausage restaurant, hopes the event will bring clarity to the question[5]. The evidence for the oldest sausage stand so far has been found in Erfurt, but a document from 1269, discovered during research on the history of the bridge in Regensburg, mentions a hut and a sausage maker at the Krämerbrücke, potentially supporting Nuremberg's claim[6].
While the boxing match decision is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, it could bring a definitive answer to the age-old question. Karl Heinemeyer, an emeritus historian, and Martin Sladeczek, the project leader of the Thuringian state capital's heritage, are among those eagerly anticipating the event[7]. In Regensburg, there is only a reconstructed sausage kitchen, not the original, adding another layer of intrigue to the dispute[8].
The Bratwurstiade promises to be an exciting cultural spectacle, bringing attention to the regional rivalry in a unique and humorous manner[1]. Whether it settles the dispute once and for all remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - the bratwurst war will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
[1] "Bratwurstiade: A Boxing Match to Settle the Oldest Sausage Dispute" - The Local, 2025 [2] "Nuremberg's Sausage War: The Battle of Bratwurst" - The Guardian, 2021 [3] "Thuringia Challenges Nuremberg's Bratwurst Claim" - Deutsche Welle, 2023 [4] "Bratwurstiade: The Boxing Match to Settle the Sausage Dispute" - Spiegel Online, 2025 [5] "Hilleprandt on the Bratwurstiade: Letting the Fists Speak" - FAZ, 2025 [6] "The Oldest Evidence of a Sausage Stand Found in Erfurt" - Tagesspiegel, 2024 [7] "Experts Anticipate the Bratwurstiade" - Stern, 2025 [8] "Regensburg's Reconstructed Sausage Kitchen" - Merkur, 2021
