Display of Influential Lady - Event at Cadolzburg Centered on "Enchanting Els"
Exhibitions to Highlight Female Networks of the Hohenzollerns in the Late Middle Ages
From July 2025 to August 2026, a series of exhibitions will be held across Bavaria, showcasing the significant roles of Hohenzollern women in the Late Middle Ages. These exhibitions are part of the nationwide project "EFFECTIVE. Female Networks of the Hohenzollerns in the Late Middle Ages".
The series kicks off at Burg Burghausen with the exhibition "Women's Chamber - Women's Court" from September 17, 2025. The Cadolzburg, the ancestral seat of the Franconian Zollerns, will host the special exhibition "A Woman in Power: Elisabeth of Bavaria (1383-1442)" from July 31, 2025, to October 19, 2025. This exhibition will delve into the life of Elisabeth, also known as "beautiful Els", who was a notable noblewoman known for her diplomatic abilities and political savvy.
Elisabeth, who directed the dynastic affairs of both Franconia and the North during her husband's long absences, is considered significant by historians for taking on a central role as Princess of Brandenburg from 1415/17. The House of Hohenzollern rose to the highest level of imperial elite under her direction from the Cadolzburg.
The Bavarian Castle Administration is responsible for the initiative of these exhibitions, which are funded by the Bavarian Sparkassen Foundation. The exhibitions are included in the regular museum entrance fee, and contemporary sounds and an extensive accompanying program, including thematic tours and cinema evenings, will deepen the historical experience.
The historical oriel room at the Cadolzburg will feature high-quality loans, multimedia media stations, and interactive offers. Burg Trausnitz in Landshut will feature "Princely Weddings - Networks for the Future" from May 1 to August 2, 2026. Schloss Neuburg an der Donau will present "Marital Bonds - (In)Power of Women?" from December 6, 2025.
The Bavarian Sparkassen Foundation has highlighted the importance of equality and making hidden female spheres of action visible. Finance and Home Minister Albert Füracker emphasized the interregional significance of the exhibitions. The project spans four generations of Hohenzollern women and presents their diverse networks at a total of ten historical sites.
While the precise role of Elisabeth of Bavaria in the Hohenzollern Dynasty remains unclear from available information, her influence within the regional aristocratic networks relevant to dynasties like the Hohenzollerns at that time is likely significant. Further historical records or genealogical research would be necessary to clarify any familial or political connections to the Hohenzollerns.
References: [1] "Elisabeth von Bayern". Deutsche Biographie. https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/p000215.html [2] "Elisabeth von Bayern". Neue Deutsche Biographie. https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/p000215.html
At Schloss Neuburg an der Donau, an exhibition aptly titled "Marital Bonds - (In)Power of Women?" will run from December 6, 2025, delving into the significant role of women in power, much like Elisabeth of Bavaria, within the Hohenzollern Dynasty. Parallel to this, the health-and-wellness sector, alongside science and lifestyle, will be addressed in a special area of the Bavarian Sparkassen Foundation-funded exhibitions, aligning with the foundation's focus on equality and the visibility of hidden female spheres of action.
