The Power of a Symbol

"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way"

Mahatma Ghandi

Friedensreiter Product Line

Under the symbol of the riding ambassador, the Dwersteg Distillery offers different high-quality spirits, liqueurs and sparkling wine. The Friedensreiter denotes an excellent product and exists as the icon of a special culture, the art of the mindful celebration.

The Peace of Westphalia

The Westphalian peace-treaty of 1648 can without a doubt be labelled as one of the most joyous events in European History. These five-year-long peace negotiations brought an end to a long terrible war, with far reaching significance for all of Europe. Negotiations were conducted between two delegations, one of which was lodged in Münster, the other in Osnabrück. The “Friedensreiter” (or peace riders), carried the offers of negotiation between the two towns.

On May 15th and October 24th 1684, the peace-treaties were signed. With the aide of printed flyers, the Friedensreiter rode to all capital cities in Europe to spread the news of the signing of the Westphalian Peace Treaty. With them they brought not only the happy news which made people rejoice and celebrate, they also became ambassadors of the Westphalian way of life and its specialities. Today the Friedensreiter exists again – as a brand name and cachet for the highest quality Westphalian luxuries and its way of life.

More background information on the Thirty Years´ War and the Peace of Westphalia is available at the homepage of the “Westphalian Museum for Art and Cultural History” or at Wikipedia.