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by Jutta Lausberg-Saam
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Fifteen years ago the historic old town of Annweiler began honoring King Richard the Lionheart of Brittany. This year the city is also celebrating its 800th birthday. The event will take place today to Sunday and will take you back to the medieval times with vendors, craftsmen, jugglers, children’s activities, and musical entertainment.
After the opening parade, Friday at 6 p.m., the Scottish Folk band SKYE will start live musical entertainment on the main stage at city hall. 
Craftsmen will demonstrate their skills as weavers, wood turners, glass blowers, stone masons, clairvoyants, and fortune tellers.
Vendors will sell jewelry, diaries, clothes, dried fruits and nuts, leather items, soaps, wooden sculptures, honey, and beeswax candles.
Medieval delicacies like wild potatoes with herb sauce, grilled sausages, pita bread, and Flammkuchen along with soft drinks, beer, wines, and liqueurs will be offered to quench visitor’s appetite and thirst.
Young visitors will be entertained with rides in a wooden Ferris wheel or a puppet theater. Also, children can participate in knight tournaments to fight for fame and glory.
The opening hours for the medieval market are today 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 12:30 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
From 1192 to 1194, the English King Richard, the Lionheart, was held captive at Trifels Castle in Annweiler. On his way back from the Holy Land, the Austrian duke, Leopold V, detained King Richard and passed him over to Emperor Heinrich VI. For King Richard’s release, the enormous amount of 23 tons of silver had to be paid.
Trifels castle is home to replicas of knights, crown, orb, and scepter. A self-guided tour takes no more than one hour. Opening hours are Saturday, Sunday, and German holidays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. February until mid-March, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, March 15 through the end of October, and in November, Saturday, Sunday and German holidays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trifels castle is closed in December and January. Admission fee is 4.50 euro for adults and 2.50 euro for children.
Parking will be limited. Several routes will take visitors to Annweiler, located south of Kaiserslautern on Federal Street 10 (B10) or trains operate from Kaiserslautern via Pirmasens to Annweiler.
For more information about the Richard the Lionheart event, visit: www.richard-loewenherz-fest.de.
