Annweiler hosts medieval festival

For the fifth time, Annweiler sponsors a medieval fest to honor Richard the Lionheart of Brittany today to Sunday.

The event features a medieval market, knights’ camp, vendors, jugglers, children’s activities and musical presentations.

The official fest opening with medieval music by Ex Marnago in the historical old part of town is at 8 p.m. today. The medieval market set up in the streets already starts at 6 p.m.

Craftsmen including a turner, potter, goldsmith, stone cutter, paper maker and tailor present how their work was performed in former times.

Saturday and Sunday, the market opens around noon. Throughout the afternoon and evening, medieval groups perform dancing, singing and music on medieval instruments.

A knights’ group called Pfalzritter demonstrates how knights in the Middle Ages lived and fought.

Children can watch puppet theater performances and try out archery. Jugglers, magicians, a fortuneteller and a witch show off their special skills.

A falconer presents a special bird show.

The duo Jomamakü presents its renowned fire show Saturday night and the music group Irrlichter performs a concert on Rathausplatz.

Stands with food and drinking specialties are available to serve wild garlic bratwurst, flat cakes, oriental specialties, sweets, mead, absinth and other drinks from the Middle Ages.

Daily tickets cost €5, and the weekend ticket for Saturday and Sunday is €8. Children under 12 are admitted free. Visitors in medieval costumes only pay €3. Friday admission is free.

English King Richard the Lionheart was a prisoner on Trifels Castle in Annweiler from 1193 to 1194. He was captured by German Emperor Heinrich VI on his way back from the Holy Land. He had to stay in prison until the English paid an incredibly high ransom.

Trifels Castle still houses imitations of the former imperial insignia, crown, orb and scepter. Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through October and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through March. The castle is closed in December. Admission fee is €2.60 for adults and €1 for children.

Annweiler is located on federal street B10 between Pirmasens and Landau.

For more information about the Richard-Löwenherz-Fest, visit www.trifelsland.de. or www.annweiler.de.