Annweiler holds sixth medieval festival

Annweiler will sponsor its sixth medieval festival today to Sunday to honor Richard the Lionheart of Brittany.

The event will feature a medieval market, knights’ camp, vendors, jugglers, children’s activities and musical presentations. The fest will officially open at 8 p.m. today with medieval music by the Trifelsherolde, a fanfare group, and the Wildfang musicians in the historical old part of town.

The medieval market with more than 70 stands will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight today, noon to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Craftsmen, including a turner, potter, goldsmith, stone cutter, glass blower, paper maker and tailor, will present how their work was performed in former times.
Medieval groups will perform dancing, singing and music on medieval instruments.
A knights group called Pfalzritter will show how knights in the Middle Ages lived and how they fought.

Children can watch puppet theater performances, try out archery and listen to fairy tales. Jugglers and magicians will demonstrate their special skills.
A falconry will show off some of its birds.

The singing and dance group Irrlichter will present a concert Saturday night to be followed by a fire show with the duet Jomamakü on Rathausplatz.
Stands with food and drinking specialties will be available to serve flat cake, oriental specialties, sweets, mead, absinth and other drinks from the Middle Ages.
Daily tickets cost €5. Children under 12 are admitted free. Visitors in medieval costumes only pay €3. Tonight, admission is free.

The 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 September, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through March. The castle is closed in December. Admission fee is €3 for adults and €1.50 for children.

Annweiler is located on federal street B10, between Pirmasens and Landau.
For more information about the fest, visit www.trifelsland.de or www.annweiler.de.