Twitter
Facebook
Annweiler will celebrate its eighth medieval festival to honor Richard the Lionheart of Brittany today to Sunday.
The event will feature a medieval market, knights camp, vendors, jugglers, children activities and musical presentations.
The fest will officially open at 7 p.m. today with medieval music by the Trifels Herolde, a fanfare group.
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.
Children can watch puppet theater performances, try out archery and listen to fairy tales. Jugglers and magicians will demonstrate their special skills.
A falconer will show off five birds of prey. A fire show is scheduled for Saturday night.
Stands with food and beverage specialties will be available, serving 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 at 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 from 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 Richard-Löwenherz-Fest, visit www.trifelsland.de or www.annweiler.de.
