Freinsheim celebrates town wall fest

The historical wine village of Freinsheim celebrates its annual “Stadtmauerfest,” or town wall fest, today through Monday. 

A medieval curtain wall and Baroque buildings set the stage for this traditional wine fest. Nineteen food and wine booths will be set up along the historical town wall for a length of 1.3 kilometers. Local vintners, restaurant owners and associations will serve Palatinate culinary specialties and regional wines.

The town wall was built of red sandstone in the 15th century. Originally, it was seven to eight meters high. After the town came under the domination of the electoral palatinate in 1471, the new authorities enforced the current walls.

With the iron gate, construction of the fortification came to an end in 1514. Until the beginning of the 19th century, only two gates were leading out of town. Besides the two town gates, the iron gate in the east and the Hain gate in the southwest, about 20 towers were put up within the wall. Today five towers are left. It is known as one of the nicest and most complete town fortification facilities in the Pfalz. For visitors it’s worth it to explore Freinsheim with a tour around the town wall, which takes about one hour.

The Stadtmauerfest officially opens at 7 p.m. today on Marktplatz. It starts at noon Saturday and Monday and at 11 a.m. Sunday. Each day it continues until 1 a.m. the following morning. The old part of town is closed for motorized traffic. Visitors are asked to park at the edge of town where they only have to walk a few steps to get to the center.

To get to Freinsheim, travel on A6 direction Mannheim, take the Grünstadt exit and follow the signs to Kirchheim, Dackenheim and Freinsheim.

For more information, visit www.stadt-freinsheim.de.