Freinsheim offers music, delicacies in historical locations

The wine growing community of Freinsheim will celebrate its annual “Altstadtfest,” or old town fest, Thursday to June 1. Visitors can enjoy a diversified musical program featuring rock, pop, funk, blues, jazz and salsa in the historical center of town.

On Thursday, which is a German holiday, caterers and vintners will start serving food and wine specialties at 11:30 a.m.
The official opening of Altstadtfest with a Freinsheim band will take place at 7 p.m. May 30 on Marktplatz. A variety of musical groups and soloists will perform different music styles in the wineries and the historical toy museum.

On May 31, caterers will start serving at 11:30 a.m., and musical presentations will begin at 4 p.m. A jazz matinee will start Sunday performances at 11:30 a.m. June 1, and stores will be open from 1 to 6 p.m.

Activities will close out at midnight Thursday, May 30 and 31 and 10 p.m. June 1.

The center of town will be closed to motorized traffic. Visitors are asked to park outside the center. From there, visitors only have to walk a short distance to get to the fest.

For more information on the musical programs in the different locations, visit www.stadt-freinsheim.de.

Freinsheim has a medieval town wall that was built in the 15th century. 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 led 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. Freinsheim is known as one of the nicest and most complete town fortification facilities in the Pfalz.

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