Smallest town in Pfalz holds medieval market

Obermoschel in the Donnersberg area will hold a medieval market Saturday and Sunday at its nearby castle called Moschellandsburg.

The event will open from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. It will feature vendors, craftsmen, knights, noblewomen, Vikings, musicians, jugglers and fire-eaters.

Below the castle in a camp, visitors can experience how life was in the various eras of the Middle Ages. Medieval food specialties based on old recipes will be served.

Vikings, crusaders, knights and soldiers will present show fights with swords, spears and battle axes.

Vendors will sell their merchandise in the yard of the castle, which is about 1,000 years old. Crafters, such as basket makers, weavers, salters, bow makers, blacksmiths, dyers and shoemakers will demonstrate medieval craftsmanship.

At nightfall on Saturday, camp participants will move with torches to the castle, where the group Feuerplanet will present a fire show.

Jugglers and musicians will entertain the audience throughout the camp and castle areas on both days. Admission fee is €6 for adults and €3 for children and visitors dressed in medieval clothes. Children shorter than a sword (55 inches) are admitted for free.

Parking lots are available below the castle.Obermoschel is located on B420 northwest of Rockenhausen. It is known as the smallest town in the Pfalz.

Moschellandsburg was built in the 12th century. In the Thirty Years’ War (1618 to 1648), it was conquered by the Spanish, the Croatians and the Swedish. The French destroyed it in 1689. Worth seeing is the shield wall made of squared stones and the remains of the gate tower, ring wall, horse stables and well.