Just few weeks ago I wrote about the Medieval Market/ Renaissance Fair here at my hometown. I also mentioned that we would be going to a much bigger Market this months and today was the day for the journey. The whole event is called “MitterlalterlicherPhantasie Spectaculum” and is the biggest traveling cultural festival in the world. Nearly every weekend during the warmer months it is in another city with over 2500 people and over 1000 tents to bring the Medieval World back to our time. The closest location of this traveling market is in another city roughly 45 min by car away from us. Last time I had been there was 10 years ago!
First of all it seems that the whole town needs to participate somehow as there are just so many visitors coming. As most towns here are in the middle of farm land they just rent some fields and use them as parking lots. Through this all visitors can find some parking space BUT it results in a long journey to the festival grounds at the park in the middle of the town. Last time I was there the ticket price was around 10-15 Euros or so and it got a rather huge increase as it is now 30 Euros per person, eeeek nearly 100 Euros for us! But we both think it was worth it as it was a really special day.
So whats the difference to the free entrance market in my hometown last month? For starters it is so much bigger with multiple actors and bands performing the entire day. Then there are so many workshops you can participate such as pottery, blacksmithing and there are real knight battles (with jousting etc) on the field next to the park, many gleemen, random activities happening and tons of stuff to buy. The place was just full with people and many dressed up accordingly. When my wife saw how others were in chainmail or in beautiful dresses she decided for us that we will do the same for the Market in October.
Though I said last time that we will try to find something nice for Nathan we failed to get him any clothes as he is just too small right now so he had to settle for a mini wooden sword. As he is a fast learner he mastered the skill of one-handed sword fighting within a couple of hours and attacked (unsuccessfully) a dark knight. After that he decided that sword fighting is not his strong point and abandoned the sword for the rest of the day. All in all I can say that this was a really great day even though my current health situation was making everything a bit harder to get around.
Would you like to visit such renaissance fair?
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Crazy Chinese Family 
Nice!
It kinda looks like Cosplay just Medieval style. I guess it must be very popular nowadays with the whole Games of Throne craze!
This event has been like this already with all the dressing up when I visited first time about 16 years ago 🙂
Most of these costumes are really expensive. One knight was asked and just the basic armor was already well beyond 2000 euros
It would have been better if you have a video of the epic battle between Nathan and the Dark Knight! 😀
It just happened to sudden. The dark knight appeared out of nowhere and Nathan attacked him/ MIL pushed Nathan to the knight
Looks like fun. I’ve only gone to one Medieval Fair and I do remember it was great to see the costumes and eat large Turkey legs. I love how we romanticize this period, too. I hope the toilets were not medieval as well 😉
The toilets were okay I guess but I can’t say for certain as I didn’t go 🙂
It is strange how past time periods are romanticized, just like old people say everything was better in their youth
Looks so much fun.
It was and also it was surely exhausting for Nathan as he fell asleep pretty quick once we got home
Looks like a cool place to spend an afternoon! Entrance is a little expensive but it seems like Nathan [and your MIL] had a great time! BTW, he looks so cute with his wooden sword! 🙂
It surely was pricy but when I think what entertainment was offered us for the whole day it is pretty okay.
I wonder when Nathan will take up swordfighting again as he hasn’t touched the sword since yesterday’s lost battle 🙂
This looks so fun!! Hahaha! You should totally get an armor next time 😛
I will try my best. Yesterday I already checked few websites but the prices are kind of insane.-.
Looks like a very happening Medieval fair indeed. So many costumes, so many tents and food stalls it must have felt like another era. Is that MIL holding Nathan posing with the knights? If so, I was going to suggest that it was posing with MIL that Nathan had a problem with…
What I love about these kinds of big fairs is that you will rarely get bored with so many things to explore about another culture or another time. However, what I find hard is how much time to spend at a certain booth of exhibit, and what to spend my money on. Usually if the entrance fee is expensive, I will try to avoid buying anything there.
The only “faire” I’ve been to was held outside Baltimore, and it was quite cheesy. From the photos, the one you attended looks more educational and better produced.
It certainly was educational and very well produced but the slogan of the whole event is also something like “Not authentic but Fantastic!” 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! I most certainly want to go to a fair like this. Anything old or a replica of old gets my vote. Did you have any roast pig?
Sadly I didnt get any roast pig :p
Next time you must and write all about it! Actually, the reason I’m so curious is I’ve never had roast pig and would like to see what it tastes like.
I also didnt have roasted pig yet though I have seen it too often around but I was usually too full or didnt have enough money in my younger years
Diiiiiiiiiiissapointing! Excuuuuuuuses, excuuuuuuses. ;D
This is EXACTLY what we love doing however we don’t get this type of stuff often near where we live… Looks like a LOT of fun 🙂
We love it too and it is just great that this event is traveling around Germany. Due of this we have the opportunity to reach 3 more markets within 1h car ride (or train if like to have some mead…)
I already started to create my own style for autumn and bought my first leather vest as I am planning to go as a ranger (lord of the rings style though..)
Medieval fairs and knights are definitely very European.
I think we breezed by one when we were in Great Britain, just outside of London. It was so surreal..to us.
They must be very popular here as this fair we attended travels throughout Germany the entire year, stopping each weekend at another city.of course the size varies in each location but they must also make good money to cover all the running costs
Wow, never seen anything like this.
Really? They are all over Germany for the entire spring till autumn! You must be the first German who doesn’t know about this festival 🙂
Eh, probably. Maybe, because I am not such big fan of medieval festivals, that I didn’t hear about it. Out of my radar…
Really? I Always wondered how to avoid them, they are all over the news in TV, radio and Internet. I only remembered to go there due goal, the advertisements all over the place. Now my wife is hooked as well (who couldn’t care less about these things before) and wants to dress up as well!