Esslingen Medieval Market and Christmas Market

Our Morning started off at the Ansbach Bakery. Sarah Maxwell introduced us to these amazing chocolate crescents and this little piece of heaven can ONLY be found at this little bakery. 

We drove two hours to the Esslingen Medieval Market and Christmas Market. 
Esslingen is along Neckar river and has some of the oldest timber-framed houses in Germany dating back as early as 1262. How cool is that? And their hills are filled with grapevines. I would love to come back and explore this area in the spring. 

We explored the traditional market first. With around 200 stalls there was plenty of shopping. We found our Christmas Ornament and other gifts when we finished the traditional side we were catapulted back in time as we entered the Medieval Market. 

This is by far the BEST Medieval Market we have ever been too. All the merchants are in historical garments selling their crafts just as they would have hundreds of years ago. Craftsmen like pewterers, felt-makers, tinder-makers, blacksmiths, rope-makers, basket-makers, broom-makers. We actually saw a blacksmith working. It was pretty neat. Not to mention the cobble streets we walked on. They had minstrels playing and people dancing, all kinds of street performances throughout the festival. We watched some kids make candles in a little workshop, and they had several booths with medieval games and activities for all to play. Knife throwing, unicorn ringtoss, crossbow shooting, catapult throw. 
The coolest part was seeing 'The ‘man powered' Ferris wheel and the 'man powered' merry-go-round. It was so cool to see them spinning the rides for the children just like they would have hundreds of years ago. The kids loved shooting arrows. I personally loved the entertainment. I also loved all the merchants walking around and entertaining us with their craftsmanship. 

Our favorite food was The "hemp stall". They sell sautéed turkey meat in kebab spices stuffed with cabbage slaw inside of a hempseed pita and topped with yogurt sauce and paparika with some more hemp seeds on top. It was so tasty. 
Loved, loved, this Market!!!!

I loved sending Brooklyn off with Jermey's phone.  She got so many cute pictures
with her and the kids. 

I loved all the fresh pine garland and pinecones. 

Our group in front of the Christmas Pyramid.

 'The ‘man powered' Ferris wheel 

the 'man powered' merry-go-round.

I loved all the medieval games.

How fun are these signs. I bet it was fun to see the torch lit. 

Add caption

Add caption

I loved how many people dressed up in medieval clothes. 

Could you imagine having this be the only broom to clean your tent.
Crazy!

This sums up how much fun we had at the Medieval Market.