Anna-Kirmes Hargarten

Patronal Fair with History

The Anna-Kirmes in Hargarten is one of the most traditional village fairs in the Saarland: it is celebrated every year at the end of July in honour of Saint Anna, the patron saint of the place. Hargarten is a district of the municipality of Beckingen in the Merzig-Wadern district, in the western Saarland, close to the Luxembourgish and French borders. The Anna-Kirmes is considered the "highlight of the year" in village life.

The Anna Chapel – Architectural Jewel

At the centre of the festival is the approximately 400-year-old Anna Chapel. It is one of the most remarkable architectural monuments in the region and is primarily characterised by its imposing, four-metre-high late Baroque altar from around 1720. While most parish churches in the Saarland were built or expanded in the 19th century, the Hargarten chapel has been largely preserved in its original form.

The Traditional Programme

The Anna-Kirmes follows a sequence that has evolved over generations: The opening on Friday is a festive mass in the Anna Chapel, followed by the Dämmerschoppen (evening get-together) in the village square. On Saturday, the official opening takes place with the entry of the Kirmesmatz – a traditional straw doll that symbolically represents the fair – accompanied by the music club. Sunday begins with an extensive morning pint (Frühschoppen) in the village square and continues with fun tournaments: football, nail hammering, and other classic disciplines. On Monday, finally, the closing festivities take place with the ceremonial farewell of the Kirmesmatz.

Customs and Community

What makes the Anna-Kirmes special is not its size, but its authenticity: old customs are kept alive in Hargarten in a form that has already been lost in many other Saarland villages. The Kirmesmatz, the festive mass in the chapel, the communal morning pint in the village square – these are not staged for tourists, but are living village culture. Anyone who wants to experience Saarland's Kirmes customs in their original form will find one of the best places in Hargarten.

In the Merzig-Wadern District

Beckingen is located in the western Saarland and, with around 15,000 inhabitants, is one of the larger rural municipalities in the Merzig-Wadern district. Its proximity to Luxembourg and France makes the region a touristically attractive area with the Saarschleifenland and Bisten Valley.