Eußerthal Schälebrichelkerwe

Schälebrichel as the namesake

In the 19th century, peeling tree bark was an important seasonal trade in the Palatinate. In spring, young oaks were peeled, their bark serving as tanning material in leather factories. The waste wood – the peeled logs – was called 'Schälebrichel' (peeling chunks) and used as firewood or in construction. Eußerthal was one of the centers of this trade – the Kerwe bears the name to keep the memory of the old forestry and tanning tradition alive.

Palatinate Kerwe Tradition

The Schälebrichelkerwe follows the classic Palatinate Kerwe choreography: keg tapping on Friday, dance evening on Saturday, morning pint with brass music on Sunday, and festival closing on Monday. A festival tent, drinks stands, a stage, and food stalls characterize the village center. Palatinate specialties – Saumagen (pig's stomach stuffed with pork, bread, and spices), Bratwurst (fried sausage), Leberknödel (liver dumplings), Flammkuchen (a type of flatbread pizza) – complement the gastronomic offerings. Draft beer and wine from the Annweiler and Gräfenhausen vintners flow at the drinks stands.

Four Days of Festival Culture

In the evenings, live bands, DJs, and Palatinate dialect groups provide the atmosphere. The Kerwe is a meeting point for the residents of Eußerthal, the surrounding Pfälzerwald villages, and many hikers who specifically use the Kerwe days for a stay in the Palatinate Forest. The familiar atmosphere of the small village shapes the festival.

Eußerthal and the Cistercian Monastery

Eußerthal has around 700 inhabitants and was founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks. The former monastery church is now the Catholic parish church and one of the most important Romanesque-early Gothic buildings in the Palatinate. Those visiting the Schälebrichelkerwe should take a look inside the church and explore the monastery grounds. Hiking trails lead to the nearby Rehbergturm and the Anebos castle ruins.