Mandelbachtal Medieval Market

Medieval Times in Bliesgau — at Ommersheimer Weiher

The Mandelbachtal Medieval Market takes place annually in July around the idyllically situated Ommersheimer Weiher in the woods — a small reservoir in the Ommersheim district of the municipality of Mandelbachtal. The event is organized by the association Historische Märkte & Feste e. V., which also organizes similar medieval festivals in other parts of southern Germany. Its location in the Saarpfalz-Kreis district, right in the middle of the UNESCO Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve, gives the market a very special character.

What to Expect

Craftsmen, merchants, and encampments with period tents and workshops present their wares on site. Blacksmiths, leatherworkers, glassblowers, and felt artisans work right before the visitors' eyes. Knight tournaments with sword demonstrations attract all generations. Throughout the day, bagpipers, dancers, and medieval music groups perform. The highlight is the grand Fire Show on Saturday evening.

Children's Program

The market particularly excels in its family offerings: archery, gemstone hunting, pottery, medieval games, and a hand-operated carousel provide hours of entertainment. Face painting with dragon designs included. The concept works well for children from about three years old up to early teens.

Gastronomy

Historical-style catering: Mead, beer (sponsored by the private brewery Kirner from Hunsrück), bread from a wood-fired oven, stews, spit-roasted suckling pig, sausages, crêpes. You won't find plastic tableware here — meals are served on wooden platters and in clay mugs.

Ommersheimer Weiher as a Venue

The Ommersheimer Weiher is located on the edge of the small village of Ommersheim, nestled in the forest. The reservoir is a popular bathing spot in summer; during the medieval market, the surroundings transform into a military camp. The trees, the water, and the campfires make the atmosphere — especially in the evening — almost cinematic.

Saarpfalz-Kreis and Bliesgau

Mandelbachtal is situated between Saarbrücken and Homburg, right in the heart of Bliesgau — one of the most beautiful regions of Saarland. The UNESCO Bliesgau Biosphere Park is known for its scattered orchards, orchids, and rolling hills. Those with time can combine their visit to the medieval market with a hike on one of the Bliesgau trails.