Medieval Market in Herzogenriedpark Mannheim

Herzogenriedpark as a Medieval Backdrop

Herzogenriedpark in Mannheim's Neckarstadt-West district, alongside Luisenpark, is one of Mannheim's two large parks — established in 1975 for the Federal Garden Exhibition, featuring expansive lawns, a lake, and dense tree cover. In March, organizer Vehi Mercatus transforms it into a medieval market town with camp tents, stages, a combat arena, and open-air craft workshops.

120 Exhibitors with Genuine Crafts

Over 120 historical exhibitors bring their skills to Mannheim: the blacksmith works at the forge, the woodturner shapes wooden bowls, the leatherworker sews pouches and belts, the hurdy-gurdy players perform medieval dance tunes. Alongside mead and beer from wooden barrels, mead distilleries, ointment makers, candle dippers, costume tailors. The camp groups live in the park for three days — with campfires, simple wooden structures, and authentic clothing.

Spectacles and Competitions

Three main spectacle points: Knight's Tournament with jousting on horseback, Fencing Demonstrations by the camp groups (choreographed like live duels in full armor), Crossbow Shooting for visitors to participate. In addition, jugglers, stilt walkers, and fire-eaters in the evening program — Saturday evening is particularly atmospheric with illuminated camps and campfires in the park.

Schedule March 2026

Friday, March 13th, 2026: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM — the "Opening Day" with initial market stalls and camp life. Saturday, March 14th, 2026: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM — full operation with all spectacles and camp markets. Sunday, March 15th, 2026: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM — Family Day with hands-on activities for children, final battlefield reenactment in the afternoon.

Vehi Mercatus — Southern Germany's Medieval Specialist

Vehi Mercatus is one of Southern Germany's largest medieval market organizers, touring with high-quality camp groups through fortresses, castle grounds, and parks between Lake Constance and the Main River. The selection of traders is strict — no plastic, no industrial goods, but genuine crafts and authentic staging. The setup in Mannheim's Herzogenriedpark is one of the organizer's largest stops in Southern Germany.

Mannheim and the Middle Ages

Mannheim itself is a young city — founded only in 1607 by Elector Frederick IV — but the Rhine-Neckar region is rich in medieval history (Speyer, Worms, Heidelberg). The Medieval Market in Herzogenriedpark fills this cultural gap and has become a firm spring date in the calendar of Southern German medieval fans.