23rd Quermarkt Michelsneukirchen

Medieval Roots in the Bavarian Forest

The Quermarkt is one of the oldest market events in the northern Upper Palatinate. Its roots reach back to the 16th century — it is already mentioned in sources from 1563: "The market days at this pilgrimage site were well attended." The venue is the Church of St. Quirin in Michelsneukirchen, built in 1332 and consecrated to the Trinity of Saints Quirinus, Vitus, and Wolfgang. In 1861, a local pastor reported that the market with "cattle and peddlers was quite lively," with five beer tents and a wine tavern with dance music.

The Legend of the Dying Farmer

An old folk legend explains why the Church of St. Quirin stands here: A superstitious farmer from Oberhof heard his two oxen talking about his impending death one Christmas Eve. He decreed that these oxen should pull his coffin — and where they stopped, a church should be built. The oxen stopped at the current church square of Michelsneukirchen. This legend explains why the Quermarkt was traditionally a cattle and draft ox market.

Decline and Revival

Like many old annual fairs, the Quermarkt experienced a decline in the 20th century. The last traditional Quermarkt took place in 1969, then it disappeared for about three decades. In 2002, the municipality of Michelsneukirchen and local associations revived the tradition together — the Quermarkt was relaunched as a market with historical significance, customs, and conviviality. Today, over 100 stallholders from the Bavarian Forest, the Upper Palatinate, and beyond attend.

Program and Atmosphere

The Quermarkt always takes place on the third Sunday after Pentecost. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traditional crafts, traditional costumes, regional food products, jewelry, sweets, and household goods are sold at the market stalls. The market is accompanied by brass band music, a church service in St. Quirin, and Franconian-Upper Palatinate catering. Several thousand visitors shape the atmosphere annually.

Michelsneukirchen in the Bavarian Forest

Michelsneukirchen is a small municipality in the district of Cham in the Upper Palatinate, on the edge of the Bavarian Forest. With the historic pilgrimage church of St. Quirin and its legend, it is a piece of folk culture that surprises many visitors. A visit to the Quermarkt can be combined with a hike in the Bavarian Forest or a day trip to Cham or Roding.