Walpurgimarkt Spalt

Spring Market in the Hop Town

The Walpurgimarkt is one of the oldest and most popular market events in Spalt, the Franconian hop and beer town in southern Middle Franconia. The market takes place annually in spring around Walpurgis time – the date that traditionally marks the transition from winter to summer in Central Europe. In Spalt, this season coincides with the awakening of the surrounding hop gardens: the first delicate hop shoots emerge from the ground, which later produce the world-famous Spalter Hopfen.

Three Markets in One Day

The concept combines three market formats in a confined space: Street and street market with stalls for household goods, textiles, regional products, and small amusement rides; flea market for used goods, vintage items, and curiosities; as well as a dedicated antique market with furniture, crockery, books, and collector's items. The market extends from the main street across the festival grounds to the side alleys of the old town.

Sunday Shopping

In parallel with the market, many Spalt retailers take advantage of the Sunday shopping event to open their stores – one of only four Sunday openings legally permitted in Bavaria per year. Clothing stores, bookstores, opticians, bakeries, and cafés invite visitors to stroll and linger.

Spalt – the Hop and Beer Town

Spalt is a small town with about 5,100 inhabitants in the district of Roth in Middle Franconia (state of Bavaria). The town is world-renowned for its Spalter Hopfen – one of the finest aroma hop varieties, cultivated in the region for over 1,200 years – and for the Stadtbrauerei Spalt, considered one of the oldest municipal breweries in Germany. The interactive museum HopfenBierGut explains the history of Spalt hops from their emergence in the Middle Ages to the present day. The Franconian Lake District with the Brombachsee lake begins directly at the town's gates.

Atmosphere

Unlike the big folk festivals (Volksfeste), the Walpurgimarkt has a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere: Franconian spring air, the smell of bratwurst, coffee and braided sweet bread (Hefekranz) in the sun, bargain hunters rummaging through flea market finds, families strolling through the town. Anyone who fancies a Spalt Lager beer afterwards can stop by one of the town's cozy brewery pubs in the evening.