635th Guild Market Bad Wimpfen

635 Years of Market Rights from 1391

The Bad Wimpfen Guild Market refers to one of Germany's oldest market traditions: In 1391, King Wenceslaus granted the Bad Wimpfen potters the right to hold a market — a charter of protection for an economic activity that brought prosperity to the town on the Neckar even back then. Today, in its 635th edition, the market is one of the oldest continuously celebrated historical markets in Southern Germany. The organizer is Zunftmarkt Bad Wimpfen e.V., an association that preserves and shapes this historical tradition.

Castle Quarter as a Medieval Stage

The venue is the castle quarter, the historical Hohenstaufen core of Bad Wimpfen. The town sits enthroned on a rock above the Neckar and was one of Germany's most important imperial palaces in the High Middle Ages — Frederick Barbarossa, Henry VI, and Frederick II resided here. The Palatinate ruins, the Blue Tower, the Red Tower, and half-timbered houses still shape the townscape today. On market weekends, the narrow alleys, the market square, and the Palatinate grounds transform into a picturesque stage.

Craftspeople, Minstrels, Hohenstaufen Guard

Over 200 craftspeople, artists, and market traders populate the castle quarter: blacksmiths work at open fires, potters turn on their wheels, bow makers craft arrows and bows, bakers put bread into wood-fired ovens. Minstrels, jugglers, and fire-eaters roam the alleys, while music groups play pieces from the medieval and early modern periods. The "Hohenstaufen Guard," a group of historically costumed locals from Bad Wimpfen, oversees the events and guides visitors through the program.

Bad Wimpfen — Hohenstaufen Town on the Neckar

Bad Wimpfen is located in the district of Heilbronn, where the Neckar river flows around a striking rock formation. The town is considered one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Southern Germany and is a member of "The Most Charming Towns." Bad Wimpfen is directly accessible by S-Bahn from Heilbronn and Heidelberg. The castle quarter is car-free — the market takes place entirely within the historic town centre.