In my first ever article I'll give you a little background on this event and share some images I took. (Did I say some? I meant a LOT of images!) These are not photographic masterpieces, but they are meant to represent what you will see at the event! If you have the time and patience to reach the end of it, you may even want to attend it yourself!
About the event: The Landshuter Hochzeit (in English, Landshut Wedding) is one of the largest historical pageants in Europe. It commemorates the wedding between Hedwig, the Polish King's daughter, and Georg, the son of the Duke of Landshut that took place in 1475. Every four years the medieval wedding is reenacted, and everyone gets carried away with medieval jousting, pageantry, feasting, and wedding processions.
Landshut is 70km (44 miles) northeast of Munich and in 1902 they founded an association called 'Die Förderer' and held their first bridal procession reenactment in 1903. Every person who wants to become a member of this association and play a part in this big event has to live near Landshut. There are usually over 2,000 players and have had up to 5,000 in the past.
This is going to be a long one! Sorry for those on dial-up!
OK! So lets start at what I saw when I first arrived!
This is the heart of the old city, in front of St. Martin's Church.
Even though it was raining, It was still a magnificent sight!
As usual, the City Hall is an amazing building! Most of them are, in Germany!
(It somehow seems appropriate that the German word for City hall is Rathaus!)
Some of the players in the wedding reenactment wandering the streets of Landshut, GE.
Every man, woman, and child carries a wreath with flowers. A very nice touch for a couple of thousand people!
Some Pikemen gather for a moment. (They sing pretty well also!)
Landshut is also often called "Three Helmets City" because of the coat of arms that has three helmets shaped like these.
The little ones get to play dress up and boy are they cute!
St Martin's Church Tower, the world's highest brick tower at 131-meters or 426-feet high!
Here is a peek at Trausnitz Castle which sits above the city.
What an adorable little thing!
Another view of the old city. I just love the way it looks!
Large group of pikemen take to the rainy streets in song!
With thousands of players roaming the streets it is a photographers paradise of both young...
and old!
Of those that are well off ...
and those of a more humble position.
The royalty approach their box at "the place of challenges" for the evening festivities.
St Martin's Bell tower is on the left and Trausnitz Castle is perched above.
Fire breather!
Juggling on stilts and acrobats!
Jumping through a hoop of fire!
The pikemen display their ability to defend!
(What is a tripod? I hear they work well for these type of photos. Good thing I like blurry images!) :o)
Did I fail to mention that these people like to PARTY!
End of the first day! You still with me? Glutton for punishment…
OK let's start day two, which is Sunday, back on the main street in the old city as they prepare for the wedding procession.
Everybody sings! These guys also toss those things around and to each other!
They also play music from the period with period instruments.
Notice the ever-present official drinking vessels for the actors!
I am ready, where is everyone else?
Crown bearers! Take it to the King!
The children lead the parade and it is customary to throw them coins!
Then come the young ladies!
A falconer on horseback having fun!
Knight in shining armor!
Knights know how to have fun too!
The atmosphere at this festival is incredible!
Royalty approaching!
The Bishop
Let's go check out the encampment!
Make ready the food and drink for the wedding!
A respite for the trumpeters!
The elegant dress really takes you back to those times!
The actors do not mind posing, if you like.
They rather enjoy it, as do I!
Did I say how much fun this is yet?
OK, guess which one is me!
Hint- I am the tall one
.
A beer, some roasted Ox and Knodel.
Maybe that is why I have trouble with focus.
The children play on the field before the wedding party arrives.
Oh boy, the wedding party is coming!
The Bride and the
arrival of the parents!
One last serenade to the happy couple!
After a brief shower, a happy ending!
If you made it all the way here, I should give YOU a ten! Hopefully this was marginally better than Uncle Bob's slide show! FYI I started out with 230 photos, trimmed that to 73 and ended up with the 44 that I have posted here! (You are lucky I ran out of film before the jousting!)
The next wedding reenactment is tentatively scheduled for 13 Jun 2009 - 31 Jul 2009, so you have plenty of time to plan a trip! The official dates will be announced summer of 2008. Bavaria is a great place to go! Of course you could also be in Venice in about five hours! Or you could be in Strassbourg, France in 4 hours, but you would have to swing through the Black Forest on the way… Bummer! Vienna is about 4 hours away and so is Prague.
Thank you very much for stopping by!
(Most of the background information in this article is taken from the Wikipedia site.)
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Comments: 46
I have dial-up and it didn't take that long to up load.
Kudos, kudos ... lots of 10s if I could only give them.
Blessings
Ich liebe Deutchland!!!
I spent some time in Germany ,in the Frankfort area, and didn't get to see anything nearly this exciting. Thank you!
BTW, Where are the bride and groom?
Kathleen and Judith- They ended up on the cutting room floor! Actually the bride can be seen in the parents. She is actually the one up front in the carriage. The King is the one at the back!
ester- Ich auch! ( I think that's right???)
(Yes...the young ladies drew his attn!)
I just featured this article in our gourp: *WHAT'S ON YOUR NOGGIN'???*
www.whatsonyourhead.gather.com
I don't usually even open messages (lack of time) but I always enjoy your photos so I thought I'd take a look and am I ever glad I did.
I didn't notice any fuzzyness because I was so enjoying in the costumes, the colors, the faces, the scenes. The buildings are wonderful too.
Thank you for posting such an interesting and informative article. (and I'm glad i have high speed)
Seriously this is a great read and view. It was a nice touch to share with us some food as we traveled with you. Your photos of the children were priceless.
Thank you I always wanted to go to Germany not I feel like for a few moments I have!
Thank you for sharing!
Thx for sharing this experience with us......cheers,gayle
http://lyricalpassionpoetry.page.tl
They are fabulous, what a moment....
You made me think for awhile....
Also thanks a lot for posting it on the group "reference photos for artists". I am sure these photos can be an inspiration to either a writer or an artist looking for ideas one day.
There some that needed some ''inventive shots'' to boost the artistic balance and drama, to capture the complete essense of the photo and surrounding... so that the photo could stand alone...
By the way . . . the beer (warm?) induced focus didn't bother me in the slightest . . . you captured a real 'feel' and, as it happens, the more beer you drink, the more focused it gets . . . likely some sort of corallary there but . . . whatever.
Top notch for an opening essay . . . would love to see more as I completely enjoyed this.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Medievil pageantry is the most exciting to watch or even participate in especially to me who adores various cultural and historiacal re-enactments. Excellent piece and thank you for showing me how the incorporation of photographic excellence can make a piece really 'speak profoundly!'
sharing the light,
Nice trip.
I love to party.
I'll have to keep this in mind for 2009.
Thank you for posting this lovely image for the group "reference photos for artists. I am sure your image may inspire a poem. an article or painting or drawing some day.