AUTHENTIC! Americans Experience a Bucketlist German Medieval & Renaissance Festival. Travel Guide.

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Come with us, as we venture for the first time outside of Bavaria to the state of Baden-Württemberg to check out a Germany's best medieval festival. Held every July over a four day weekend, the town of Bretten (just outside of Karlsruhe) turns up to celebrate their 1504 conquest over the forces of Heidelberg. Come with us as we explore the festival, watch a historical reenactment, try some food, and finish the tour off with a parade!
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Introduction 0:00-0:58
Logistics 0:59-1:50
Festival Entrance 1:51- 2:59
Medieval Outfits 3:00-3:39
Festival History 3:40-4:49
Festival Reactions 4:50-7:03
How Did We Find This?? 7:04-8:02
Bretten's 1504 Story 8:03-10:08
Lingoda Ad Spot 10:09-11:28
Evening Festival 11:29-12:30
Day Two 12:31-13:30
Spicy Opinions 13:31-14:18
Parade 14:19-16:08
Food Tour 16:09-18:25
Conclusion 18:26-20:01
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Follow us on Instagram!
Channel: near.fromhome
Ben: strawbennyjam
Camille: freshspringham
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Check out our blog!
www.nearfromhome.com​
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[@F1SDeutschland]

Thanks a lot for this feature of the one and only "Peter und Paul Fest"! Should you ever come again, you really need to stay until midnight to see the fireworks and have a go on Kirchplatz dancing to ancient tunes! People will dance and celebrate all night, that's unique. For families it's worth mentioning that Monday Afternoon belongs all to the Kids, when they can enjoy their own exciting challenge "Vom Knappen zum Ritter". PS: almost everyone does speak and understand English in Bretten, just ask in English and you'll see.

[@NearFromHome]

Yeah we wanted to go, but we had a full day of filming the next day. Next year!

[@SvenScholz]

Bretten has indeed one of the best rennaisance events in Germany. Not too far away is the little village Angelbachtal, where they do a "Mittelalterliches Spectaculum", an event dedicated to the period that really is called "middle ages" or "medieval", which is some 100 years earlier. If you happen to visit the region next year i really can recommend that.

[@NearFromHome]

Yes! Will ad it to the list. I think we are going to make these festivals a summer staple. :D

[@JrSVT]

I'm moving to the Bavaria region from the US in less than 2 weeks. I can't wait to emerge myself in the culture, take in the sights and enjoy everything Germany has to offer.

[@BaluDerBaer933]

Army?

[@NearFromHome]

Welcome! Our channel has you covered lol

[@gozer87]

Enjoy! We loved the time we spent in Germany.

[@JrSVT]

@@BaluDerBaer933 DA civilian...first time to be in Germany.

[@shaunwayne8610]

I hope you made it savely to Germany. We are happy to have you! :)

[@robertmagillold]

Really appreciate the coverage of a truly German festival! While tourist attracting things (Oktoberfest) are great, seeing what the locals do is fantastic. Keep ‘em coming!

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks so much! We have so many local festival videos planned! 😎

[@HydroMeerkat]

I thought this would be the usual american tourist "omg it's like Disneyland here!" type vlog you mentioned. I was positively surprised.

[@NearFromHome]

Yeah. I mean….I’m not exactly happy about the game we have to play with our titles and thumbnails tbh :( Though my goal is to get the attention of all the people who are used to those, in my salty opinion, low quality vlogs and then positively surprise them! So I hope you stick around, continue to be pleasantly surprised, and maybe spread the channel around! ;)

[@mawerk-historischeschuhe3845]

You need to stay till midnight ther is an historical dancing on the churcheplace

[@NearFromHome]

Yes and fireworks! We were exhausted from filming 😭

[@ericwilson8199]

Yes please, more local events and festivals, another great video!

[@NearFromHome]

Stay tuned! They’re on their way 😎

[@Sokkaking1]

Absolutely love these videos about places and events that are off the beaten trail. And really appreciate the logistic details! Thanks as always! Keep ‘em commin’ Ben and Camille!

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks so much! Keep posted, as we have lots of local festival coverage lined up!

[@svengaefgen5909]

I really enjoyed your video, outstanding quality, thank you. Was not aware of that festival, and would like to visit it.

[@NearFromHome]

Thank you so much! 🥰🥰🥰

[@anthonybates9928]

Never heard of this festival but have just added it to my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.

[@NearFromHome]

🥰

[@theglobalcitizenship]

Thank you for sharing this great guide to Germany. I haven't been there since 2002 and so I am looking for things to do there. This is amazing!

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks so much!

[@annakarlsson6040]

If you're into medieval festivals you should give Visby medieval week a visit next year!

[@NearFromHome]

Will check it out!

[@SofiaSeesBeauty]

This looks just as cool as I remember when I was little! For now I will have to settle for the Renaissance fair in MA but I’d like to go back to Bretten

[@NearFromHome]

🥰🥰🥰 I was so worried it wouldn’t hold up ahahha

[@aenanide]

Ooooh you have to check out the MPS (Mittelalter Phantasie Spektakulum). It's basically a medieval/fantasy festival that travels through germany throughout the summer and it's soooo amazing! It focuses a lot on the fantasy genre as well, which I personally love, so you will see a lot of amazing costumes and performances there. Plus you also have lots of amazing and well known german and international medieval rock/folk bands that absolutely rock the place when the night begins. I really loved this video, KZbin probably recommended it to me because I watch a lot of those medieval festival vlogs in general, but you definitely are one of the most entertaining vloggers of this type that I have seen so far. I'd definitely love to see more of this type of content. There are soooo many ren faires and little festivities like that throughout the entire year in germany, even in the winter with some really cozy historical christmas markets. Anyway, I subscribed and can't wait to see more ^-^

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks so much!! This is really helpful, and something we would both love. A large part of our interest in Medieval history has to do with fantasy haha. Thanks for the insider tip!

[@zairol79]

I attended the same Imperial festival last couple weeks at Rothenburg Ob der Tauber that was held every 1st week of September. Less showcase and re-enactment but the most important its free. Anyway, keep a good work especially when you cover about public transportation...

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks so much! Will add it to the list!

[@thewickedwhydah]

@@NearFromHome You'll be amazed by the oldtown. It really emerges you into medieval times.

[@fernandotabora]

Insane festival!

[@NearFromHome]

😎

[@ingwel7029]

Great video❤ recommendation for the next time - the medival midnight dance on the Kirchplatz - my favorit part of Peter und Paul Fest🎉

[@NearFromHome]

Yes! We had to dip so we could get an early start for the next day 😭

[@MYTravelBF]

This looks like a fantastic festival to visit! Now that we're living in Germany, we'll have to add it to our list for next year. Luckily, we'll have some time to get our costumes ready!

[@NearFromHome]

It was really fun, plus there are plenty of other medieval festivals in June and July. I am also getting my costume ready for next year. 😅 I felt so out of place not dressed as a peasant 😅

[@jorg4443]

@My Travel BF As you live in Hannover I HIGHLY recommend the huge two weekend medieval 'MPS' festival in Bückeburg (last two weekends in July) and the Sparrenburg Festival in Bielefeld (usually last weekend in July)

[@JoseOnTour]

This was such an awesome video. The hat needs to become a recurring easter egg. I wasn’t familiar with the Maryland Ren. Fair going to have to look it up. So jealous of all that amazing food

[@NearFromHome]

Hahah what an excellent idea 😅 Luckily the food is at basically any German festival, so it’s not too hard to come by if you visit!

[@MidnightCoffee12]

To elaborate on what Ben was saying, the Maryland Renaissance festival has an entirely different feel, so don't go into it expecting something like the video. It really is more fantasy-themed at this point, and takes place at a wooded festival grounds, not a historical town. There are Tudor-era reenactors of course, but you'll definitely also see faeries, elves, mermaids, pirates, belly dancers, shamans, Vikings, steampunk Victorians, highland bagpipers, random furries with dragon horns or fox tails, and sometimes the rare Trekkie or Star Wars stormtrooper. It runs on weekends from around Labor Day (or the weekend earlier?) through Halloween every year. Each weekend has a different theme. The weekend before Halloween tends to be a general, anything-goes costume party. I sometimes hear from European visitors bewildered by our loose definition of "Renaissance"!

[@NearFromHome]

@@MidnightCoffee12 This is such a good summation!

[@jorgfalk8798]

Visit the Landshuter Hochzeit or the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

[@NearFromHome]

Thank you! Will do!

[@mona.w22]

6:38 theres me sitting with friends 🫣

[@NearFromHome]

Lololol

[@llya_yy1998]

Love this video 🤍 its my home town and I've been going there since I was born.

[@NearFromHome]

❤️ very lucky!

[@gerrykennedy7849]

I've been to Kaltenberger Ritterturnier three times always excellent! But I want to see this one in July hopefully.

[@NearFromHome]

Yesssss. We actually have tickets, so we'll be going for the first time.

[@usbxg3474]

Although it´s very far away from munich I would higly recomment the "Manderscheid Burgen Festival" in the Eifel region! It is way more "rural" and "dirty" than the medieval festivals inside of old german towns, because it takes place in the middle of the woods and inside of the old castle ruins close to the village/city? of Manderscheid. Instead of stands inside the city they build tents around the castle ruins and have actual tournaments on horses where guys dressed up as nights figt each other with blades instead of wooden substitutes. There are guys walking around juggling with burning sticks, "medieval rock bands" and women that offer you to read your palm for a couple of euros. The food and drinks are amazing and when the weather is good its really fun to sit somewhere, drinking a beer and just watch the folks dressed up in medieval costumes and the kids running around and playing knights. But be aware! Festivals like these might have a slightly "Hippie Touch" added to the medieval experience! There might be some Tents that might try to sell you "magic crystals" , you might smell some weed that is smoked by a group of people at the edge of the wood and as soon as it gets dark someone might offer you to buy some "special cookies"! but don´t be afraid! This MIGHT happen! But it does not mean it will! It always depends on the time of the day, the circumstances and the location you choose to be during these festivals! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4DPY3-gatF_jcU

[@NearFromHome]

Very cool! We will check it out, as we are looking for more medieval feats to do next summer! 😎 Also, we were definitely offered things during this festival, so we can’t be too shocked 😅

[@indiramichaelahealey5156]

Due to covid lot's of festivals and Christmas markets all over Germany were canceled in 2020 and 2021. Hopefully they all will open up again. This is always a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing this particular one which I did not know of either (I live in Northrhine Westfalia, close to Cologne.

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks! We are very excited to cover the Xmas markets after 2 years of closures 😭. We have four videos planned. Let’s see if they happen 😅

[@riccardodececco4404]

they will be cancelled again - because of the energy crisis....

[@NearFromHome]

@@riccardodececco4404 i hope not...

[@gozer87]

There are so many great medieval fests in Germany.

[@NearFromHome]

It’s awesome! We’re going to try to cover at least one a year. 😎

[@welfin666]

@@NearFromHome then you better check out Landshuter Hochzeit in Landshut

[@valkyrie1066]

Yes, that is a spectacular hat! LOL. I can't wait for our local faires to begin to open after COVID. I've been working on new clothing during quarantine and am burning to show it off! First one was this weekened; a viking fest....100degrees F. I think that's around 50 C Brand new wool, fur and layered linen garb. I passed, but I can't do a good 9th cent viking in that kind of heat. I'd be suffering in my "underwear" at that point. I'm 62 I can't just drink until I don't notice. LOL So happy to see you out there!!! P.S.: there ARE appropriate masks when necessary; I've found chainmail, helm, and bayou tapestry plague masks. Think I'll go with the chainmail print....

[@NearFromHome]

That’s so cool. I wish I could make costumes for these events 😭

[@Pidalin]

You should definitely visit some medieval celebrations in Czech Republic if you are still in Europe, for example celebrations in Kutná Hora in june, that's one of the biggest, it's mostly stylised to Luxembourg dynasty time (14th century) or there is massive renaissance festival in Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia. BTW, our Czech medieval-like music band Krless is one of the best in Europe.

[@NearFromHome]

I didn't know the Czech Republic also did this. Currently looking them up now! :D Thanks!

[@GerhardADittes]

Hey mate, absolutely nice video! BUT - it's not a "Flammkuchen". We call it "Rahmfleck"! Never ever forget that! 😉 Greetings from Bretten! 👋

[@NearFromHome]

Das ist Dialekt 😅 Danke 🙏

[@Al69BfR]

So did you get your medieval shirt, shorts and dress for next year? 😊

[@NearFromHome]

Lol I am in the process of buying something from Etsy for next year. 🤩The thumbnail outfit is a hasty to be returned immediately Amazon purchase 😅

[@Pawe1416]

Grüße aus Bretten 😊

[@NearFromHome]

😍🥰😍

[@silberblick6594]

A good Web adress ist the " Mittelalter Kalentarium. There are all events in Germany 🧙‍♂️

[@NearFromHome]

Excellent! It is so hard to find these things. Thanks for the help 🥰

[@Xmaslightsallyear]

Thank you for this and your other well made videos. You have talent and obviously put a lot of time and effort into them. Well done. However I have some suggestions. In this video especially, the camera shot is on your face for so much of the time. This is lost opportunity to show much more of what is a around you, while still narrating. Occasional "selfie shots" are appropriate of course but the percentage of time just showing a closeup of yourself is remarkably high in this video. Secondly, you are a gifted narrator. But stop to breathe and let the natural sound set a mood occasionally. Let the story tell itself a bit more without the almost machine-gun style narration. Your viewers can feel the mood of a place through more ambient sound. Just my two centavos. Keep enjoying Germany. (Munich is my favorite city.) Keep up the fine work!

[@lemurcat]

Agreed 100%! Ben, you're a cutie but i found myself rewinding and pausing to see the too-brief shots of the action, or props, or crowds, etc.

[@NearFromHome]

Honestly. That’s a fair point. It’s a hard balance when editing. The video was getting so long that adding any more b roll seemed excessive and I was worried people would click away. That being said, maybe we should have covered a few selfie shots with more footage, or even cut out one or two entirely, that way you could see more of how the festival felt. I did genuinely keep this comment in mind though when filming and editing our latest Oktoberfest Festival video, I don’t know if you’ve checked it out but I’d be curious what you think in comparison to this one.

[@Xmaslightsallyear]

@@NearFromHome Indeed the Oktoberfest video was an improvement. Kudos. Keep up the increased voice-over approach; you are most effective and make best use of the medium when you show while telling. Also, pause the narrative periodically and let the natural sound take over, to convey a feeling of immediacy and authenticity. Well-selected natural sound "accents" can be memorable and emotionally engaging.

[@billstephens396]

I never heard of the festival and I visited Bretten years ago when I was active duty US Army.. I guess I visited at the wrong time...

[@NearFromHome]

Yeah it's only for four days during the year, and there's basically no advertising :O

[@TryChillBalloo]

Ich will auch Bier!

[@NearFromHome]

So glad somebody else heard that 😅

[@BaluDerBaer933]

Am only because of Camille here!

[@NearFromHome]

Lol

[@gavinrogers5246]

You should go to Furth im Wald and see the dragon ...

[@gavinrogers5246]

Also the Esslingen Weihnachtsmarkt is fantastic since it is done in a Medieval style.

[@NearFromHome]

Wait, that looks so cool 🤩 Just marked it on google maps

[@NearFromHome]

Where is it? There seem to be a few Esslingens

[@gavinrogers5246]

@@NearFromHome Esslingen am Necker by Stuttgart. It also has a castle and we know how Ben loves castles (I am assuming this is Camille, since I hear your voice in this writing).

[@silviahannak3213]

Those ppl on the Cow. They just look like Farmers..just with short trousers. (My Grandpa and others were more wearing long trousers in Lower Austria .on the fields. But that hat doesn't fit. Where is the Castle? We celebrate them in the big Gardens of different castles.In Austria. Some even have eagles, falls ect...Show. on non Festivals you can even go inside.That is looking great as well. Well you are in Germany.. we speak german. Mostly you won't see ppl from other countries cause its a german thing. I just mean...less ppl from other nationalities are coming there.

[@NearFromHome]

🥰🥰🥰

[@germanlady1776]

Not to be rude and thank you for the video but I wished you'd show more of the festival. I noticed a lot of "you", talking the entire time. Less is more. I really was looking forward of seeing more of the actual festival!

[@NearFromHome]

Sure that is a comment we gotten a few times, but honestly, idk what to say. We spent literally spent two full days making sure we got as much broll as possible to show the festival. Like, i don't know how it would have been physically possible for us to film more.

[@jensschroder8214]

If you go there by car, don't forget to unhitch the horses. And if someone misbehaves or is drunk, medieval torture, wheeling and throwing at animals is certainly possible.

[@NearFromHome]

Perfekt 🎉

[@TADandFRANCI]

Nice job! We cover these events in our area on our channel: Franci & Tad

[@NearFromHome]

Oh cool! Just checked it out. Subscribed!

[@jazzcooper9763]

Don't call it Flammkuchen! Call it Rahmfleck please 🙏

[@NearFromHome]

😅

[@MarsOhr]

Orange sun glasses become not.

[@NearFromHome]

😭

[@MarsOhr]

@@NearFromHome I am sorry.

[@NearFromHome]

@@MarsOhr I was kidding :)

[@lorenzsabbaer7725]

its bretten, not breten

[@NearFromHome]

Are they pronounced differently??

[@lorenzsabbaer7725]

@@NearFromHome after a vocal, if there is a double letter, the vocal is pronounced short, f.e. like in müssen (not müsen), sollen (not solen). this is often a problem for foreign speakers, but once you get the hang on it and know how the words are written it gets very easy.

[@NearFromHome]

@@lorenzsabbaer7725 Ah yes! I'm remembering a German class now where to teacher was stressing the difference between Polen and Pollen. I will work on it lol

[@lorenzsabbaer7725]

@@NearFromHome no problem, i have to work on my english everday ;) we can all learn from each other

[@sharuk98ala]

Yes keep posting such videos especially German ones.

[@NearFromHome]

Thanks for the support :) it means a lot! And you are in luck, as we continued to try making a few more festival videos. We actually just released a brand new one this morning. I'd love to know what you think.

[@sharuk98ala]

@@NearFromHome I'd love to watch your more and more videos, it's very content full keep going bro.