The Medieval Fair in the Burgplatz.

It was hot here again today, and even hotter at the "Medieval Fair" in the Burgplatz, where the man with the white  fuzzy bead played a medieval blacksmith, who was being forced by two overseers to produce chain, blades and other assorted metal objects over a very hot forge.   The grubby, leather clad man holding a halberd, and with a horn hanging from his belt, came over and whipped him when he stopped working!   Well, we all laughed of course, and the children thought it great fun.

Unfortunately this is probably close to the reality of life in the middle ages, when being a peasant was not  a very good career option.    I remember this fair from last year when it  drizzled all day, and the great unwashed medieval participants had their face paint streaked in the rain, and the sackbuts got soaked.   I liked the man dressed in red below, I can imagine characters like him wandering around 15th century Brunswick. 

The fair takes place in front of Henry the Lion's palace  in the  Cathedral precincts, which adds a great deal of atmosphere to the occasion.  Various stalls sold their medieval wares, but fortunately the food was not medieval, the bread was baked on the day at the local bakery,  and the beer was brewed by Wolter's just down the road in Braunschweig.

The two overseers make sure the blacksmith works hard.

It was difficult to take photos that show the true flavour of the time.  The intrusion of modern dress, road signs, watches and mobile phones didn't help!

The Burgplatz, with half timbered buildings in the background.