Event Details
Welcome to the Barbarossa Market Gelnhausen 2027
For four days, the Barbarossa city of Gelnhausen transforms into one of the most beloved folk festivals in the Main-Kinzig region. The Barbarossa Market draws around 50,000 visitors each year to the town's picturesque historic old town. Named after the city's founder Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who established Gelnhausen in 1170, the market spreads across the streets, lanes and squares of the town centre, combining fairground rides, crafts, culinary delights and a medieval atmosphere into one unique event.
Highlights
- Official opening ceremony with barrel tapping on Saturday at 11:00 AM at Obermarkt
- Ferris wheel as the iconic centrepiece of the market at Obermarkt
- Medieval market at Untermarkt with historical traders and craftspeople in period costume
- Around 120 market stalls featuring arts and crafts, goods and culinary specialities
- More than 20 fairground rides for all ages
- Festival tent with live music program throughout the day
- Sunday shopping with local stores open from 12:00 to 18:00
- Regional Hessian and international specialities along the culinary mile
Program and Opening Hours
The Barbarossa Market traditionally takes place during the first weekend in March and runs for four days from Friday to Monday. On Friday the market opens at 16:00; Saturday, Sunday and Monday open from 11:00. The official opening ceremony with barrel tapping takes place on Saturday at 11:00 AM at Obermarkt, accompanied by the Gelnhausen Fanfare Corps. The festival tent program runs daily until late evening.
The market grounds cover several areas of the historic old town: Obermarkt hosts the iconic ferris wheel, Untermarkt is home to the medieval market, and the Krammarkt stretches from Seestraße through Philipp-Reis-Straße to the town hall.
Medieval Market at Untermarkt
One of the most distinctive features of the Barbarossa Market is the historical medieval market at Untermarkt. Here, traders and craftspeople in period dress present their goods and skills against the backdrop of the Romanesque House (built around 1200) and the Marienkirche, creating a genuinely medieval atmosphere that sets this festival apart from other regional folk festivals.
Organiser
The market is organised by the Stadtmarketing- und Gewerbeverein Gelnhausen e.V. in cooperation with the Frankfurt Rhein/Main showmen's association. From regularly more than 300 applications, around 120 market participants are selected, with a focus on a good mix of regional operators and new attractions.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early: parking in the town centre is limited during the market; accessible parking is available at VR-Bank on Philipp-Reis-Straße.
- Travelling by S-Bahn line S6 from Frankfurt is the most comfortable option; the station is a short walk from the old town.
- The regular Friday market at Obermarkt does not take place during the Barbarossa Market.
- City bus stops in restricted areas are replaced by shuttle stops on Barbarossastraße and Berliner Straße.
- Make the most of the Sunday shopping to explore Gelnhausen's local stores.
- Pack warm clothes; early March in the Wetterau region can be cool and changeable.
Getting There
Gelnhausen is located around 40 kilometres east of Frankfurt am Main. It is easily reached by S-Bahn S6 from Frankfurt Central Station in approximately 40 minutes, by train via Hanau ICE station, or by car via the A66 motorway (exits Gelnhausen-West or Gelnhausen-Mitte). Expect extensive road closures in the town centre during the market days.
