Cold Market, Ellwangen

It is one of the most traditional horse markets in Southern Germany and is the oldest festival in Ellwangen: the Kalte Markt. What began as a horse market in the early Middle Ages has now developed into an event of regional significance. Horse lovers, farmers, and the residents of Ellwangen have long marked the exact date of the festival, which begins on the Sunday after Epiphany, in their calendars. The event kicks off with the opening of the fair at the Schießwasen. This is followed by the rider's mass in the Romanesque Basilica of St. Vitus, where the horse saints Eleusippus, Meleusippus, and Speusippus are honored. Early on Monday morning, mares and teams are awarded prizes, while the mayor invites representatives from politics, business, and culture to a traditional breakfast with the customary tripe dish at noon. Everyone comes together, and the atmosphere is splendid, especially when the city leader shares selected horse jokes. When the anthem "Hurrah, hurrah, the Kalte Markt is here" is sung afterward, the festival reaches another highlight: everyone joins in loudly, and during the chorus, the beer glasses on the tables wobble. The program continues with an impressive parade through the historic city center, featuring over 300 horses and teams, and in the evening, the Kalte Markt is celebrated extensively in the inns and taverns of Ellwangen. The festival concludes on the following Wednesday with a farmers' rally and a market that spreads throughout the entire city.