So, in 759 AD, someone set foot in the Erlbach Tal and founded the village of Buch. 1250 years later and the current crop of villagers are celebrating the birthday in a truly amazing way. Over the last four or five months a full scale medieval village has been lovingly built from wood. Set on the village Festplatz, it comprises around thirty hand build dwellings representing Buch over the last 1250 years.
The birthday festival started on Friday 15th of May and concluded on Sunday the 17th with fireworks over the beer tent on Friday and a huge procession on Sunday (including yours truly and Mrs yours truly representing the Kindergarten dressed up as 1970´s electricians...for some strange reason). Young Amy danced with the Turnen club on all three days.
20,000 visitors turned up over the three days to visit our small village in Lower Bavaria and even Bavarian TV broadcasted live on Friday.
Where else on earth could you see on just one day Napoleon drinking a beer alongside the Roman army and their big boss Julias Ceasar watched by a 15th Century Pope?
While the Neighbours step back in time to dress, eat, sleep and be disciplined in Medieval style?
Where the School children play a key role in the festivities
and the American's invade...again!
Where friends catch Plague..
And family merge with the locals..
Where every few minutes the shout of "Erlbach Tal, tausand mal" is heard across the festplatz...
Where the armies camp overnight like they used to..
under the illumination of fireworks..
Whilst the Iron agers look on..
and yours truly finally gets caught..
before you realise that at the end of the day, not much has changed in the world.