Who knew something so poisonous could be so good for you?
Poisonous? A town? Not possible. Unheard of.
No, it isn’t if the town’s name is Schierling, which translates to Hemlock in English.
Didn’t know Hemlock was poisonous?
I digress. Schierling, located right between Landshut and Regensburg in the Upper Palatinate, is officially over a thousand years old, and was once along an old Roman Road.
Schierling has seen its fair share of famous folks too, like Napoleon who came here in the early 19th century.
Today it’s an average Bavarian town, where you’ll find sculpture in the streets and everyday folks going to work. That is, except when there’s a festival going on.
Oh, and are there a lot of ’em…
October is a pretty popular month for festivities, with the annual Flohmarkt (Flea Market) taking place early in the month, the Wine Festival a little later in the month, and hosting a church fair.
November is active too with a number of Advent events (including the obligatory Christkindlmarkt) taking place throughout Schierling’s sixteen villages. They all lead up to the Nikolaus Market in early to mid-December.
Not everyone appreciates a crisp, cold morning. So for those of you who like it warmer, there are festivals to accommodate you too. The Maifest comes along in early May, and there’s a Jahresabschlussfest at the end of June. Although… how come they celebrate the end of the year in the middle of the year?
Want something else still? You gotta wait for the (unspeakable) Gennßhenkerfest, that only takes place every fourth year; but it’s a free-for-all with music, food, and lederhosen.
Wow, at least every July there’s the Margaretenfest and a Pfarrfest (church festival).
Speaking of churches, you can’t have a church festival without one. If you’ve only got time to see a couple, make it the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul—a Catholic church that’s painted the prettiest yellow and has what’s called an “onion dome.”
Or, see the St. Nicholas Church that looks unassuming until you see the inside. It’s beautifully decorated inside with a stunning high altar and a 17th century Madonna.
Did I say Schierling was poisonous? You see, I actually meant a perfect paradise. ;-)
