Schweriner Martensmarkt

The arrival of the Lübeck Martensmann is once again celebrated in Schwerin with a three-day medieval spectacle. The Martensmarkt goes back to a medieval custom between the dukes of Schwerin and the free imperial and Hanseatic city of Lübeck.

The custom

The three-day festival combines a custom from the Middle Ages with the renewed friendship between the cities of Lübeck and Schwerin following reunification. The weekend is full of beautiful rituals, from walking with lanterns to the ritual discussion between the Martensmann and the city president, medieval market activities, music and cabaret.

The custom between Lübeck and Schwerin is an ancient one. It is more than 700 years since the Lübeck Martensmann first set off on the arduous journey to the Duke of Mecklenburg in Schwerin. Even then, the Lübeck messenger carried wine as a token of friendship to the nobleman and his subjects. The unusual name was given to the wine by Lübeck merchants who imported the noble drink from France in the Middle Ages and matured it in their own cellars. "Spon" is the Low German word for wood shaving, so "Rotspon" means red wine from wooden barrels. The custom died out in 1817 and was revived in 1991 on the initiative of the then Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, Björn Engholm. Since then, the state capital of Schwerin has celebrated the reception every year with a spectacular fair.