Maikammer Local Customs

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Madonna statues are quite popular in regions with Catholic population, especially in bishoprics which were or still are very dominant. Maikammer is no exception and thus religious statues of the Madonna, angels or saints decorate many houses. Another beautiful example of the religious ties is the pink sandstone cross at the fork of roads just west of the market place (see photo). Since I took my photo it was restored and looks now more shiny than before.

© Ingrid D., August 2011.

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Several of these kinds of vineyard storage huts were built in Rheinhessen region, north of Palatinate. I discovered them some time ago near the village of Flonheim. And obviously they were so practical that several of them were also built in Palatinate’s wine region. A very beautiful one is located south of Maikammer. Sadly the vineyard owners have removed the climbing plant recently and now it looks a bit “naked”. But I believe that they did it to paint it bright white like the ones near Flonheim. These stone huts are said to have been built by southern Italian immigrants who came to the region as workers in the quarries. So they brought the idea of stone huts like in Alberobello with them.

Location of the Italian stone hut south of Maikammer on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., August 2011 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts).

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During Easter season, many houses in Maikammer are very nicely decorated with all kind of Easter related symbols. Eggs are colouring the village. The main fountains are specially decorated as well.
And during June, Brunnekerwe (fountain festival) is being celebrated in Maikammer’s suburb Alsterweiler. The fountain in front of the church is very beautifully decorated with flowers of the season. During the celebration weekend, stalls are there where wine from the local vintners can be sampled.
Another interesting sight in Alsterweiler is the church, well, the inside of the church. The “Maikammerer Altar” (altarpiece) is said to be one of the last remaining late Gothic altar pieces in Palatinate (of 1445). Sadly the church was closed when I arrived here during my vineyard walk. But I found a photo of it in www.

Location of Alsterweiler Brunnenfest on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., July 2011.
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Maikammer is not different to the other wine route villages: wine related decorations are abundant. But Maikammer is special in this context because of the blacksmith. It seems that he is very good in business because almost every house in Maikammer has smaller or bigger cast iron decoration. In a way these seem to be similar like the pub signs in UK, something like sign language pointing to the restaurants and hotels. An ox shows where Restaurant and Hotel zum Ochsen is (Ox = Ochse), the coffee pot is for the cafè and so on.
I made two albums with photos of the blacksmith’ work:
his wine related work
his other work

© Ingrid D., July 2011.
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