Sheep Market, Mayen

What sight could delight the heart more than watching frolicking spring lambs all full of life and joy? Well, it turns out even this tender sentiment has got its limits after an hour stood in a fedora-festooned crowd in the piss wet cold, breathing in the fumes of boiled bratwürst, and watching a succession of hapless sheep grimly sheared for public amusement. This blog concludes my February trilogy of miserable existential encounters with the German outdoors viewed through a rural folk lens, along with the promised trudging through mud.

The Sheep Market in Mayen is a traditional livestock event that takes place each year during the larger Lukasmarkt festival, a folk fair that has been held in the town since the early 15th century. It still has a  forlornly Medieval vibe if you ask me, but without the ergot to liven things up. The Sheep Market is held on the Wednesday of Lukasmarkt week on the Viehmarkt-Platz on Polcher Straße and is notable for being the only sheep market of its kind in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. At the event sheep breeders and enthusiasts gather to show different breeds of sheep, with either a practical flock show or a pedigree (Herdbuch) show where animals are judged and prizes are awarded. The day draws not only specialist visitors but also members of the public curious to see the animals up close and hear the chatter among shepherds and keepers. The Sheep Market serves as a reminder of the agricultural origins of the Lukasmarkt, which originally centred on trading livestock, and remains a mix of tradition, animal husbandry and community gathering within the broader festival atmosphere. 

My wife took some great photos of the sheep, and spent some time talking to the owners, until she innocently asked “How long does this breed live for?” To which, the owner said “I dunno, we eat them before they die.” This offended her vegetarian sensitivities.

Tractor Fayre 56825 Schmitt

The 2nd part of my trilogy “sad things that German’s do” is to detail (to my eternal shame) my attendance at a local tractor gathering (known as a Treckertreffen) in the village of Schmitt, in the Cochem-Zell district of Rheinland-Pfalz. I shall avoid the obvious gag here about “I used to be a tractor fan, but these days…”. On getting out of the car, we were greeted by a musky pong of fried onions, bratwurst, wood smoke and diesel fumes, to the strains of John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads (I kid you not). This set the scene nicely for an exceptional period of trudging around a large field looking at tractors, in various states of rusting and agriculturally-accelerated decay. For a mundane a rather utilitarian vehicle, they certainly do have a variety of forms; one could say almost endless.

At the tractor fayre in 56825 Schmitt, owners and tractor enthusiasts (especially vintage or classic models) come together to show their machines, take part in orientation rides, and socialize with others who share an interest in agricultural machinery. The Treckertreffen in Schmitt features a healthy array of tractors (and some vintage cars) on display and group rides organized by local tractor clubs such as the IG Treckefreunde Schmitt/Eifel. On the day I attended this  included rather unsafe elevation in the bucket of some Leviathan tractor, which affords excellent views of the local countryside and an opportunity to void the rectum at the same time.

Biker Gathering, Musikschmiede Kail

The following 3 blogs are examples of how people from Smalltown, Germany live out their joyless existence in their bleak heimat, mostly trudging around in mud outdoors in cold weather, neurosing over war- and post-war artifacts long since obsolete. In this instance, the gathering was in June 2025, so there was no mud but plenty of trudging. The mud will come later, I promise. 

The scenic village of Kail on the Mosel in Germany, the Musikschmiede Kail / Café zur Tanke hosts a distinctive bike-enthusiast gathering, rooted in classic and small-displacement motorcycle culture. The event over the weekend of 19–21 June 2025, drew riders and vintage bike fans from across the region.  The centrepiece of the weekend was the “50-er Treffen” held on 19th June 2025 (Fronleichnam/ Corpus Christi holiday), with yours truly in attendance. This free meetup focused on mopeds and 50 cc bikes; lovingly referred to in local scene circles as “Fuffziger”; where owners could exhibit their machines, browse a parts market, and connect with fellow riders. Later on, there was live music from the cover band Sound Convention. Nearby camping options were available for those who wanted to stay overnight. For such a small village, there were quite a few people knocking around, and on this occasion they had good weather for it. 

Activities over the weekend also included casual rides, gatherings around the classic machines, and a Saturday (21st June) Biker-Day with additional live music and food. The relaxed atmosphere at the former café-and-garage turned cultural meeting point gave riders a chance to enjoy scenic Mosel roads and local hospitality. There is also a metalworking forge from the old garage, with a collection of grizzly-looking hand-tools. Over the years Musikschmiede Kail, run by Jutta and Jürgen, has fondly become known as a regular meeting point for bikers, offering a mix of event programming, food, live music, and a welcoming setting for motorcycle enthusiasts.

https://musikschmiede-kail.de/