Markus Wietusch (in the guise of Bruder Dickbert) visits various German towns to mete out justice to heretics, sinners...and anyone else who doesn't run fast enough.

Fasnet is a popular form of carnival in Germany, involving street parades and people dressing up as traditional characters. One of the hazards for women attending Fasnet is being captured by witches, as the following pictures illustrate.

More fasnet celebrations in Stadthexen Blumberg, Germany.

The Italians are runners up with their splendid medieval fairs at Canelli and Casei Medievale.

Still in Italy, some pictures from Il Rinascimento di Colle:

Sacre bleu! Although it pains me to say it, after a slow start the French are surging ahead with le pilori et le carcan. Take a look at these wonderful pictures from a French medieval fair.

Anyone who says they prefer English cheese undergoes re-education at the Château d'Héricourt.

Another French fair. Stuck in a pillory and your hair is a mess? Then you need a visiting medieval hairdresser. A few expert tweaks and she's looking as chic as ever. Voila, c'est magnifique.

An outbreak of witchcraft in a French village. Fortunately La Confrerie du Molkenbourg seem to have it under control.

More French witches, this time at the Fete de la Sorciere.

In the Iberian peninsula, a pillory is generally considered to be a stone pillar with an iron collar attached. But Spain is at last moving away from such heresy and embracing the wood.

Eastern Europe is starting to emerge as a promising area for stocks and pillories. Lithuania is already firmly on the map with Trakai Castle (see Family Album 1) and our friends from Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are also making their presence felt. With a splendid disregard for health and safety, many of their stocks and pillories actually fit. Shhh.....nobody tell the European Union.

Goralska Agencja Eventowa is a Polish re-enactment group which performs at fairs and other venues. In some of the pictures, the victims are having their legs shaved with an axe. Yes, that's a new one on me too. Perhaps Polish women have particularly hairy legs. Those crazy Poles also have a spanking machine.

A visit to Australia. Good to see the southern hemisphere making an appearance.

The Abbey Medieval Festival in Australia.

Last and very much least is my part of the world, merrie olde England. A poor show, but at least we beat the Albanians.

Return to Index Page