Mulhouse Carnival, France
Dunkirk Carnival, France
Albi Carnival, France
Content of this article
What is the Carnival of Mulhouse ?
The Mulhouse Carnival takes place over three days, during which the historic center is the central stage for the grand parades. During the festivities, more than 100 associations take part, including community centers, university students and other community groups that participate in the colorful and noisy processions in the design and manufacture of floats. The carnival attracts some 2,200 French, Swiss and German revelers marching, dancing and singing through the streets of the city.
Every year, thousands of people from different parts of France, Germany and Switzerland participate in the delivery of the keys of the city, the choosing of the queen, the arrival of the prince, Night of the jesters and the children’s carnival. Throughout the festivities, you can admire a large number of entertainers wearing disturbing masks symbolizing the spirit of winter. The nighttime carnival parade on Saturday night and the parade on Sunday afternoon are the most popular events, where you can find magnificent floats made in the carnival workshops throughout the year.
During the parades you can see particular characters called Waggis, who are people wearing large, somewhat disturbing masks and handing out sweets during the parades and events.
The waggis are iconic characters that roam the streets during the Mulhouse carnivals
.
When is the Mulhouse Carnival[/h2>?
The dates of the Mulhouse carnival are vague, however, they occur between February and March. Lthe carnivals will take place from approximately February 18 to February 21.
History of the Carnivals of Mulhouse
.
It is an ancient tradition shared with Germany and Switzerland as their bordering countries. During this time of year, carnival traditions were part of the people’s customs, as the locals tried to drive out the “evil spirits” of winter. Thus, every year around January and February, people dressed up as demons, witches, spirits and terrible animals to take part in the ceremony ofexpulsion of the spirits.
The celebrations of this particular carnival go back many years, which gave it the reputation of beingthe largest and most important carnival in France during 1920 and 1935. However, the Second World War forced the suspension of the carnival celebrations, which were not held again for several years. This caused the carnivals in Mulhouse not to become the most important again. However, fortunately the tradition still takes place despite having lost some of its luster.
Where is the Mulhouse Carnival
?
Mulhouse Carnival takes place in the city of Mulhouse, located in the Alsace region in eastern France. Parades occur throughout the city along main streets and squares. One of the most important squares and where various events take place is the Place de la Réunion..
The Mulhouse carnival parades are accompanied with musical bands and orchestras
.
How the Mulhouse Carnival is celebrated
.
The carnival of Mulhouse is one ofthe biggest carnivals in Alsace. It lasts 3 days in which a lot of main events take place, such asthe handing over of the keys of the city which symbolizes the birth of the carnival, along with thefirst day dance. This is followed by the children’s carnival on the second day and finally the grand procession and the charivari (a term used to designate the noisy and mocking parades). The parade invites hundreds of visitors from France, as well as other countries. The parade takes place on the last day; however, there are some events during these three days that cannot be missed, such as the election of the carnival queen, the different shows and the traditional revels..
The festival begins onThursday evening with theparade in the Place de la Réunion and continues until Sunday evening. Throughout the weekend there are processions of allegorical floats, accompanied drum music. People attend the parade where afestive and pleasant atmosphere prevails, counting on the presence of the distinctive Waggis. At night, people gather to enjoy live music in the restaurants and bars associated with the carnival.
Tips for going to the Carnivals of Mulhouse
.
If you want to attend these carnivals, make sure to plan your trip in advance, as well as your travel itinerary and of course, your accommodation as the Mulhouse carnivals is one of the most crowded carnivals.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.
Events at Mulhouse Carnival
.
Some of the most prominent events are held at Place de la Réunion, these being different shows and shows. In addition, there are also orchestras during the carnivals.
One of the most symbolic events is the giving of the keys of the city by the mayor, after which there are some concerts and bands live music. Likewise, there are also small events for children such as parades, making schangalas together with the bakers’ guild. Finally, there are also some concerts and tours of the different bars and restaurants affiliated with the carnivals.
The last day is the biggest day of the carnivals, when the carnival parade takes place with the participation of a crowd of people that goes through the different sectors of the city as Place de la Réunion, the Calle Merciere, the Street Marechaux, among others. Thousands of people participate in the event, including the Waggis who throw confetti and candy to the spectators. At the end of the event, there are more celebrations and meals in the Place de la Réunion.
The Mulhouse carnival is celebrated in the main streets and avenues with parades and floats
.
Mulhouse Carnival Parades
.
There are some parades that take place during theMulhouse festivities, one of these is the small children’s parade which is part of the activities organized for the little ones of the city. Likewise, the largest parade, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, takes place on the last day of the carnivals and runs through the most important streets and squares. During the latter, there is the participation of various carnival guilds. In addition, the Waggis take to the streets to throw sweets, confetti and disturb some spectators.
Parade route
.
THE children’s parade and the main parade of the Mulhouse carnival is held in the different parts of the city
.
The main parade of the city starts at the Place de la Paix, going through streets like Rue de la Sinne, Rue de la Justice, Rue Moulin, Rue des Maréchaux, along squares like Place des Victoires and Place de la Réunion.
schangalas are a typical dish of the region that is performed during the Mulhouse carnivals
.
What to eat at the Mulhouse Carnival
.
During the carnival it is common to find different dishes that are typical of the region and consumed during the festivities. One of these are the schangalas which are a kind of sweet doughnuts made of almond flour and fried in oil. There are also crêpes which are a dough similar to tortillas or pancakes, made of flour and most of the time they are spread with a variety of jams or chocolate.
Some of the city’s restaurants are part of the parade route, as well as partners or contributors to the carnival. Some of these restaurants are Brasserie le LC2, Auberge des Chevaliers and Brasserie Le Bureau which serve different traditional regional and national dishes, as well as snacks during the carnival.
Crêpes are flour doughs that can be spread with jam or chocolate
.
Travel Insurance
From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:
What to see and do inside the Mulhouse Carnival
?
Inside the carnival you have many activities you can take part in. The carnival you have three days full of activities. You can attend the different concerts organized by the city or the parade of children and see the activities organized for them. There are also different shows and performances in the different plazas of the city.
You can attend the various events or the tour of the restaurants and bars of the city and of course, attend the main parade that takes place on the last day of the festivities where you walk through the city and at the end there is live music and food..
What to see and do outside of the Mulhouse Carnivals
.
Some of the sites with major tourist importance in the city are:
Cité du Train
.
It is one of the most important museums of trains and locomotives in the region and in France. It receives annually more than 200,000 visitors.
Parc zoologique et botanique de Mulhouse
.
It was created in 1868 is one of the most important zoos in the country. It has about 900 animals, constituting at least 170 species including tropical birds and monkeys.
Cité de l’Automobile
.
It is the museum with the largest collection of cars in the world. It has about 500 cars of 98 brands, with cars dating from 1878 to the present day.
Safety at the Mulhouse Carnival
.
The city of Mulhouse is a safe and clean city like most European cities. The city center is the safest; however, there are some of the problematic parts of the city, but overall it is a safe city that welcomes tourists in a warm way. If you attend events with many people, keep your belongings in a safe place to avoid misplacement or theft. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:
Climate at the Mulhouse Carnival
.
During the Mulhouse Carnival, the weather ranges from -1 to 7 degrees Celsius. We recommend you to pack clothes ideal for the weather conditions in the area.
At the Mulhouse carnivals you walk through the streets on the last day of carnival
.
How to get to the Carnival of Mulhouse
.
How to get there by plane
.
The closest airport to Mulhouse is Basel-Mulhouse-Fribourg Airport 30 kilometers from the city. From there, you can employ different means of transport to reach the carnivals of Mulhouse.
How to get there by train
.
You can take the train from St. Louis. The ride is about 14 minutes and costs about $30.
How to get there by car
.
Taking the E25 highway from the airport you can reach the city of Mulhouse.
Where to stay at the Mulhouse Carnival
.
Best Western Hôtel De La Bourse
3-star hotel 600 meters from the city center. It has free high speed internet. Each room has a television.
Hotel Bristol
4-star hotel 300 meters from the city center. Offers restaurant and free internet. Features spa and buffet-style breakfast.
Hôtel Mulhouse Centre
3-star hotel located 250 meters from the city center. All rooms are air-conditioned, have satellite TV and breakfasts are served every morning.
We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:
Thanks for reading
.
If you liked this article and found it useful share it on your social networks or collaborate by inviting us for a coffee at Paypal so we can continue creating useful content. Click here to collaborate:
