TRADE IN GERMANY FOR A WEEK - ON LIMBURG

Published: 03 September 2009

Lichfield's German twin town of Limburg an der Lahn has a very popular Christmas market held in its picturesque "Old Town" ?and a business or trader from the Lichfield area is invited to sell their produce on this market for a week later this year. The dates available are either Fri 27 November ?Fri 4 December, or Sat 5 ?Fri 11 December. The market is open every day from 10.00 am until 8.00 pm.

If you've visited the Frankfurt German Christmas market in Birmingham or even been lucky enough to have travelled to Germany to shop at one of their markets there, you will know that Christmas gifts and decorations, crafts, candles, glass, wood and ceramic items, jewellery and children's wooden toys are popular items for sale. Then there are the stalls selling the Gl?wein, beer and sausage, cakes (especially Stollen) and biscuits, pancakes and roast chestnuts, sweets and chocolates. In Limburg, the organisers suggest that the Lichfield entrepreneur sell items which retail up to €10 which are clearly English and which would make ideal Christmas gifts.

In 2008, Halfpenny Green Vineyards took their wines, liqueurs, ciders, jams and pickles, and had a great time! It was hard work, but very rewarding, and they received a warm welcome from the residents of, and visitors to, Limburg. They said that it had been "absolutely brilliant", and were very grateful that they had had the opportunity to go.

Once again, the Limburg Twinning Association has booked one of the traditional wooden huts for the four weeks of the market, and asks for a contribution towards the hire costs plus electricity used for the week. Whilst the Lichfield businessman would need to finance his / her transport costs (Limburg is easily accessible, on the A3 motorway between Cologne and Frankfurt), accommodation is provided free of charge in Limburg, on a self-catering basis, in a small holiday cottage which sleeps two. Members of the Twinning Association will be on hand all week to help, which is very welcome if your knowledge of German is limited.

Later in December, a merchant from Sainte Foy (Limburg and Lichfield's French twin town) has confirmed that he will be selling his wine, together with oysters, from the same stall.

If you are interested, and would like further details, please contact Julie Dewhurst, the Lichfield City Council Twinning Officer, tel: 01543 309851, julie.dewhurst@lichfield.gov.uk , as the Limburg organisers' deadline is mid October.