Welcome to LutherCountry for three great autumn festivals - devoted to pottery, beer and onions!

500 years ago, Martin Luther, the great reformer, was known as a man, who enjoyed his beer. In fact, he liked his wife's brew best of all. That love of properly-brewed beer continues in eastern Germany, the home of one of Germany's most popular - but least touristy - beer festivals. Luther would eaten off pottery plates and drunk from ceramic mugs: the sort you see at the annual Pottery Market. And Luther also enjoyed his food, and would have known all about the delicious Weimar Onion Tart....still sold today during the town's centuries-old Onion Festival!

LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG    September 24 - 25

One of the highlights of Lutherstadt Wittenberg's Summer of Culture, is the 19th Pottery & Farmers Market, one of the most unusual of its kind in Europe. Watch some of the finest artisan potters from Germany and Hungary (all juried) as they work. Even better, you can test your skill on one of the potter's wheels in the historic Cranachhof courtyard. Create your own mini-masterpiece and have it fired in a Japanese-style raku oven. The whole weekend is all about fun; events include a ceremonial opening by the mayor complete with fanfares and a Sunday morning church service for the potters!

ERFURT        October 1 - 16

Erfurt is a special place at any time of year, but come the fall, the capital of the state of Thuringia hosts Oktoberfest Erfurt on its vast medieval Cathedral Square. To kick off the festivities, the city's Lord Mayor arrives in the traditional manner - in a horse-drawn carriage. Then he "taps" the first barrel. As well as beer tents, there are musicians, street entertainers and fairground-style rides. Each evening, from 6pm, the square rocks to the sound of live music.

WEIMAR         October 7 - 9

The state of Thuringia's largest festival has nothing to do with beer: it's all about ONIONS! The annual Onion Market (Weimarer Zwiebelmarkt) has been a Weimar event since 1653, so this year's is the 358th! Held over 3 days, there is just one theme: onions. Some 500 stalls sell everything from braids of onions to arts and crafts themed on onions. Delicious onion-based dishes include soups, breads, and the famous onion tart (see recipe below). Beer gardens, fairground attractions, live music, a Ferris wheel, and more than 100 stage performances add to the fun.

And if you feel guilty about attending these events, just think of Luther, who wrote:

"It's better to think of church in the ale-house than to think of the ale-house in church." 

WEIMAR ONION TART

Here is our traditional recipe: enjoy!

Pastry

1 pound flour

½ pint milk

1 ½ ounces yeast

Pinch of salt, sugar

2 eggs

5 tablespoons of oil

Filling

2 pounds of onions

4 tablespoons of oil

1 pint sour cream

½ pint milk

4 eggs

1 teaspoon caraway seeds

Salt, pepper to taste

• To make the dough, dissolve the yeast in the milk. Add the flour, sugar, salt, eggs and oil. Knead well. Cover and leave to stand for about an hour.
• Slice the onions into fine rings. Fry the onions in hot oil, but don't let them turn brown. Allow to cool down. 
• Roll out the pastry base on a greased baking tray, push up the edges, pierce a few times with a fork and leave to stand for about five minutes. Spread the onions on the pastry.
• Whisk the remaining ingredients together and pour them over the onions. 

Bake the tart in the oven at 375°F for 45 minutes. Serve warm. 

For more information, please visit www.visit-luther.com.