On Sunday, the historic Haupeschmaart, part of the broader Haupeschfest tradition in Munshausen, brought together local artisans, bakers, and visitors for its 36th edition, celebrating regional craft, cuisine, and community spirit.
Originally a regional market, the event has been revived by the municipality of Clervaux in recent decades to celebrate local heritage and bring life to the region.
Reviving the Haupeschfest isn't just about preserving history. As Jean Zeches, Director of the Clervaux Tourist Centre association, explains, it also supports a broader goal: encouraging sustainable tourism in rural areas. For him, sustainable tourism thrives where communities are active, where people come together, and where residents can genuinely make a living from their work. That, he says, only works when small networks collaborate and support one another.
Among the many family-run businesses represented at the market were sisters Sophia and Saskia Pfaff, who sell handmade wooden decorations crafted by their father as a hobby. They proudly described their process as entirely manual: no automated machines, just traditional bandsaws, circular saws, and hand tools.
With wintry weather setting the tone, many stalls were already offering Christmas-themed items. In the old Doléiner house – a historical term for a place that housed day labourers – bakers from the Nature Discovery Centre Robbesscheier were preparing Boxemännercher, the beloved Luxembourgish bread men. Linda Parisot, one of the bakers, shared that their dough includes flour, yeast, eggs from their own hens, water, butter, sugar, and, as she put it with a smile, "a pinch of magic". After waiting patiently for it to rise, the dough is rolled out and shaped into festive figures.
Even after four centuries, the Haupeschmaart remains popular. For those not in the mood for woodwork or baked goods, there were plenty of other handmade products to discover, including soap. Tonio Intini, a passionate artisan soap-maker, explained that his journey started with a desire to create and use more natural products. What began as a simple idea soon became a fascination, as he explained that he discovered a whole creative world behind soap-making.
In a year's time, visitors will once again be able to browse for unique Christmas gifts and enjoy the charm of this historic market at the Robbesscheier.
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