Rediscovering old traditions
Pear flour autumn
21st - 27th September 2026
From 21st - 27th September 2026, the little villages Verdings and Pradell dedicate a culinary week to the pear flour at the participating restaurants. On 22nd September, a themed night hike with interludes in German and stops at three restaurants where dishes made out of Birmehl will be served.
The highlight is the so called 'Birmehlsunntig' on 27th September 2026 starting at 10.00 am. Various associations and restaurants take part in this event and are more than happy to rivive this ancient peasant tradition with special events and delicacies along the Birmehlweg. During the different stations, you can taste a lot of specialities made out of the Birmehl.
From the origin of the 'Birmehl'
The 'Birmehl' is an old-peasant aliment, which used to replace the expensive, mostly unaffordable sugar as a sweetener. First, the pitted or whole pears were dried to the so-called ‘Kloazen’. The dried pears were then ground to Birmehl (pear flour). The countless pear trees around Verdings formed the best starting point for the production of Birmehl, so that the location was once also mockingly called the ‘Birmehldorf’.
While the sweet Birmehl over centuries replaced the mostly very expensive sugar for the poor rural population, today it is hardly to be found anymore. The production is very complex and time-consuming, but its use is varied and makes the dishes unique. The small village of Verdings has been relying on the revival of this old farming tradition for several years now. Also the themed hike ‘Birmehlweg’ (pear flour path) remembers the culture and tradition around the Birmehl and makes it experienceable.
From 21st - 27th September 2026, the little villages Verdings and Pradell dedicate a culinary week to the pear flour at the participating restaurants. On 22nd September, a themed night hike with interludes in German and stops at three restaurants where dishes made out of Birmehl will be served.
The highlight is the so called 'Birmehlsunntig' on 27th September 2026 starting at 10.00 am. Various associations and restaurants take part in this event and are more than happy to rivive this ancient peasant tradition with special events and delicacies along the Birmehlweg. During the different stations, you can taste a lot of specialities made out of the Birmehl.
From the origin of the 'Birmehl'
The 'Birmehl' is an old-peasant aliment, which used to replace the expensive, mostly unaffordable sugar as a sweetener. First, the pitted or whole pears were dried to the so-called ‘Kloazen’. The dried pears were then ground to Birmehl (pear flour). The countless pear trees around Verdings formed the best starting point for the production of Birmehl, so that the location was once also mockingly called the ‘Birmehldorf’.
While the sweet Birmehl over centuries replaced the mostly very expensive sugar for the poor rural population, today it is hardly to be found anymore. The production is very complex and time-consuming, but its use is varied and makes the dishes unique. The small village of Verdings has been relying on the revival of this old farming tradition for several years now. Also the themed hike ‘Birmehlweg’ (pear flour path) remembers the culture and tradition around the Birmehl and makes it experienceable.
