Hirrlingen: Mutton Dance and Landscape

Hirrlingen is located on the Rauher Rammert and above the Starzel Valley. The landscape and the traditional Mutton Dance offer two specific points of interest when choosing a destination. The custom has been part of Hirrlingen’s Kirbe festival since 1969. The wider Tübingen destination offers additional landscape and cultural themes of its own.

The Hirrlingen Mutton Dance

In the past, the traditional Mutton Dance was also called the Mutton Run or Hahnertanz. At the annual Hirrlingen Kirbe, a procession through the town is followed by a round dance or a measured dance around the ram and the sign clock on the Lehenwiese meadow. The sequence of procession and dance illustrates the custom as part of the town festival; both forms of dance are also part of its traditional description. If you are interested in local traditions, you can explore the Mutton Dance in the context of the Kirbe: it does not stand alone but is integrated into the festival’s proceedings.

A historic route

The central Roman road offers another historical perspective. Its route ran from Windisch via Hüfingen, Rottweil, Hirrlingen, Rottenburg, Wurmlingen, Unterjesingen, Tübingen, Lustnau and Köngen (Grinario) to Heidenheim and Cannstatt. Hirrlingen lies between Rottweil and Rottenburg on this route. The Mutton Dance places the town in the history of the Kirbe; the Roman road shows it as part of a far-reaching historic route.

Landscape, culture and activities in the wider Tübingen destination

Tübingen district stretches between the Schönbuch Nature Park, with its many forests and valleys, in the north and the Alb escarpment in the south. The Neckar, Ammer and Steinlach rivers have cut through the cuesta landscape, creating a varied region. Its landscape includes the forested areas of the Rammert and Schönbuch, plateaus with wide-ranging views, orchards and vineyards.

The Museum of Ancient Cultures at Hohentübingen Castle is the only university museum in the world with exhibits from two UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions. It displays 40,000-year-old figurative works of art and the oldest musical instruments. Half-timbered houses and narrow lanes define the appearance of Tübingen’s historic old town, which invites you to stroll. Guided tours in Bebenhausen offer a different perspective on history, covering Cistercian monastery architecture and the daily lives of the monks and the royal couple. The interiors of Bebenhausen Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Check dates and availability before your visit, as access arrangements may change.

Früchtetrauf has more than 1,000 kilometres of signposted cycling routes for gravel bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes. There are also four certified premium hiking trails and six premium walking trails. This gives you a choice of cycling routes and different types of hiking. As certifications may change, check the latest route information before planning your trip.

You can also experience wine as a cultural asset in various ways at Früchtetrauf: for example, at the Unterjesingen wine-press museum, on a guided vineyard tour or at a traditional Swabian Besenwirtschaft wine tavern. The wine-press museum displays an extensive collection of equipment and objects related to wine and hop growing, as well as agriculture and domestic life, dating from the 19th century onwards. For specific events or dates, it is advisable to check the latest information before travelling.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Tübingen.