The Hirrlingen sheep dance gives the town a distinctive cultural focal point: this traditional custom has been part of the Hirrlingen Kirbe festival since 1969. A major Roman road also passed through Hirrlingen. Its location on the Rauher Rammert and above the Starzel Valley adds a scenic perspective to these historical connections. The wider TĂĽbingen travel destination offers further regional nature and culture themes.
Sheep Dance and Kirbe in Hirrlingen
The traditional sheep dance, formerly also known as the sheep run or rooster dance, has been part of the Hirrlingen Kirbe since 1969. The event combines a procession through the town with a dance that follows: after the procession comes a round dance or step dance around the sheep and the sign clock on the Lehenwiese. The tradition can therefore be understood both through its names and its specific sequence of events. The procession, dance and named venue are distinct parts of the same Kirbe custom.
A historic route through Hirrlingen
Hirrlingen also appears in the history of routes connecting different regions. The major Roman road ran from Windisch via Hüfingen, Rottweil and Hirrlingen, then on via Rottenburg, Wurmlingen, Unterjesingen, Tübingen, Lustnau and Köngen (Grinario) to Heidenheim and Cannstatt. Its route shows Hirrlingen as a stop on a longer historic connection. This is a different perspective from the sheep dance: here, the focus is on a road linking several towns, while the dance is a tradition within the Hirrlingen Kirbe.
Hirrlingen and the region’s landscape
Hirrlingen lies on the Rauher Rammert and above the Starzel Valley. The wider Tübingen travel destination offers its own perspective on the surrounding landscape. Tübingen district stretches between the Schönbuch Nature Park, with its forests and valleys, in the north and the Alb escarpment in the south. The Neckar, Ammer and Steinlach rivers have cut through the district’s cuesta landscape, creating a varied region. Its scenery includes the wooded areas of the Rammert and Schönbuch Nature Park, plateaus with far-reaching views, orchards and vineyards.
Culture in the wider TĂĽbingen travel destination
The region’s museums also cover a range of subjects. The Museum of Ancient Cultures at Hohentübingen Castle is the world’s only university museum with exhibits from two UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions. It displays figurative artworks dating back 40,000 years, as well as the oldest musical instruments. The Unterjesingen Press Museum presents an extensive collection of equipment and objects relating to wine and hop growing, as well as farming and domestic life, since the 19th century. In the region, early art and musical instruments thus sit alongside collections relating to winegrowing and agriculture.
At Bebenhausen Palace, the interior rooms can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Tours cover Cistercian monastery architecture, as well as the daily lives of the monks and the royal couple. Check dates and availability in advance, as access arrangements may change. Alongside the collections in HohentĂĽbingen and Unterjesingen, the region also offers an opportunity to explore architecture and topics covered by a guided tour.
Hiking, wine and getting around the region
The Früchtetrauf area has four certified premium hiking trails and six premium walking trails. These figures distinguish between two designated types of route; as certifications can change, check the current route details before setting out. There are several ways to explore wine as part of the region’s cultural heritage: visit the Unterjesingen Press Museum, take a guided tour of a vineyard or visit a traditional Swabian Besenwirtschaft wine tavern. If you are planning a tour or visit for a specific date, check the details in advance.
The naldo transport association is also useful for getting around the region; its member towns include Tübingen, Rottenburg and Mössingen. Network boundaries and fares may change, so check the association’s current information when planning your journey.
Discover more destinations: Ammerbuch, Weingarten, Kusterdingen, Ă–schingen, Nehren, TĂĽbingen, Stetten Am Kalten Markt, Starzach.
Go to the wider travel overview: TĂĽbingen.
