Hirrlingen: Sheep Dance, Roman Road and Rammert

The Sheep Dance at the Hirrlingen Kirbe festival

Since 1969, the traditional Sheep Dance has been part of the Hirrlingen Kirbe festival. It was formerly also known as the sheep race or the rooster dance. Its sequence combines a festive procession through the village with a dance afterwards on the Lehenwiese: there, a round dance or step dance is performed around a sheep and a shield clock. The sequence and named figures give the custom a concrete form: the procession is followed by a dance performance on the meadow.

Those interested in local traditions will find more here than just a name in the events calendar: the Sheep Dance is part of the Kirbe festival, and its described elements range from the procession through the village to the dance around the sheep and shield clock. The former names, sheep race and rooster dance, are also part of the traditional naming of the custom. This offers a way to get to know Hirrlingen through a tradition whose sequence and place in the Kirbe festival are clearly defined.

Hirrlingen on a Roman road route

Hirrlingen is also connected with Roman history. The central Roman road ran from Windisch via Hüfingen, Rottweil, Hirrlingen, Rottenburg, Wurmlingen, Unterjesingen, Tübingen, Lustnau and Köngen (Grinario) to Heidenheim and Cannstatt. Hirrlingen is therefore explicitly part of a longer historic route that connects numerous places. The route places the village within a regional history; by contrast, the Sheep Dance tells of a local tradition at the Kirbe festival.

Landscape setting and regional perspective

The local landscape can be briefly located: Hirrlingen lies on the Rauher Rammert, above the Starzel Valley. These two references help orient visitors to the landscape when choosing a focus for their trip, while the Sheep Dance offers a cultural point of interest.

Looking at the wider destination of Tübingen gives a broader view of the district: it stretches from the Schönbuch Nature Park, with its many forests and valleys, in the north to the Alb escarpment in the south. The Neckar, Ammer and Steinlach rivers have cut through the cuesta landscape, creating a varied area. The district’s landscape also includes the wooded areas of the Rammert and Schönbuch Nature Park, upland plateaus with far-reaching views, orchards and vineyards. This regional diversity complements Hirrlingen’s specific landscape setting with a wider perspective.

Culture and activities in the wider destination of Tübingen

Museums also offer a range of different highlights. The Museum of Ancient Cultures at Hohentübingen Castle is the only university museum in the world with exhibits from two UNESCO World Heritage listings. It displays 40,000-year-old figurative artworks as well as the oldest musical instruments. In Rottenburg, the Sumelocenna Museum presents original excavations from part of the ancient town and documentary films. With its extensive collection of equipment and objects, the Unterjesingen Wine Press Museum explores wine and hop cultivation, as well as farming and household management since the 19th century.

For architecture and history, Tübingen’s historic old town offers half-timbered houses and narrow lanes that invite visitors to stroll. In Bebenhausen, guided tours explore Cistercian monastery architecture and the daily lives of the monks and the royal couple. The interior rooms of Bebenhausen Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour; check dates and availability before your visit.

The Früchtetrauf offers another regional focus for outdoor activities: there are more than 1,000 kilometres of signposted cycling routes for gravel bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes, as well as four certified premium hiking trails and six premium walking trails. The options vary by activity and trail format; check current route information when planning, as certifications may change. At the Früchtetrauf, wine can be experienced as a cultural asset in several ways, including at the Unterjesingen Wine Press Museum, on a guided vineyard tour or in a traditional Swabian Besenwirtschaft.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your travel interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Hirrlingen, you can first consider whether your trip will focus mainly on the local landscape and the Sheep Dance tradition, or whether you would also like to explore other cultural and outdoor activities in the wider destination of Tübingen. The Hirrlingen Kirbe festival and the historic Roman road offer specific connections to the village; museums, cycling and hiking options, and wine provide additional regional themes.

Discover more destinations: Ammerbuch, Rottenburg am Neckar, Weingarten, Tübingen, Öschingen, Nehren, Kusterdingen and Mössingen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Tübingen.