Donau-Rieser Schaftag

Sheep, Wool, Agriculture

The Donau-Rieser Schaftag takes place annually at the Museum KulturLand Ries in Maihingen. The organizer is the Bezirk Schwaben, which operates the open-air museum. Shepherds and wool processors from the Ries and the adjacent districts of Donau-Ries, Dillingen, and Augsburg-Land present their work through practical demonstrations.

Program from Herding to Wool

The day combines demonstrations related to sheep farming – herding work with sheepdogs, shearing, hoof trimming – with handicraft stations for wool processing, from washing and spinning to felting. Additionally, there are culinary offerings featuring lamb specialties, stalls with wool products, and lectures on landscape conservation and sustainable sheep farming. The event day also serves as an occasion to plan a full museum visit at KulturLand Ries.

What to Expect

• Demonstrations of herding work and sheep farming
• Handicraft stations: spinning, felting, dyeing
• Market stalls with wool products, lamb products, regional specialties
• Program for families and children on the museum grounds
• Lectures and information on landscape conservation

Museum KulturLand Ries in the Swabian Ries

The Museum KulturLand Ries in Maihingen is an open-air museum in the Donau-Ries district that documents the rural life of the Ries region. Housed in the baroque monastery courtyard of the former Minorite settlement in Maihingen, it combines permanent collections, relocated historical buildings, and thematic offerings on agriculture, crafts, and everyday culture. The Schaftag is one of the most popular event days of the year.