Kirchweih Hundelshausen

Village Kerwa in the Steigerwald

Hundelshausen is a district of the municipality of Oberschwarzach in the Schweinfurt district, nestled in the rolling landscape of the Steigerwald Nature Park. The Kirchweih Hundelshausen is one of those Franconian village festivals that keep traditions alive without developing into a major tourist event. The festival traditionally takes place around the second weekend in September — the exact date varies slightly depending on the calendar and the parish's patron saint's day.

Meeting Point Gaststätte Bedenk

The central venue for the events is the Bedenk guesthouse in the village center. Here, drinks are served, food is enjoyed, and celebrations take place. The typical Franconian cuisine is the focus: Schäuferla (pork shoulder) with dumplings, bratwurst from a wood fire, homemade coleslaw. This is accompanied by beer from regional breweries — Hundelshausen is located in the Steigerwald, one of Franconia's densest brewery landscapes.

Tradition and Church Service

Like every Franconian Kerwa, Hundelshausen has its fixed schedule: Festival opening on Saturday, Kirchweih church service on Sunday, and a relaxed conclusion on Monday. The village lads are responsible for erecting the tree and managing the festival activities. The small size of the village — Hundelshausen has only a few hundred inhabitants — ensures a particularly personal atmosphere where locals and visitors quickly strike up conversations.

Oberschwarzach and the Steigerwald

The municipality of Oberschwarzach, to which Hundelshausen belongs, is located between Schweinfurt and Würzburg in the heart of the Steigerwald Nature Park. The region is famous for its vineyard landscape in the south and the extensive beech forests in the north, which have been discussed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage site for decades. A Kerwa like the one in Hundelshausen offers an authentic glimpse into Franconian village culture far from the major festival weeks.