Kirchweih Röttenbach

A Kirchweih for Two Villages

The municipality of Röttenbach in the Roth district consists of two parts: Röttenbach and Mühlstetten. Instead of each celebrating its own Kirchweih, the two parts of the municipality have agreed on a joint festival – the Kirchweih Röttenbach-Mühlstetten. In mid-June, the shared festival grounds transform into the center of village life for four days.

Four Days in the Festival Tent

The Röttenbacher Kirchweih traditionally runs from Friday to Monday. The local shooting clubs' Kirchweih-Schießen (Kirchweih shooting competition) kicks off the weekend before the festival. The festival tent opens on Friday evening with brass music from the local band; the highlight is on Sunday afternoon with the dancing of the Kirwapaare, and Monday evening is for winding down.

Kirwabaum and Dancing Out

As in many Franconian villages, the Kirwabaum – a decorated spruce – is the visible symbol of the festival. It is erected by the young men on the Thursday or Friday before the Kirchweih. On Sunday afternoon, the Kirwapaare – men in traditional costume, women in Dirndl – dance under the tree in the traditional way, determining the Oberkirchweihpaar (head Kirchweih couple) through the flower bouquet ritual.

Kirchweih-Schießen as a Kick-off

A special feature of the Röttenbacher Kirchweih: The Kirchweih-Schießen by the local shooting clubs takes place in the week before the actual festival – usually three evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The shooting clubs honor the best marksmen on Sunday with trophies and plaques.

Festival Tent Atmosphere

Inside the festival tent on the grounds, the atmosphere is that of a classic Franconian folk festival: Masses of beer from regional breweries, Bratwürste with Sauerkraut, Schäuferla (pork shoulder), Krenfleisch (boiled beef with horseradish), and Kirwa-Krapfen (Kirchweih doughnuts). The brass band plays during the day, and dance bands take over in the evenings. Families will find carousels, shooting galleries, and small food stalls on the festival grounds.

Röttenbach in the Roth District

Röttenbach belongs to the Roth district, south of Nuremberg, in the heart of the historic Rangau region. With around 2,300 inhabitants, the municipality is manageable, and village life is active. Since 2020, the district has been a member of the Association of Historical Children's and Homeland Festivals in Southern Germany (founded in 1964), whose members are committed to preserving customs and festival culture.

A Kirchweih Without Tourist Staging

The Röttenbacher Kirchweih is primarily a community festival – not a tourist spectacle. That's precisely what makes it worth seeing: authentic traditional costumes, real Kirwabou'n and Kirwamoidla (Kirchweih lads and lasses), real brass music, real Franconian festival food. Anyone who wants to experience Franconian folk culture in its authentic form will find it here.