Köhlerfest Kohlstetten

Köhlerfest Kohlstetten — Ancient Black Craft Live

The Köhlerfest Kohlstetten is one of the few events in Germany that demonstrates the traditional craft of Köhlern (making charcoal in a Meiler) using the historical method. The festival spans three days — Friday, May 8th to Sunday, May 10th, 2026 — and showcases the key phases of the charcoal maker's craft: Meiler setup (Friday), lighting (Saturday), and the transition to slow charring (Sunday and the following weeks). The charring process itself takes a total of about six weeks — the Meiler is tended after the festival days until the charcoal can be harvested in early summer.

The Meiler — How Does Charcoal Making Work?

A Meiler is a conical pile of wood, covered with earth and turf on top. Inside, the wood is slowly converted into charcoal under low-oxygen conditions — this is a pyrolytic conversion, not burning. The task of the Köhler (the Meiler tender) is to light the Meiler, correctly regulate the temperature and oxygen supply, and protect the wood from burning. The Meiler must be constantly monitored for 6 weeks — day and night. The charcoal-making craft has almost disappeared since the industrial 19th century; in Kohlstetten, it is kept alive as a traditional demonstration.

Program May 8th–10th, 2026

Friday, May 8th: Setup of the Meiler by experienced charcoal-making specialists and the village community. Catering and music at the Kohlstetten sports field from the evening. Saturday, May 9th: The Meiler is lit — the key ritual of the festival, with explanations from the charcoal makers to the interested public. Afterwards, catering all day, brass band program, family activities. The Schwäbische Alb Musikanten usually play their traditional Frühschoppen (morning pint/concert) on Sunday morning from 11 AM to 2 PM. Sunday, May 10th: Last day of the festival with lunch, music, and farewell — the Meiler remains active and is tended by volunteers.

Catering and Culinary Offerings

The culinary offer is classically Swabian: Maultaschen, Bratwurst, Schäuferle, Saumagen, Schupfnudeln, Linsen mit Spätzle und Saiten (lentils with Spätzle and sausages). Accompanied by beer from nearby breweries (Rößle Sonnenbühl), Swabian apple cider, homemade cakes. Catering is provided by the Kohlstetten village community together with the Schwäbische Alb Musikanten.

Engstingen and Kohlstetten — Swabian Jura

Engstingen (approx. 5,300 inhabitants, Reutlingen district, AGS 08415) is located on the central Swabian Jura in a hilly, wooded landscape. Kohlstetten is one of the four districts (Großengstingen, Kleinengstingen, Kohlstetten, Hörle). The name Kohlstetten itself dates back to the medieval charcoal-making tradition — the place literally got its name from burning charcoal. The annual Köhlerfest consciously keeps this tradition alive.