Laureckfest Grabenstetten

May Hiking Tradition on the Swabian Jura

Grabenstetten is located on the high plateau of the Swabian Jura, in the district of Reutlingen, about 15 kilometers south of Bad Urach. The village, with just under 1700 inhabitants, belongs to the most ancient Alb region of Southern Germany — karst landscapes, sinkhole caves, dense beech forests, and striking Albtrauf rocks characterize the scenery. For decades, the Swabian Alb Association local group Grabenstetten has maintained two traditions that shape hiking in the region: the Kandelfest and — on May 1st every year — the Laureckfest.

Lauereckfels — The Viewing Rock

The venue is the Lauereckfels — a free-standing rock on the Albtrauf above the Lenninger Tal. From here, the view extends far across the valley towards Bad Urach, and on clear days, to the Albuch and the Swabian Forest. The Albverein has built a simple festival hut here, which is opened once a year — on May 1st — and serves as a refreshment station for the Laureckfest.

'Naturhocketse' with Albverein Character

The 'Naturhocketse' — a typical Swabian festival format where hikers and day-trippers sit outdoors at club benches — can be experienced in a particularly original form at the Laureckfest. No large festival tent, no stage, no admission fee — just simple catering in the forest at a small shelter:

• Homemade cakes from the Albverein helpers — marble cake, crumble cake, braided yeast bread, apple strudel
• Bratwurst from the charcoal grill
• 'Maultaschen' (Swabian ravioli) with broth
• Draft beer and regional apple cider
• Coffee from a thermos, cocoa for the children

Hiking as a Festival Ritual

Access to the Lauereckfels is only possible on foot. Several marked trails lead from Grabenstetten village square through the forest to the rock — about a 30 to 45-minute walk, depending on the route chosen. This condition — no cars at the festival site — protects the character of the festival: those who come want to hike, want nature, want peace. This makes the Laureckfest one of the most authentic Albverein traditions of the Reutlingen Alb.

Albverein and Swabian Hiking Culture

With over 100,000 members, the Swabian Alb Association is one of Germany's largest hiking associations and has shaped the Albtrauf region since 1888. The Grabenstetten local group is one of the most traditional and, in addition to the Laureckfest, also organizes the Kandelfest (in summer) as well as guided hikes, multi-day excursions (in 2026, for example, Dachstein West in July), and family events. The Laureckfest on May 1st is the local group's most important public event and a must-attend for Albverein members and hiking enthusiasts from the entire region.