Mauer Rotschwänzlfest

Mauer and its village summer date

Mauer is a municipality with just under 4,000 inhabitants in the Rhein-Neckar district, located in the southeastern part of the district, at the transition from Kraichgau to the Kleiner Odenwald. The place became known through the discovery of the "Lower Jaw of Mauer" (1907) — one of the oldest hominid fossils in Europe, the type specimen of Homo heidelbergensis. Behind this archaeological fame lies a lively village life with numerous clubs and fixed festival dates. The Rotschwänzlfest is one of the annual summer dates, organized at the roundabout in the village.

Course of the festival

The organizer is the municipality of Mauer together with the local clubs. It usually starts on Saturday afternoon (according to the 2026 event calendar: June 20, 2026, from 2:00 PM). Catering with food and drinks is provided by the clubs, simple family entertainment, and a cozy get-together in the village community — the classic profile of a small Baden-Württemberg summer festival, without market activities and without a big stage, but with a personal atmosphere.

Roundabout as festival grounds

The roundabout — Mauer's central traffic circle — serves as an improvised festival ground on festival days. The area is prepared accordingly for the duration of the festival; benches, tables, and club stands are set up. The festival is easily accessible on foot or by bike; there are short distances from the neighboring towns of Mauer, Wiesenbach, Meckesheim, and Bammental.

Mauer and the festival culture in the Rhein-Neckar district

In the Rhein-Neckar district in the state of Baden-Württemberg, many small municipalities maintain a rich club and festival culture. The Rotschwänzlfest is a typical example: supported by volunteers, without commercial aspirations, a reliable summer date for the village community and visitors from the immediate surroundings. Those who visit Mauer can combine the date with an excursion to Heidelberg Castle (approx. 25 km) or the Neckar Valley.