Münsingen Sheep | Art & Garden (with Sheep Drive)

Sheep, Art, and the Start of Spring

Münsingen is located in the heart of the UNESCO Swabian Jura Biosphere Area — and this heritage also shapes the Art and Garden Market, which enlivens the town every year at the end of April. The 2026 season marks an innovation: the market will henceforth be called „Sheep | Art & Garden“ and puts the sheep — a symbol of the Alb plateau and its migratory sheep farming — at the center. Around 80 sheep will be presented on the Rathaus meadow; alongside them, there will be lamb cooking demonstrations by regional top chefs, showing how lamb from the Alb plateau is prepared.

Artisans and Garden Lovers

Despite the new focus on sheep, the artisan and garden market remains the core of the event. On Matthias-Erzberger-Platz and Rathausplatz, artisans, florists, and garden designers exhibit their works: sculptures made of natural stone and wood, artistic planters, unusual perennials and specimen plants, garden furniture, herbs, and old heirloom varieties from regional manufacturers, jewelry made of precious metals and stones, embroidery, ceramics, and textiles. The spectrum ranges from practical and useful (for your own garden) to decorative and artistic (for the home).

Show Cooking with Celebrity Chefs

At midday on April 26, 2026, the lamb cooking demonstrations are on the program. Three prominent chefs will be at the show cooking stations: Mayor Mike Münzing himself (an enthusiastic amateur cook and promoter of regional cuisine in Münsingen), Simon Tress (a Michelin-starred chef from Hayingen with the restaurant „Tress“ — known for regional organic cuisine from the Biosphere Area), and Gerlinde Kretschmann (wife of former Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, herself involved in issues of regional food culture). The demonstrations are free to attend and show how lamb from migratory sheep farming can be creatively incorporated into contemporary cuisine.

Sunday Shopping

In parallel to the market, there will be Sunday shopping in Münsingen's town center: from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., participating shops will open, complementing the market offerings with fashion, books, stationery, and specialties. The market itself runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free; alongside the market, there will be musical accompaniment and gastronomic offerings with regional specialties — from Alb bread and cheese to lamb sausages.

Münsingen — Gateway to the Swabian Jura Biosphere Area

Münsingen is located in the Reutlingen district on the Middle Alb. The town, with its approximately 14,500 inhabitants, is one of the gateways to the UNESCO Swabian Jura Biosphere Area, recognized since 2009. Münsingen is also known for the former Münsingen military training area, which is now a unique wilderness area with migratory sheep farming and wild animal populations. Visitors to the market can combine the day with a hike on the former military training area or a visit to the pilgrimage site of St. Johann in Apfelstetten — a perfect spring day trip to the Swabian Jura.