Rettichfest Reimlingen

A Swabian Ries Tradition Centered Around the Radish

The Rettichfest is one of the fixed spring dates in Reimlingen. Reimlingen is a small municipality in the Ries, a basin formed 14.8 million years ago by a meteorite impact between Nördlingen and Donauwörth. The Ries landscape in the Donau-Ries district (Bavaria) belongs to Bavarian Swabia and has been shaped by agriculture and horticulture for centuries — the radish (especially the beer radish) is one of the typical garden vegetables of the region.

The Beer Radish as a Culinary Identity of Bavaria

What happens at a Rettichfest might seem unspectacular at first glance — but in the Bavarian sense, it is very profound: people meet, thinly slice fresh beer radishes, salt them generously, let them sit briefly until the water drains — and eat them with fresh bread, lard, and a cool beer. This Brotzeit tradition is deeply rooted in Bavarian tavern culture and is considered the perfect accompaniment to beer. The radish "cries" when salted, which is considered a positive sign in Bavarian custom.

The Castle Garden as a Festival Backdrop

The festival takes place in the Reimlingen Castle Garden — a historic garden at Reimlingen Castle (Schloßstraße). The atmosphere of a mayor's festival or club festival — beer tables, beer benches outdoors, the communal preparation of the snack, conversations between neighbors — shapes the evening. The festival begins in the afternoon (typically 5:00 PM beer tapping) and continues into the evening.

Organizer: Reimlingen Horticultural Association

The organizer is the Gartenbauverein Reimlingen — one of the many local horticultural associations that preserve the gardening customs, the care of scattered orchards, and the tradition of growing their own vegetables in the Bavarian Ries villages. The associations are the social fabric of the rural region: members come from all generations, joint activities include plant exchange markets, autumn fruit pressing, club excursions, and the Rettichfest in May.

A Local Festival with Great Impact

The Rettichfest is not a major tourist event, but a typical Swabian village spring festival. It thrives on authenticity: simple program, simple food, cozy get-togethers. Anyone who wants to experience rural Bavaria in its unvarnished form will find the Rettichfest Reimlingen a perfect example. Free admission, food and drinks à la carte — the proceeds go to the club's fund for subsequent horticultural association activities.