Reutlingen Schwörtag

The Reutlingen Schwörtag — Civic Festival with History

The Schwörtag is one of the oldest civic traditions in Southern Germany. Originally, every new mayor or town administrator of a Free Imperial City swore an oath to the city constitution on Schwörtag. Reutlingen has preserved this tradition as a former Free Imperial City and celebrates it as an annual civic festival with the Mayor's Schwörtag speech, in which he accounts for the past year and outlines the priorities for the coming year. The Reutlingen Schwörtag 2026 runs from Friday, July 10th, to Sunday, July 12th, and combines the ceremony with a three-day civic and medieval festival.

Schwörtag Ceremony on Sunday

The central moment of the weekend is the Schwörtag ceremony on Sunday, July 12th, at 11:30 AM in front of the Friedrich-List-Gymnasium. Mayor Thomas Keck will deliver the Schwörtag speech, reviewing the past year for the citizens of Reutlingen. The ceremony will be accompanied by the traditional Fahnenflaigen (waving of the city flag), music from the Reutlingen City Band, and performances by the school choirs of the Friedrich-List-Gymnasium and the Reutlinger Liederkranz. Sign language interpreters will be present at the Schwörtag ceremony.

Medieval Market in the Volkspark

Parallel to the civic celebration, the medieval market 'Fabula Corvinus' — Reutlingen's traditional Schwörtag market — opens in the Volkspark. Craftsmen demonstrate old techniques (blacksmithing, rope making, pottery), traders sell medieval goods, falconers present birds of prey, swordsmen engage in mock combat, jugglers and magicians roam the alleys, and an evening fire show follows. Food and drink are available with mead, beer, wine, suckling pig, bread, and medieval dishes. Free admission.

Saturday Evening — Barrel Tapping and Concerts

On Saturday evening, July 11th, Mayor Thomas Keck will officially open the civic festival with the tapping of the first barrel. Afterward, the Reutlingen City Band, under the musical direction of Markus Frieß, will perform an open-air concert featuring folk music, pop, rock, and swing. DJ Ernst O. will take over afterward until late into the evening.

Children's Program on Sunday

On Sunday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, a colorful children's program will take place in the Mensahof — rope-making demonstrations (children can try making ropes themselves), Hula-Hoop, jump ropes, skill games, and creative movement activities. The program is supported by the city's youth services.

Reutlingen — City at the Foot of the Swabian Jura

Reutlingen is located in the district of Reutlingen on the northern edge of the Swabian Jura, about 30 km south of Stuttgart. With around 117,000 inhabitants, it is the largest medium-sized city in the region and home to a renowned university. The historic city center with the Marienkirche, Spendhaus, and Germany's narrowest streets shapes the cityscape. Besides the Reutlingen Pumpkin Race, the Reutlingen Homeland Days, and the Christmas market, the Schwörtag is one of the three most important annual highlights of the city's event programming.