Rienecker Kirb

Rieneck — Small Spessart Town with a Great History

Rieneck is located in western Lower Franconia (Main-Spessart district, Bavaria), on the edge of the large Spessart forest area and on the banks of the Sinn river. The town was founded in the 12th century by the Counts of Rieneck and is home to one of its most famous landmarks, Rieneck Castle (now an international scout center). With only 2,000 inhabitants, Rieneck is one of the smallest towns in Bavaria — and that's precisely why the annual 'Kirb' is a significant social event.

What Makes a Franconian Kirb Special

The 'Kirb' is the Lower Franconian version of Kirchweih (in Middle Franconia it's called 'Kärwa', in the Palatinate 'Kerwe'). It follows a similar ritual: raising the Kirbbaum (often accompanied by firecrackers or music), an open-air church service for the main occasion, festivities in the local inns and pubs, often combined with an open-air concert or dance evening.

What's on Offer

• Saturday: Fetching the Kirbbaum from the forest, raising it in the parking lot, followed by an open-air celebration
• Sunday: Open-air festive service, family program with Kirb Rally for children and teenagers
• Monday and Tuesday: Kirb atmosphere in the local inns — Rieneck traditionally has several inns that celebrate concurrently
• Spessart Cuisine: Schäuferla (pork shoulder), Bratwürste (sausages), game dishes, Most (apple cider), and Lower Franconian beer
• Free Admission

More Than Just a Kirb

The Rienecker Kirb is one of the highlight events in the Rieneck event calendar — alongside the Sinngrundkino (open-air cinema), the Sinngrund-Open of the Ski and Tennis Club, and the Summer Open-Air. Those on holiday in the Spessart often combine the Kirb with hiking tours on the Spessart trails or a visit to Rieneck Castle.