Rotenberger Käskipperfest

Käskipperfest Rotenberg — Stuttgart Hillside Idyll

When the village square next to the Rotenberg Church is set up with benches, pennant strings, and a small stage on the first weekend of July, the Käskipperfest is back. From July 4th to 5th, 2026, the Stuttgart hillside district of Rotenberg transforms into a festive island of tranquility — far above the city noise, with views over the vineyards of the Württemberg district of Untertürkheim. The festival is organized by the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Rotenberg (Volunteer Fire Brigade) and the TGV Rotenberg (Turn- und Gesangverein — Gymnastics and Singing Club) — typical Swabian club life.

What does “Käskipper” mean?

The name of the festival goes back to an old nickname for the people of Rotenberg. “Käskipper” — pronounced with a Swabian accent — refers to the fondness for Luckeleskäs, a simple quark-based cheese traditionally prepared in an earthenware pot. When eating it, the hardened cheese was tipped out (gekippt) from the pot onto a wooden board — hence the name. The nickname is also an allusion to the “Käsbuckel” (cheese hump) — as neighboring communities disrespectfully called the Rotenberg hill, on which a medieval castle (demolished in 1819) and later the Württemberg Burial Chapel once stood.

Saturday — Coffee, Hocketse, and Sparkling Wine Bar

Saturday, July 4th, 2026, opens at 3 p.m. with coffee and cake — homemade by the club members. From 5 p.m., the Hocketse begins — in Swabian, this means sitting and chatting cozily with wine, beer, and grilled food. From 8 p.m., the sparkling wine and cocktail bar opens for an evening program in a relaxed atmosphere. The village square, with its shady trees, is particularly atmospheric in the evening, with fairy lights and a view of the Untertürkheim vineyards.

Sunday — Church Service and Children's Games

Sunday, July 5th, 2026, begins at 10:30 a.m. with an ecumenical church service — musically accompanied by the TGV choir. Afterwards, from 11 a.m., the 'Hocketse' resumes with a brunch atmosphere. Desserts and ice cream will be served from lunchtime. The highlight for families is the children's games in the afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. — a children's game street with sack races, egg-and-spoon races, can tossing, and other classic village games.

Rotenberg and Stuttgart-Untertürkheim

The district of Rotenberg belongs to the Stuttgart district of Untertürkheim and is located at an altitude of about 410 meters on the hill above the Neckar valley. It is famous for the Württemberg Burial Chapel — the neoclassical mausoleum chapel that King Wilhelm I had built for his wife Katharina, who died in 1819. From Rotenberg, you have a spectacular view over the Untertürkheim vineyards, the Neckar river, and the Stuttgart city center. The atmosphere of the Käskipperfest is therefore very special: village tranquility in the middle of the big city.