Villinger Fasnet — Historical Parade of the Narrozunft

UNESCO Cultural Heritage since 2014

The Villinger Fasnet was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of Germany in 2014 — an honor that elevates this centuries-old tradition to the same level as Cologne Carnival and Rottweil Fasnet. The organizing Narrozunft Villingen has existed since 1584, making it one of the oldest documented carnival brotherhoods in Southern Germany.

The Costumed Participants and Their Figures

Unlike the Rhineland Carnival with its floats and guards, the Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet is characterized by its traditional Häs (costumes) and wooden masks. In Villingen, the central figures are:

• Narro — the main figure in a white-and-red checkered outfit with a wooden mask
• Surheber — a pig butcher figure
• Stachi — a straw doll
• Wuescht — a shaggy figure made of fur and straw
• Altvillinger — historical figures in baroque attire

Program February 16 and 17, 2026

Monday, February 16 — Historical Parade

The Historical Parade of the Narrozunft starts at 8:45 AM and proceeds through Villingen's four historic alleys (Niedere Straße, Obere Straße, Bickenstraße, Gerberstraße). In the afternoon at 2:15 PM, the Maschgerelauf follows — families and children in costume parade through the city center. In the evening, a Maschgerefest takes place in the Tonhalle and local inns.

Tuesday, February 17 — Fasnet Tuesday and Grand Fasnet Parade

The highlight: The Grand Fasnet Parade (Zuggesellschaft) starts at 1:30 PM. Approximately 8,000 costumed participants from Swabian-Alemannic associations march through the city center for around 40,000 spectators. The route runs along Niedere Straße, Obere Straße, and across the Marktplatz. After the parade, costumed participants and spectators head to the inns and the market square — the festivities continue late into the night.

Significance of the Villinger Fasnet

With its 8,000 active costumed participants, the Villinger Fasnet is one of the most well-attended in the Swabian-Alemannic region. It differs from commercial carnival formats through:

• Strict Association Structure — only registered members may wear the Häs
• Oral Tradition — established greetings and taunting formulas
• Prohibition of Plastic Masks — only hand-carved wooden masks are permitted
• Local References — many figures allude to historical Villingen professions and events

Villingen-Schwenningen and the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis

Villingen-Schwenningen is the largest city in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis (Black Forest-Baar District) with around 85,000 inhabitants. The twin city was formed in 1972 by merging the historically independent cities of Villingen (Baden) and Schwenningen (Württemberg). The Fasnet is celebrated exclusively in Villingen — the Swabian-Alemannic tradition ends at the edge of the Schwenningen district. The city is located at the transition from the Black Forest to the Baar plateau, near the source of the Danube (Donaueschingen is 15 km away).