Tübingen Travel Forum

Hello. What are the dates for the Fasching parade this year? And what times?

Thanks!

Does it have to be Tübingen? There are much better places for a true Fasnet experience in that area.

No, it doesn't.

What do you suggest?

Do you know the dates for that one though?

Very famous: Rottweil
http://www.rottweil.de/ceasy/modules/cms/main.php5?cPageId=565
http://www.rottweil.de/ceasy/modules/cms/main.php5?cPageId=158
Mo 04.02.08 08:00
Tu 05.02.08 08:00 and 14:00

Rottenburg
Su 03.02.08 13:30
town map with parade route
http://www.narrenzunft-rottenburg.de/fasnet/plan.htm
participating groups
http://www.narrenzunft-rottenburg.de/fasnet/Ommzugsteilnehmer2008.pdf
Entlastungszüge (extra trains) Tübingen - Rottenburg
http://www.narrenzunft-rottenburg.de/fasnet/Ommzug_Tuebingen_Horb.pdf

Rottweil is the #1 in the area, and this is well justified.
The most famous event is the Narrensprung on Monday morning (2008: Feb 4), starting at 8 a.m., and if you want to actually see something you'll have to be there much earlier. The town is going to be overcrowded with tour buses.
Hint from someone who's been: Go on Tuesday instead. The Tuesday morning parade, again at 8 a.m., is the same as the one on Monday, maybe a bit shorter, but it doesn't matter much if you see 2500 or 3500 participants, and there will be half as many spectators and no tour buses. Besides, on Tuesday there is a second parade in the early afternoon at 2 p.m. IMHO Tuesday is much better than Monday.
Bring a camera, you'll want it...
I recommend reading a bit before about the deep symbolic meanings of the masks and costumes, the paintings on the clothes, the rules of communication etc. There are old and complicated traditions behind all these.
Website of the Narrenzunft Rottweil (in German): http://www.narrenzunft-rottweil.de/
If you read German, try to get hold of one of the books by Werner Mezger, he's the best expert around.

Villingen is another of those old traditional centres: The main parade starts on Monday 9 a.m., and then the town will be busy all day, both with the traditional fasnet figures of the Narrozunft and alternative groups and parades.
Narrozunft Villingen (again, in German): http://www.narrozunft.de/

Another is Oberndorf - can't yet tell much about it, but the main day is Tuesday with the morning parade at 8.30 a.m.

My own schedule for this year - I'm a big fan of the Fasnet and a passionate photographer - includes Überlingen on Saturday night and Sunday, Villingen on Monday and, if I find a place to stay, Oberndorf on Tuesday.