Hotel Garland

Fastnacht / Fasnet: Carnival in Villingen

by Kathrin_E

Villingen is one of the oldest and most traditional centres of the alemannic carnival. The local carnival guild (Narrozunft) dates its foundation back to the year 1584. In addition to that there are several other younger guilds who are doing their separate events and parades. Through the High Days there is always something going on in town.

See my travelogue pages for more photos and details.

Mon 9.00: Historical Parade Of The Narrozunft

by Kathrin_E

The first big parade of the historical Narrozunft begins on Monday morning, 9 a.m. and leads through Niedere Straße and Riedstraße. This is the best occasion to see the traditional costumes and masks with Narro and Stachi, Morbili and Altvillingerin, Butzesel groups and Wuescht. Bring a camera, a spare loaded battery and enough storage cards.

Hint for Photographers: On cloudy days it doesn't matter that much where you stand, but if the morning is sunny, the light in Obere Straße is horrible because you'll have the parade in the shadow of the houses against the sunlight. Best place: Rietstraße close to Riettor, on the Southern side of the street where the little square is - here the parade will be in full sunlight. Come in time and secure your spot.

Links to my travelogue pages with lots of pictures and information:
Traditional figures of the Narrozunft
Historical parade on Monday morning
Portrait gallery
Butzesel - donkeys and drovers
The Wuescht

Narrobrunnen - The Narro Fountain

by Kathrin_E

The column of the fountain bears the figure of a Narro. On Fasnet the sculpture is decorated with a crown of fir, pine and boxwood twigs and ribbons in the town's heraldic colours, white and blue.

Location: Obere Straße

Villingen, not Schwenningen

by Kid-A

"Villingen is really wonderful!"

Villingen-Schwenningen is one of those mergers the Germans do. For example, I play tennis in Ramstein village sometimes. But it's not called Ramstein, it's Ramstein-Miesenbach.

So, as part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.

And I found Villingen nicer than Schwenningen on a recent weekend visit through the black forest region.

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Villingen's old city walls remain, and gates like the one in this photo allow you entry into the old part of the city.

The Butzesel - Donkeys And Drovers

by Kathrin_E

The Butzesel is my favourite among Villingen's mask types - aren't the donkey masks cute?

Each Butzesel - there are 4 or 5 of them in the parade - is accompanied by a group of Stachis with whips. The drovers have to keep both eyes on him because, if he manages to escape into a pub, they have to pay his bill.

The donkes 'rides' a big fir twig that limits his mobility.

Before and after the parade the donkey groups visit the butcheries in town. They receive sausages which are then tied to the donkey's ears.

This donkey is encouraging the spectators to shout: "Butz - zwo - drei - vier... Butz - zwo - drei - vier..." (Butz - two - three - four...)

A disobedient donkey

Even a Butzesel likes to be patted.

Big Donkey and Little Donkey Foal

Another Butzesel with sausages