Near Stuttgart and precisely in the city of Rottweil, one of the most beautiful and crazy Carnival celebrations in all of Germany takes place.
Rottweil it is a very ancient city, the oldest in the Land Baden Württemberg, about 90 km south of Stuttgart. There is celebrated a ancient and authentic carnival, which sees the highlight in the week of Shrove Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the name: it's called Fasnet, from Fastnacht, the fast of the upcoming Lent. The characters of this Carnival are gods masks or narren (crazy) who go around the city with clothes and wooden masks that follow 4 different types: Federhannes, Gschell, Fransenkleidle and Schantle.
But in order: on Carnival Sunday the city is populated by clown in yellow and black handing out sweets and throwing confetti. Monday at 8 o'clock, in the morning, there is the Narrensprung, a kind of dance of the masks, which approach citizens and tourists and say things, more or less crazy (Narrenspruch). Who is questioned by the Narren receives Pretzel, chocolates and candies.
The scene with the masks is repeated on Shrove Tuesday, the topics the Narren talk about are mainly related to local politics. The celebrations are very old and very popular, they involve all the citizens and attract many tourists.
The small town of Rottweil is however very pleasant to visit and has an efficient tourist information office.
