Biberach an der Riß, standing at the cross-roads of major trade routes since the Middle Ages, loves to demonstrate its well developed affinity for travelers. Ready to greet you are townspeople who deeply enjoy life, group activities, good food and drink, and making others feel welcome.
Pubs, restaurants, and hotels here have a long tradition of hospitality, dating back some 900 years. You will find cheery beer gardens in season, cozy cafés year-round, kindly innkeepers to give you directions, and ordinary citizens who are more than happy to assist you with your sightseeing plans.
While in downtown, drop by the local Tourism Office on Theater Street, and then explore the more than 200 well-stocked shops representing all industries. To ensure easy access and comfort while shopping, buses stop right in the center of the marketplace near towering St. Martin’s Church, and nearby car parks offer your first hour parking for free.
For 16 days around Christmas, you can experience exotic foods from France, Italy, and Britain, as well as lovely arts and crafts, at an annual event called Christkindlesmarkt. You will enjoy mulled wine, served and imbibed in huge quantities through the day, along with Knabberfleisch (breaded pork bits).
If you arrive in Biberach an der Riß during summer, be sure to participate in Schützenfest. This enduring celebration of peace focuses on children for nine days in early July. Among the many attractions you will find are street parades, theme parks, fairgrounds, historic tributes, and beer tents set up for revelers.
If you enjoy sports, volleyball, chess, tennis and even American football are played here, and played well. The town is also home to an international handball tournament, conducted around Easter each year.
Each year there are two big film festivals held in Biberach an der Riß to give you a look at the best and very latest German cinema has to offer. The oldest and most popular, Filmfest Biberach (since 1979), will show you the latest feature works of the German movie industry, many of which move on to Cannes and other world competitions. It is said that local directors think of this gathering as their annual family reunion.
The younger festival, Biberach Independent Film Festival (since 2004), centers on documentaries and experimental shorts. You will see movies that are fresh, revealing, inspirational, and sometimes quite shocking. Both events take place in mid-autumn, a perfect time to visit.
