Weingarten and The Region
Weingarten is a town in Upper Swabia- one of the most attractive vacation destinations in Germany, located between the Alps, Lake Constance, and the Swabian Alb. In addition to the RWU, this university town is also home to the University of Education Weingarten. The RWU boasts an extensive and well-groomed campus located on the outskirts of the city. Conjoined with Weingarten to the south is the neighboring town of Ravensburg, a sterling example of medieval history that became world-famous in the 20th century thanks to the global success of the renowned game and toy company, Ravensburger. 70,000 inhabitants live in the twin cities.
Tradition and modernity go hand in hand in Upper Swabia. High-tech companies in the region serve customers from Asia to America, while festivals are still celebrated that reflect centuries of local history. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists flock to Weingarten every year for "Blutfreitag" which is celebrated the day after Ascension Day. These visitors come to watch the "Blutritt," an impressive procession in which 3,000 riders make their way through the meadows and fields on horseback. They carry with them the Relic of the Holy Blood, said to contain the blood of Christ himself, an endowment from the Royal House of Welf dating back to the year 1094. The biggest festival in Ravensburg is "Rutenfest" which has been celebrated in July for the last 400 years.
