Leonberg - Pferdemarkt

The Leonberg Horse Market is a traditional major event with a history stretching back over 300 years, which puts the entire town into a state of excitement every February. Originally established purely as a trading place for horses, the festival has developed into a multi-faceted folk festival that is known far beyond the borders of the Stuttgart region and builds a bridge between agricultural tradition and modern city life.

Horse-related events continue to form the core of the festival. Impressive horse judging and award ceremonies take place in the historic old town and on the market square, where breeders expertly present their animals. A special highlight for visitors is the carriage driving and the various riding demonstrations, which showcase the elegance and strength of the animals. Tuesday is traditionally considered the main day, when the whole town is dominated by horses and schools and many businesses often have shorter working hours.

An essential part of the market is the large amusement park on the fairground, which guarantees a festive atmosphere with a variety of modern rides, carousels and game booths. At the same time, a sprawling market stretches through the streets of the city, where traders offer useful, curious and traditional goods. This is complemented by the ‘Horse Market Fair’ in the Steinturnhalle, which often focuses on craft and commercial themes.

The culinary side of the horse market is characterised by Swabian specialities and classic fairground food. The ‘horse market soup’ is particularly popular and is offered in many local restaurants and at stalls. In the evening hours, the cellars and marquees are transformed into convivial meeting places where people celebrate with music and regional wines. The grand finale of the festival is usually the large parade, in which numerous magnificently decorated carriages, riding groups and marching bands parade through the festively decorated streets, keeping the history and significance of horses for the city of Leonberg alive.

Travel information:

By public transport:

- By train: Leonberg station (distance 1.3 km)

- By bus: Belforter Platz stop (lines 631, 631A, 634, 652, 653, 653A, 654, 660, N62)

By car:

- Venue: Festplatz (Steinstraße)

Parking options:

- Haus der Begegnung car park (Steinstraße 18)

- Altstadt multi-storey car park (Seedammstraße)

- Car park (Lindenstraße)

- Römergalerie multi-storey car park (Eltinger Str. 56)

- Leo-Center multi-storey car park (Neuköllner Straße)