On Sunday, November 16, 2025, a very special group will make its way through the center of Nuremberg. Schäfer Thomas Gackstatter will lead his flock of around 600 sheep across the Hauptmarkt once again. The animals are expected to arrive there around 10 a.m., depending on the pace of the herd. The city of Nuremberg announced this in a press release on Wednesday.
A flock of sheep on the move – an annual event in Nuremberg
As every autumn, the sheep make their way from their summer pastures in the east and south of Nuremberg - such as in the „Pegnitztal Ost“, the „Moorenbrunnfeld“, or the „Deponie Süd“ - towards their winter grazing grounds west of the city, for example in the district of Fürth, the city informs. The traditional procession begins in the morning in „Pegnitztal Ost“ and passes through the „Wöhrder Wiese“ and the „Insel Schütt“ before reaching the „Hauptmarkt“. The herd is accompanied by staff from Nuremberg’s Environmental Department.
Sheep: Hardy and charming landscape gardeners
The animals are a diverse mix of different land sheep breeds - robust, resilient, and ideally suited for landscape management. Their grazing in summer promotes a rich variety of species across many key habitat areas, actively contributing to the preservation of biodiversity within the city of Nuremberg.
Sheep in downtown Nuremberg: Do you want to join in? What you should keep in mind
The Environmental Agency invites everyone interested to witness the woolly spectacle live in downtown Nuremberg. However, to ensure the animals can continue their journey undisturbed, the agency asks people to keep pathways clear, keep dogs away from the herd, and refrain from using drones.