Even though summer has yet to truly arrive in Munich, the days will start getting shorter again by the end of June. In the Alpine regions, there is a very special tradition involving mountain fires to mark the summer solstice on June 21. In Austria and Bavaria, numerous fires are lit in the mountains around this time to celebrate the longest day of the year. The Ehrwald mountain fires are undoubtedly among the most popular, as numerous bonfires blaze on the ridges during the third weekend in June, creating a festive atmosphere.
Alpine custom
The solstice fires are a centuries-old tradition that originally served to drive away evil spirits and demons. At the same time, people in Bavaria and Austria celebrated the beginning of summer and the shortest night of the year in this way . In the 18th century, mountain fires became more common in Triol, as people hoped this would bring divine assistance during the Napoleonic Wars . This further intensified the custom surrounding the summer solstice.
In Ehrwald, the mountain fires were lit again for the first time in 1948, following the end of World War II, to consecrate the church bell. Since then, the Ehrwald Mountain Fire has become a tradition once more and was even designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Today, numerous people gather in the Zugspitzarena to watch the spectacle, enchanted by the golden glow of the flames.
The Ehrwald Mountain Fires Today
Since the 1940s, the mountain fires in Ehrwald have continued to evolve. In the beginning, they featured only a few designs, and many ordinary fires were lit that didn’t depict anything. Today, the Ehrwald Association goes to great lengths to provide you with an unforgettable experience . The designs are created digitally and implemented in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Instead of car tires and tin cans, today they burn paper cups and bags filled with sawdust and rapeseed oil. Mountaineers carry these up the mountains and arrange them according to the designs. In doing so, they must take the terrain into account and secure the bags properly so that they stay in place.
On the third Saturday in June, the time has come, and the Ehrwald Mountain Fires are lit. Up to 10,000 individual fires burn across the mountain ranges, forming a wide variety of designs. This creates a cool 3D effect that shines out toward you even from a distance. The Zugspitz Arena bursts into flames, telling a story of mysticism, spirituality, and nature. Thousands of people travel here every year so as not to miss this breathtaking event. If you want to be there, we recommend arriving early. In 2026, you can watch the Ehrwald Mountain Fires on Saturday, June 20, starting around 9:45 p.m. And if this glowing spectacle isn’t enough for you, then you should stop by the DroneArt Show in Munich in August.
