Spring awakening

As spring arrives, traditions in Berchtesgaden come to life

Join in and be part of it! Throughout the season, you’ll experience traditional customs and religious celebrations across Berchtesgaden and the Rupertiwinkel region. Soak up the first warm rays of sunshine at the Aperschnalzen, celebrate the Berchtesgaden miners’ festival at Pentecost, experience Palm Sunday, or witness the raising of the maypole—each one offering a close-up glimpse of local traditional dress and living culture.

Spring traditions

in Berchtesgaden and the Rupertiwinkel

  • Aperschnalzen

    Aperschnalzen is an ancient pre-Christian tradition practiced in the Bavarian Alpine foothills and the Salzburg region. There are different theories about its origins. The most common belief is that the ritual was meant to drive out winter.

  • Holy Sepulcher Höglwörth

    Experience the Holy Sepulcher at Höglwörth, one of Bavaria’s most impressive Easter traditions. Every three years, glowing glass spheres and baroque scenery transform the monastery church into a mystical spectacle.

  • Palm Sunday

    Discover Palm Sunday in Berchtesgaden with blessed Palmbuschen, church processions, Christian customs, and living Bavarian traditions.

  • Maypole raising

    Experience traditional maypole raising in Berchtesgaden with Bavarian music, festive village celebrations, and authentic Alpine customs.

  • Miners’ Festival

    Experience the Miners’ Festival in Berchtesgaden, a more than 500-year-old Pentecost tradition celebrating Alpine salt, mining heritage, and Bavarian customs.

Cherry blossom

Each spring, from about mid-April to early May, the Japanese cherry trees in the Kurgarten in Berchtesgaden burst into bloom. Let yourself be swept away by thousands of soft pink blossoms, transforming the park into a sea of color and delicate beauty.

Discover the cherry blossom