Unlike in other areas of Tirol, the mountain fires lit as part of the Brixental Mountain Fires are in August and not around summer solstice. Over 50,000 torches are used to create a wide range of symbols and motifs on the freshly cut Alpine meadows.
This tradition dates back to pre-Christian times, when people in Tirol would light large fires in high summer in order to summon the power of the sun. The annual Brixental Mountain Fire Festival continues this custom. Today, thousands of individual torches are put together to form coats of arms, symbols and words which glow brightly above the valley floor and are very popular with locals and visitors alike.
Brixental Mountain Fires are celebrated in the villages of Kirchberg, Brixen im Thale, Westendorf, Hopfgarten and Itter. Each village has its own entertainment program. One of the best ways to enjoy this summer spectacle is from high in the mountains. Westendorf’s Alpenrosenbahn Gondola is in operation from 7:00pm to 11:00pm and Gaisberg Lift in Kirchberg is running until 11:00pm (ticket window closes at 9:00pm).
This tradition dates back to pre-Christian times, when people in Tirol would light large fires in high summer in order to summon the power of the sun…
