Discover Erl: Passion Plays, Nature and Mountain Trails

Erl combines impressive cultural heritage with special nature experiences. The municipality is particularly known for its Passion Plays, whose origins are traced back to a vow made during the time of the plague. Since 1613, they have demonstrably shaped Erl and its people. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Erl will find a starting point for a stay that combines historical insights, landscapes and active pursuits.

Passion Playhouse and cultural traces

The Erl Passion Playhouse was built specifically for performances of the Passion Plays and has around 1,500 seats. It is therefore a prominent place for anyone interested in the municipality’s unique theatrical tradition. The parish church of St Andrew also offers a specific historical detail: a Roman votive stone bearing the inscription “DIM PRO SALUTE” is built into its church vestibule.

The local history also includes a well-preserved tradition of blacksmithing dating back to the Middle Ages. Such traces make Erl interesting for travellers who want to get to know a place not only through its landscapes, but also through its history of crafts and culture.

Water, views and mountains

The Trockenbach Waterfall is one of Erl’s attractions. The Blue Spring stands out because of its water flow of 700 litres per second. Anyone wishing to combine different landscape impressions when planning a day trip can complement these natural destinations with a viewpoint and a mountain trail: the Kalvarienberg offers a view over the Inn Valley.

The border between Tyrol and Bavaria runs directly over the summit of the Kranzhorn. Two summit crosses stand there, one Bavarian and one Tyrolean. The site thus combines a specific landscape experience with a visible border between two regions.

Trails for different mountain plans

From Erlerberg, a trail leads across the alpine pastures to the Spitzsteinhaus and Altkaser Alm in around 50 minutes. The summit of the Spitzstein is at an altitude of 1,596 m and can be reached in a further approximately 50 minutes. These time estimates help you incorporate the excursion into your daily planning without confusing the two sections of the route.

The ascent from the centre of Erl via the Erler Herz is also recommended for fit and experienced mountain hikers. This route is very steep in places and takes around 2.5 hours. Depending on whether you choose a shorter section across the alpine pastures or a more demanding ascent, the location of your accommodation may be of varying importance for your personal travel planning.

Planning your journey and stay

Erl can be reached from Kufstein railway station by post bus or taxi in around 15 minutes. In addition, free shuttle buses connect locations in the Kufsteinerland region with Erl and back. This service is not available for all requirements and requires registration up to 24 hours in advance. Therefore, check the conditions to ensure they suit your planned visit.

For quieter or weather-flexible holiday days, the solar-heated Erler swimming pool offers another option: the water temperature is always 28 °C. This allows you to combine cultural visits, mountain trails, nature observation and a day at the pool according to your own interests when choosing accommodation in Erl.

Other places to include in your search

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Erl, you can find more places here: Auffach, Walchsee, Bad Häring, Riedenberg, Scheffau Am Wilden Kaiser, Rettenschöss, Wörgl and Oberau Wildschönau.

For the broader travel overview: Kufstein.