Beautiful Perchten from Ebensee

What are the Schön Perchten of Ebensee?

In Ebensee at the Traunsee In Upper Austria, every year on the evening of January 5th, things get very lively. It is the day of the Schön Perchten of Ebensee. When dusk falls in the Salzkammergut As the winter approaches, more and more people come to town. They gather in the city's cafés and inns, meet up with friends, stroll through town, and there's an almost palpable excitement in the air.

People are talking about it at restaurant tables. On the street, you can tell that something is brewing. People are waiting for an event that takes place every year on the last Raunacht, the night before Epiphany in Ebensee: the run of the Glöckler, the Schön Perchten of Ebensee in Upper Austria.

Schönperchten follow ancient customs. They differ from the Schiachperchten, the ugly Perchten. The custom of the Perchtenllauf goes back to legends and myths in the Salzburg region. There are various Perchten in the Salzburg region. They differ in their costumes as well as in their headdress. While the Perchten in Ebensee walk through the village with their caps, there are others who perform dances.

The Glöcklerlauf in Ebensee

The rough nights are the nights between Christmas and January 6th, when the evil spirits wreak havoc in the mountain valleys of the Salzkammergut Most of them travel as 'the Wild Hunt' or as Krampus“ Dressed in shaggy furs and wearing frightening masks, they roam the villages and spread fear and terror.

The Glöckler are different: they are so-called Schönperchten, dressed in white and with spectacular caps on the head, each of which has a different shape and is beautiful to look at. No two are the same. The inside of the caps is lit - in the past with candles, today mostly with light bulbs. On the one hand, this is safer because the risk of fire is eliminated, but it lacks a little of the magic of the flickering lights of the candles.

The beautiful Perchten of Ebensee

The first Glöckler Runs were held in Ebensee around 1850. They likely represent a blend of various spring customs. Originally, the Schön Perchten of Ebensee moved from house to house until the Glöckler walkers were replaced by today's Glöcklers.

These are members of various groups or groups. They create their own magnificent caps from wood, tracing paper, and construction paper. The caps consist of a wooden frame that forms the basic structure.

All caps are decorated with motifs. Some proudly display the owner—perhaps a guesthouse, inn, or hotel—others tell stories or fairy tales, and still others showcase traditional crafts from the region.

There are a whole series of such passes from Ebensee and the surrounding villages. There are even children's and women's passes. The most impressive, however, are the enormous caps worn by the grown men, which the larger ones can wear for extended periods. It's quite strenuous to carry these caps through the village and make your rounds.

Some of these headgear weighs 20 kg or more. It's no easy task, as the Glöcklers carry it out in all weather conditions. And when it rains or the wind blows, things get difficult.

This is how the Glöcklerlauf will take place on 5 January

Such a Glöcklerlauf is not a parade in the true sense. Instead, the individual groups come from all directions to the city center of Ebensee. Particularly impressive are those who carry their illuminated caps down the dark mountain. They are watched attentively by the spectators on the main street in the village. Like a string of lights they wind down the serpentines until they reach the town center.

Meanwhile, all the lights in the village are turned off—no streetlights are lit, no light shines from the apartments. From there, spectators follow the activities of the Schön Perchten of Ebensee with the same excitement as we do on the street. The Glöckler (bell ringers) can be heard from afar. They have hung the heavy bells or clappers from their hips, which carry their cows to the alpine pastures in the summer.

They create a deafening din with the rhythm of their footsteps, making the entire experience even more impressive. For an hour, the Schön Perchten of Ebensee wind their way through the town, always following their leader, who is the only member of the pass not wearing a cap. He gives directions to his group members.

As a visitor, you should have some small change at hand, as the “collectors” collect small donations from the spectators. This money is used to make new masks. They walk through the rows of spectators with bags and ask for a small fee.

Tips for visitors to the Glöcklerlauf

After an hour, the last of the Schön Perchten disappear from Ebensee just as they came – with a great deal of noise. Afterward, the onslaught of spectators begins on the town's inns and restaurants. Anyone without a table reservation is out of luck. Therefore, we recommend booking a table at one of the town's restaurants when you make your hotel reservation.

Or do as we did: We had a late lunch but skipped dinner. This also allowed us to eat in peace without spoiling the wonderful experience with long waits for our food. However, we did observe hotel guests who couldn't get a table for dinner because the entire restaurant was fully booked.

For overnight stay we recommend the Gasthof zur Post directly on the main road, a country hotel (three stars) in the center. The Glöckler run directly in front of the hotel on the main street. That's why you have only a few steps to go to see them. Good when crowds move through the place. However, if the afternoon meal is not enough, you can get a warm liver sausage at the inn.

Accommodation & restaurant tips for the Glöcklerlauf of the Schön Perchten of Ebensee

The next Glöcklerlauf of the Schön Perchten of Ebensee will take place as every year on January 5th from 18:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m.

Landhotel Post
Hauptstraße 19
4802 Ebensee
Tel. +43 (6133) 5208
Information, availability query and online booking *

More hotels in Ebensee and surroundings *

If you book through one of these offers, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

Another tip: You can admire the goblin caps all year round in the Heimatmuseum of Ebensee. This is the big yellow house behind the church. Worth a visit are also the cribs in the place, on the Kripperlroas to visit.

Frequently asked questions about the Glöcklerlauf of the Schön Perchten in Ebensee:

How many visitors come on average?

Every year, the Glöcklerlauf draws several thousand spectators to Ebensee. It gets particularly crowded along the main street, so it's best to secure good spots early.

Is there an entrance fee or cost?

Attendance is free, but donations to the "collectors" who walk through the audience rows with small bags are welcome. They help fund the purchase of new caps.

What is the best way to get to Ebensee?

• CarsAccessible via the B145, but parking is limited. Early arrival is recommended.
• TrainEbensee is located on the Attnang-Puchheim – Bad Ischl – Stainach-Irdning railway line. The train station is within walking distance of the town center.
• Parking: Official parking areas are signposted but fill up quickly.

Who is the event suitable for?

• Families: friendly custom, no scary masks, only the bells are loud.
• Photographers: fantastic subjects, especially in the dark – tripod recommended.
• For those interested in culture: a tradition rich in tradition that only exists in the Salzkammergut.

Further information about the Schön Perchten of Ebensee:

• Ebensee Tourism
• Museum Ebensee
• UNESCO information on the Perchten tradition
• Salzkammergut Tourism

Do you know this?

• Customs in Austria in winter
• Traunsee Austria - Holidays in the Salzkammergut
• An interesting blog post on the topic Customs and tradition There's from Altmühltaltipps.
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• Comfortable winter boots
• Packing list winter vacation
• Gift ideas for travelers

Further Slow Travel Tips here.

Source Schön Perchten von Ebensee: On-site research with support from Upper Austria Tourism. Our opinion, however, remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline