Amberger Bergfest

Origin in the Plague Year 1634

The history of the Amberger Bergfest began in 1634 when the plague raged in Amberg. The citizens of the Upper Palatinate town made a vow to build a pilgrimage church on the mountain outside the city if the epidemic would recede. The vow was kept, and the Mariahilfberg pilgrimage church was built. Over the centuries, the stream of pilgrims grew, and to feed the pilgrims, the town's breweries and butchers began to bring food and drink to the mountain. This developed into today's Bergfest.

Eight Amberg Breweries

What is special about the Amberger Bergfest is the compact concentration of the local brewing industry: eight breweries from Amberg and the surrounding area set up their beer tents around the pilgrimage church. Each tent serves its own festival beer, complemented by nine barbecue stands, a cheese stand, a pizza stand, and a fish stand. The breweries compete in a friendly rivalry – who has the most beautiful festival attire, the best festival beer, the most guests? Well-known establishments like Brauerei Winkler (since 1617) are naturally part of it.

No Music, No Rides

The Bergfest differs from typical folk festivals like Oktoberfest or the Nuremberg festivals: there is no live music in the beer tents, no amusement rides, carousels, or show booths. As a religious pilgrimage festival, devotion is the focus – pilgrims visit the church and then come to the tents for a hearty meal. The atmosphere is familiar; some call it "the quiet Wiesn of the Upper Palatinate." Nevertheless, tens of thousands of visitors from all over Bavaria flock to the mountain every year.

Visitation of Mary as a Religious Anchor

The Bergfest is traditionally celebrated around the feast day of the Visitation of Mary (July 2). Pilgrimages, festive church services, and devotions accompany the festival week. In 2026, the festival falls within the jubilee year "800 Years of Saint Francis of Assisi" (1226–2026), which further emphasizes the pilgrimage character.

In the Amberg-Sulzbach Region

Amberg is the largest independent city in the Upper Palatinate and is located in the heart of the Amberg-Sulzbach region. The Mariahilfberg towers about 100 meters above the old town and is accessible via several pilgrimage routes or by car. Visitors to the Bergfest can also explore the medieval old town of Amberg with its two city gates.