Erlanger Bergkirchweih

The World's Oldest Beer Festival

The Erlanger Bergkirchweih – simply called der Berg (the mountain) by locals – has been celebrated every year in May since 1755. This makes it the oldest beer festival in the world. Unlike the Munich Oktoberfest or the Cannstatter Volksfest, it doesn't take place in enclosed beer tents but outdoors: 14 beer cellars arranged in two terraced rows stretch along the Burgberg, all nestled in the shade of old oak and linden trees.

A Tradition Rooted in Beer Storage

The cellars originally served as beer storage – breweries dug them into the sandstone slope to mature their beer at cool temperatures. The need to market the nearly depleted stocks before summer led to the creation of the Bergfest, which to this day retains the unique character of a beer cellar in the woods.

Four Breweries, Fourteen Cellars

Four Erlangen and Franconian breweries share the operation of the cellars: Kitzmann, Tucher, Kulmbacher Mönchshof, and the house brewery Steinbach Bräu. Historic cellars like the Erich-Keller (since 1718) and the Birkners Keller (since 1823) are among the landmarks. The newly designed Striezi Keller will replace the former Tucher location in 2026.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Since 2026

In March 2026, the Bergkirchweih was officially recognized as Bavarian intangible cultural heritage – a late but deserved acknowledgment for a Volksfest that, with over 270 years of history and a million visitors per season, is one of the defining festivals of Middle Franconia.

Erlangen, Bavaria, Middle Franconia

Erlangen is a university city in the state of Bavaria, in the Middle Franconia administrative region. With around 116,000 inhabitants, it is located between Nuremberg and Bamberg. During the Bergkirchweih, the city is in a state of exception – students, families, seniors, people from Munich, and even international guests make the pilgrimage to the Berg. The city's motto: "Be there for each other" – a call for consideration and mutual respect across generations.