Kirchweihfest St. Bartholomä am Königssee

Kirchweihfest St. Bartholomä — Patron Saint's Day on Königssee

The St. Bartholomä pilgrimage church is located on the Hirschau peninsula on the western shore of Königssee in the municipality of Schönau am Königssee in the Berchtesgadener Land district of Upper Bavaria. With its two onion domes and three red cupola roofs against the rock face of the Watzmann massif, it is one of the most photographed churches in Germany. Once a year, at the end of August, the patron saint's day and Kirchweihfest in honour of the church's patron, St. Bartholomew, is celebrated here.

Field Mass for Miners and Pilgrims

The centrepiece of the festival is a solemn Field Mass in the morning — an open-air service for the Berchtesgaden miners and pilgrims. The mass is accompanied by the Königssee Christmas Shooters with gun salutes and by a brass band. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of alpine farmers and herdsmen — the festival has deep roots in the region's alpine way of life.

Alpine Pilgrimage across the Steinerne Meer

Connected to the Kirchweihfest is the historic Alpine Pilgrimage, a mountain pilgrimage documented since around 1635: On the Saturday after August 24 (St. Bartholomew's Day), up to 3,000 pilgrims travel from Maria Alm in the Salzburg region across the high-alpine Steinerne Meer to St. Bartholomä — one of the most famous mountain pilgrimages in the Alps.

Kirchweih Dance with Live Music

After the Field Mass, the festival transitions to its social part: From early afternoon, live music plays for the Kirchweih dance at the historic St. Bartholomä inn. The festival concludes with hearty food, regional specialities, and beer in the unique setting between Königssee and the Watzmann east face.

Accessible Only by Boat

St. Bartholomä is not accessible by road: The only regular way to get there is by the electric boats of the Königssee-Schifffahrt from Schönau/Königssee-Seelände. Experienced mountain hikers can reach the site via multi-hour, challenging mountain trails. This seclusion makes the Kirchweihfest a special experience in the Berchtesgaden National Park.