Experience tradition
Kaiserfest
To commemorate the traditional celebrations held in Bad Ischl during the lifetime of Emperor Franz Joseph to celebrate his birthday (18.8.1830), a folk festival is held in the town on Assumption Day (August 15). Throughout the day there is a varied program of events including folk music, operetta melodies, dance and culinary delicacies. And each year, the famous Kaisermesse is also held, a service attended by members of the Habsburg family and former aristocratic families, by delegations from former Austro-Hungarian regiments and by civic guardsmen, attracting visitors from all over the region. The event is crowned with a firework display which transforms the Traun into a river of fire.
Holzknechtnocken
A pleasant, romantic walk via Ahorn and Lindau to the Grabnerwirt tavern for a traditional Austrian dish before returning to Bad Ischl again.
Dates: all year round, advance booking necessary (at least 5 people, €7/person)
Liachtbratlmontag
'Liachtbratlmontag' is the name given to the autumn day (the first Monday after the 29 September) on which electrical light is needed at work for the first time during the day. During the summer company owners save money due to the fact that the lights are switched off, and from this money buy their employees a roast dinner.
Ride in a horse-drawn carriage
Discover Bad Ischl and the surrounding area with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage - book your ride at the reception desk
Cider and schnapps tasting
Visit a traditional cider maker and distiller in a horse-drawn carriage. Includes a small snack.
Dates: all year round, advance booking necessary (at least 5 people, €27/person)
Ratchet boys
The church bells have 'vanished to Rome' i.e. are silenced during Easter Week. Consequently, between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the ratchet boys and girls turn out to rattle their wooden ratchets instead.
Florianifeier
St Florian has his name day on 4 May. On the following Sunday firemen and women celebrate this day as the honorary day of their patron saint, Saint Florian.
Pepper day
Folk musicians and music groups from all over the Salzkammergut meet up each year on an alp to play music on the region's traditional musical instruments, i.e. the 'Seitel' pipe, the 'Schwegel' pipe and the Jew's harp.
Fasching
After a series of balls and parties, carnival time in Bad Ischl reaches its highpoint with the so-called three holy ‘Fasching’ days: Fasching Sunday, Fasching Monday, and Fasching Tuesday.
The traditional parade on Fasching Tuesday is lead by the Bader-Jagerl and his wife Gertraud. These are two grotesque figures whose exact origins are unknown. The Bader-Jagerl's clothing suggests he might be a soldier, with the three-cornered hat reminiscent of the time of the French Wars at the beginning of the 19th century.
Glöcklerlauf
Each year on 5 January the Glöckler run takes place in Bad Ischl. The name 'Glöckler' is derived from the verb 'klocken' (= to knock) and the Glöcklerlaufen is a popular custom involving masks.
The 'Glöckler' wear white robes and masks and gather in the town centre before going round from house to house. With their artistic, illuminated Glöckler caps, they are welcomed as bringers of light capable of banishing the cold and darkness.
Kripperlroas
In Bad Ischl Christmas cribs have always been the work of traditional craftsmen. Between December and February of each year, a large number of privately-owned cribs, some of which are centuries old, can be viewed at the owners'/craftsmen's homes, and the journey ('Roas') (journey) completed in a horse-drawn carriage.
