Discover Erl

Erl combines a long tradition of Passion Plays with historical landmarks and natural attractions. This also offers different ways to plan your stay: you may be interested in cultural history, viewpoints, swimming or mountain trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Erl, it helps to first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Cultural History in Erl

The origins of the Erl Passion Plays are attributed to a vow made during the plague. The plays have shaped the community and its people since 1613. The Passion Playhouse was built specifically for their performances and has around 1,500 seats. The history of the plays and the purpose-built venue are thus closely tied to the cultural identity of the village.

Another testament to the village’s history can be found in the church porch of the Parish Church of St Andrew: a Roman votive stone bearing the inscription “DIM PRO SALUTE” is built into the wall there. Blacksmithing also has a long tradition in Erl. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is still practised there. The Passion Plays, Roman votive stone and craftsmanship offer different points of interest if you are curious about the village’s cultural history.

Water, Views and a Border Mountain

One of Erl’s attractions is the Trockenbach Waterfall. Another natural feature is the Blaue Quelle spring, which discharges 700 litres of water per second. The Kalvarienberg offers views over the Inn Valley. Each of these places has a different focus: a waterfall, a spring and a viewpoint.

The Kranzhorn is also defined by its location: the border between Tyrol and Bavaria runs right across its summit. Two summit crosses stand there, one Bavarian and one Tyrolean. The border and the two crosses together form part of the summit’s character. If you are interested in the landscape around Erl, this offers another subject to explore alongside the water features and views of the Inn Valley.

Swimming and Mountain Trails

The solar-heated Erl swimming pool always has a water temperature of 28 °C. As it operates seasonally, check before your visit whether it will be open during your travel dates. This lets you include the pool in your plans without assuming it operates year-round.

Two different routes are described for a mountain hike. From Erlerberg, a trail leads across the alpine pastures to Spitzsteinhaus and Altkaser Alm in about 50 minutes. The summit of Spitzstein is at 1,596 m above sea level and can be reached from there in a further 50 minutes or so. The times distinguish the walk to the two destinations on the alpine pastures from the additional ascent to the summit.

Another option is the ascent from the centre of Erl via the Erler Herz. It is recommended for experienced and fit hikers, is very steep in places and takes about 2.5 hours. When planning, it is important to note the difference between the routes described: they start at different points, and only the description of the ascent via the Erler Herz includes a recommendation for experienced and fit hikers along with information about the steep sections.

Getting There and Shuttle

From Kufstein railway station, you can reach Erl by Postbus or taxi in about 15 minutes. As timetables may change, check the connection for your travel date. Free shuttle buses also connect places in the Kufsteinerland with Erl and back. They do not run to every performance; registration is required at least 24 hours in advance. If you plan to use this service for your journey, check whether it is available for your performance and register in good time.

Discover more destinations: Walchsee, Brixlegg, Oberau Wildschönau, Rattenberg, Kundl, Brandenberg, Auffach, Embach.

For the main travel overview: Kufstein.