In Erl, a long tradition of Passion Plays meets a range of specific excursion destinations. The Passion Plays, a Roman votive stone and Erl’s blacksmithing tradition give the village a distinctive cultural and historical focus. For days outdoors, you can choose from destinations including the Kranzhorn summit, the view from Kalvarienberg and trails on Spitzstein.

Passion Plays and cultural history

The origins of the Erl Passion Plays are traced back to a vow made during the plague. They have shaped the community of Erl and its people since 1613. The Passion Playhouse was built specifically for performances of the Passion Plays and has around 1,500 seats. If you are planning your trip around a performance, remember to include the shuttle service in your plans: free shuttle buses connect places in Kufsteinerland with Erl and back. They do not run for every performance; registration is required at least 24 hours in advance. Check the details for the performance you plan to attend before travelling.

You can also encounter a tangible trace of the past in the Parish Church of St Andrew. A Roman votive stone bearing the inscription “DIM PRO SALUTE” is built into the church vestibule. Blacksmithing is another cultural legacy: Erl maintains a craft tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. The Passion Playhouse, votive stone and blacksmithing offer different ways to explore the history of the village.

Summits, views and natural attractions

At Kranzhorn, the border between Tyrol and Bavaria runs right over the summit. There are two summit crosses: one on the Bavarian side and one on the Tyrolean side. Kalvarienberg offers views over the Inn Valley. If you would like to include destinations by the water as well as viewpoints, Erl is home to the Blaue Quelle, which discharges 700 litres of water per second. The Trockenbach waterfall is another of the village’s attractions.

Routes with different starting points

From Erlerberg, a trail leads across the alpine pastures to Spitzsteinhaus and Altkaser Alm in about 50 minutes. The summit of Spitzstein is at an elevation of 1,596 metres and can be reached in a further 50 minutes or so. Another route starts in the centre of Erl: the ascent via Erler Herz is recommended for fit and experienced hikers, is very steep in places and takes about 2.5 hours. The two time estimates refer to different routes and starting points, so choose the hike that suits your plans and mountain experience.

Getting there and seasonal planning

Erl is about 15 minutes from Kufstein railway station by post bus or taxi. It is worth checking the bus timetable for your travel date. Another option for your stay in the village is Erl’s solar-heated swimming pool, where the water temperature is always 28°C. As it operates seasonally, check its opening times before your visit.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans

First, decide what you want to focus on during your trip to Erl: a Passion Play performance, the village’s cultural and historical sites, or a specific hike at Kranzhorn or Spitzstein. This lets you give each theme the attention it deserves without treating the different routes and their respective starting points as if they were the same.

Discover more destinations: Ellmau, Scheffau Am Wilden Kaiser, Bad Häring, Oberau Wildschönau, Riedenberg, Rettenschöss, Niederau, Niederndorf.

Go to the main travel overview: Kufstein.