Editorial photo #12674729 Religion and Belief

Mountain Fires In Honor Of King Ludwig II Birthday

People watch the traditional mountain fires on the eve of King Ludwig II's birthday, when flames blaze on the peaks of the Ammergau Alps and a large burning royal crown is erected on the Kofel mountain in Oberammergau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Upper Bavaria, Germany, on August 24, 2025. Weeks in advance, local men carry heavy logs up the mountain to prepare a huge cross and the crown for the commemoration. At nightfall, around 9 p.m., brass players from Oberammergau open the ceremony with the chorale ''Die Himmel ruhmen'' (''The heavens praise''). Afterwards, the fires on the Kofel and surrounding mountains are lit, creating a striking spectacle visible from far across the region. (Photo by Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto)

Photo details

Photo ID: #12674729
Date taken: 24 August 2025
Location: —
Photographer: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto
Category: Religion and Belief

Related keywords

Medium Group of People 2025 Alps Ammergau Alps Ammergauer Alps August 24 Bavaria Bavarian Bavarian bonfire Bavarian commemoration Bavarian crown Bavarian crown bonfire Bavarian crown fire Bavarian culture Bavarian custom Bavarian event Bavarian festival Bavarian fire crown Bavarian fire tradition Bavarian heritage Bavarian history Bavarian king Bavarian monarch Bavarian mountains Bavarian peaks Bavarian royalty Bavarian spectacle Bavarian torchlight Bavarian tradition Garmisch-Partenkirchen German Germany King Ludwig King Ludwig Bavaria King Ludwig II King Ludwig Oberammergau King Ludwig commemoration King Ludwig crown fire King Ludwig fire King Ludwig tradition Kofel Kofel Bavaria Kofel Oberammergau Kofel bonfire Kofel burning crown Kofel crown fire Kofel fire Kofel flames Kofel mountain Ludwig Bavaria Ludwig II Bavaria Ludwig II Kofel Ludwig II Oberammergau Ludwig II bonfire Ludwig II commemoration Ludwig II crown fire Ludwig II fire Ludwig II tradition Ludwig commemoration Ludwig crown fire Ludwig fire Oberammergau Oberammergau Alps Oberammergau Bavaria Oberammergau Kofel Oberammergau Ludwig II Oberammergau bonfire Oberammergau burning crown Oberammergau ceremony Oberammergau commemoration Oberammergau crown fire Oberammergau culture Oberammergau event Oberammergau fire Oberammergau flames Oberammergau night fire Oberammergau peaks Oberammergau tradition Upper Bavaria anniversary Oberammergau anniversary bonfire anniversary commemoration anniversary crown fire anniversary fire autumn bonfire Bavaria bonfire Kofel bonfire Oberammergau bonfire crown bonfire event bonfire fire bonfire peaks bonfires Alps bonfires Bavaria bonfires Kofel bonfires Oberammergau burning Bavaria burning Kofel burning Oberammergau burning bonfire burning cross burning crown burning mountain candle crown fire candlelight Oberammergau candlelight commemoration candlelight crown candlelight event celebration Bavaria celebration fire ceremonial Bavaria ceremonial Oberammergau ceremonial bonfire ceremonial crown fire ceremonial fire ceremonial tradition commemoration Bavaria commemoration Kofel commemoration Oberammergau commemoration bonfire commemoration crown commemoration crown fire commemoration fire commemoration mountain crown Bavaria crown Kofel crown Oberammergau crown bonfire crown burning crown commemoration crown fire crown flames cultural Alps cultural Bavaria cultural Oberammergau cultural bonfire cultural ceremony cultural commemoration cultural crown fire cultural custom cultural event cultural heritage cultural tradition destination Bavaria destination Germany destination Oberammergau evening Oberammergau evening bonfire evening ceremony evening crown fire evening fire event Bavaria event Oberammergau event crown fire event fire festival Bavaria festival Oberammergau festival bonfire festival crown fire fire Alps fire Bavaria fire Kofel fire Oberammergau fire bonfire fire ceremony fire commemoration fire cross fire crown fire mountain fire peaks fire ritual fire spectacle fire tradition fire tribute flaming Bavaria flaming Kofel flaming Oberammergau flaming bonfire flaming cross flaming crown heritage Alps heritage Bavaria heritage Oberammergau heritage bonfire heritage crown fire historic Bavaria historic Oberammergau historic bonfire historic crown fire historic event historic tradition holiday holidays journey landscape lighting Bavaria lighting Kofel lighting Oberammergau lighting bonfire lighting crown fire monarch Bavaria monarch Oberammergau monarch commemoration monarch crown fire monarchy Bavaria mountain Alps mountain Bavaria mountain Kofel mountain Oberammergau mountain bonfire mountain commemoration mountain cross fire mountain crown fire mountain fire mountain flames mountain peaks mountain ritual mountain spectacle mountain torchlight mountains nature night Bavaria night Oberammergau night bonfire night ceremony night commemoration night crown fire night event night fire regional Bavaria regional Oberammergau regional crown fire regional heritage royal Bavaria royal Oberammergau royal bonfire royal commemoration royal crown royal crown fire royal fire spectacle Bavaria spectacle Oberammergau spectacle crown fire torchlight Bavaria torchlight Oberammergau torchlight bonfire torchlight ceremony torchlight crown fire tourism traditional Alps traditional Bavaria traditional Oberammergau traditional bonfire traditional ceremony traditional commemoration traditional crown fire traditional fire travel tribute Bavaria tribute Oberammergau tribute bonfire tribute crown fire tribute fire vacation visit Bavaria weather