Passion plays Erl

26th May-5th October 2013

Every six years Erl is in the grip of the Passion Plays, in which over 600 participants from the Erl community convey the life and death of Jesus Christ in impressive images.

Passion plays have been a fundamental feature of the Tyrolean cultural landscape since the Middle Ages. In many cases they came about due to vows made in wars and other times afflicted by catastrophes. Time and again in its history Erl, as the "village on the border", badly suffered in the ferocity of war. The origins of the Erl Passion play date back to an Easter play by the mastersinger Sebastian Wild from Augsburg, as is documented in the oldest play from the year 1613.

The festival hall

The remarkable Passion play house was opened in 1959. In spite of its unusual architecture, it suited the mountainous landscape and acoustically was a masterpiece. In the years between the passion plays high-ranking operetta and concert performances of the Tyrolean festival Erl attract thousands music lovers.