Glöcklerlauf Unterach am Attersee

On 5 January 2025 (6 January in case of bad weather), the Feuerwehr Au-See once again invites you to the Glöcklerlauf .
Starting from Ort am Mondsee, they parade with their self-designed caps through the individual districts to the main square in Unterach.

The run starts at around 4.30 pm in Ort am Mondsee and ends at around 7 pm in Unterach am Attersee, where the Glöckler caps can be viewed up close.

In 1967, Karl Rainbacher brought the first Glöcklerkappen from Ebensee to Unterach and so this pagan custom, which originated in the 19th century, took place for the first time in Unterach am Attersee. Since then, it has been an integral part of the Unterach cultural landscape. For this reason, the run is also dedicated to Karl Rainbacher's memory every year.

Over the years, many new caps have been created, including youth caps. The growing number of runners also includes a large number of young people and children who accompany the run as "torch bearers" and thus add extra flair.

The Glöckler run in their white robes with the artistically crafted and illuminated Glöckler caps in various figures (eights, circles, etc.) along the route of around 6.5 kilometres.) along a route of around 6.5 kilometres from Ort am Mondsee to the centre of Unterach, bringing salvation and the blessing of good spirits and chasing away the evil spirits of darkness. The ringing of the bells they have tied around them and the rhythm of their footsteps are intended to wake up the grain lying under the snow and make it grow.

Around 50 volunteers and members of the Au-See volunteer fire brigade work free of charge on the event and the preparations. In particular, the maintenance of the Glöckler caps and the construction of the caps themselves require many hours of free time. The illuminated caps are up to two metres long, around one and a half metres high and weigh up to 15 kilos. They consist of wooden frames in various shapes covered with black coloured paper. Patterns of flowers, Christmas and local motifs were cut into the paper and the resulting holes glued behind with transparent coloured paper.