King Ludwig II: Festive fire galas on the eve of his 180th birthday!

King Ludwig II: Festive fire galas on the eve of his 180th birthday!

On August 25, 2025, the 180th birthday of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the “Fairy Tale King,” will be celebrated in style. To mark this special anniversary, the communities in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district have put together an exciting program that not only upholds traditions, but also strengthens the region's tourist attractiveness. A highlight is the annual King Ludwig Fire, which has been held since 1888.

On the evening before, August 24th, the magnificent spectacle will begin with the lighting of the mountain fires in Oberammergau, the historic center of the celebrations. From 7 p.m., the Unterammergau music band will delight the audience with a serenade at the crucifixion group. At 9 p.m. the eagerly awaited lighting of the fires on the Kofel and the surrounding peaks takes place.

Impressive fireworks on the Kofel

The mountain fires are visible from afar and an impressive 14 meter high wooden crown shines on the Kofel, which is an impressive 1,342 meters high. This is built by around 90 dedicated “firemakers”, many of whom are descendants of previous participants. For the preparations, wood is cut, dried and then transported to the summit weeks and months in advance. From 9 p.m. there will be a salute that heralds the colorful fireworks display. During the event, traditional songs are played and there is also yodelling. After lighting up the mountains, the firemakers, some in traditional costumes, parade through the streets of Oberammergau with torches and end at the Rose Inn, where they toast the tradition with food and drink.

However, there may be cancellations due to weather in the years; The Ludwig fire has already fallen victim to the weather twice - in 1977 and 2003. However, the first major event dedicated to the king took place after his death in 1886, to honor his enduring influence and celebrate the close ties to the community.

Holiday program in the Wetterstein Mountains

The celebrations continue on August 25th with a traditional mountain mass at 11 a.m. in the Wetterstein Mountains, which takes place in front of the royal house at Schachen. This was also built by Ludwig II. A priest from the Maria Himmelfahrt Partenkirchen parish leads the service, which is accompanied musically by the Josefi-Gsang from Farchant and the Partenkirchen music band. Sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothing are an absolute must here, as the route only takes you on foot along the picturesque paths.

In the evening, the so-called King Ludwig Night awaits guests in the magnificent Linderhof Palace. From 8 p.m. there will be a concert entitled “Music for Royal Dreams”, combined with an illumination of the water parterre. In addition to night tours of the castle, which are accompanied by music, there are also readings in the castle hotel and light art can be admired by the water. For those who like to be active at night, the Königshäuschen remains open until 11:30 p.m. with free entry.

King Ludwig II will be remembered not only for his impressive castle buildings such as Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, but also for his passion for the region, which is still evident. His donations and support for traditional events such as the Passion Play in Oberammergau leave a lasting cultural connection that the region's residents and visitors alike value.

The celebrations surrounding his birthday are not only a sign of gratitude, but also an opportunity to keep the deep-rooted traditions alive and further boost tourism in the region. The regular King Ludwig fires are an essential part of this and attract numerous visitors to Oberammergau every year.

merkur.de reports that this year the King Ludwig Fire will once again offer an atmosphere full of tradition and community.

triciaannemitchell.com highlights how special the connection is between the fire makers and the community that keeps the tradition alive.

passiongames.info also shows that the preparations for these festive events are very careful and that security measures are maintained to guarantee a safe celebration.