Erlangen
Erlangen, a Franconian university town with beer cellars dug into its Burgberg: the Bergkirchweih, 13 to 24 May 2027, and practical tips.
At a glance
- Home of the Bergkirchweih, 13 to 24 May 2027 on the Burgberg
- Beer cellars in the hill: the Henninger Keller’s tunnel runs 861 metres
- The only Rauchbier on the Berg is poured at the Goldmann Keller
- Free buses inside the city-centre zone since 1 January 2024
- About one million visitors come to the festival each year, says the tourist office
- 1food festival
Food festivals in Erlangen
Janericloebe, Public domain
Map of Erlangen
What to taste in Erlangen
Festmärzenbier
The festival beer of the Bergkirchweih, served from stone mugs in the Keller on the Burgberg.
Rauchbier (smoked beer)
A Franconian style brewed with smoked malt. On the Berg, only the Goldmann Keller pours it.
Franconian specialities
The tourist office lists them on the festival menu, beside dishes from around the world. Schäufele, roast pork shoulder, is the classic of the region.
Bratwurst
Franconia’s everyday sausage, grilled and served in a roll or with sauerkraut.
Erlangen is a university town in Middle Franconia, in northern Bavaria, just north of Nuremberg, and its beer culture lives in a hill. On the north side of the old town rises the Burgberg, dug with beer cellars, the Keller, where brewers once stored their beer cool: the Henninger Keller’s tunnel runs for 861 metres, the longest beer cellar in town, according to the City of Erlangen.
The Berg and its Keller
Each year at Pentecost the cellars come alive for the Bergkirchweih, which locals call simply the Berg. The 2027 festival runs from 13 to 24 May.
- Opening: the mayor taps the first barrel at the Henninger Keller at 5 pm on the Thursday before Pentecost.
- Beer: Festmärzenbier, served from stone mugs.
The Bergkirchweih was officially recognised as intangible cultural heritage in 2026, according to the city.
Inside the Burgberg
The City of Erlangen tells the story of each Keller, and three stand out.
- Henninger Keller: owned by the Henninger family from 1816, sold with the brewery to a cloth wholesaler in 1861, the largest cellar in the hill, and in 1884 the only one extended into a tunnel with a north entrance, for cooling.
- Entla’s Keller: owned by the Engelhardt family since 1950. It runs a guided tour “into the inside of the Erlangen hill”, through its own vaults and the galleries of the Henninger Keller.
- Altstädter Schießhaus: a shooting range built on the Burgberg in 1700, run since 1911 as an inn without shooting.
Erlangen, a Franconian base
Franconia, the northern third of Bavaria, is a region of small breweries, and its food is hearty: bratwurst, Schäufele, roast pork shoulder, and dumplings. Erlangen makes a compact base for it.
- By train: Erlangen station is on the main line between Nuremberg and Bamberg, and Nuremberg Airport is the nearest airport.
- Combining: Bamberg, to the north, is known for its Rauchbier, the smoked beer.
Before you go
- Festival dates: the Bergkirchweih runs from the Thursday before Pentecost. In 2027, 13 to 24 May.
- Beds: around one million visitors in twelve days, so book early for the festival weekends.
- Buses: all lines are free inside the city-centre zone, without a ticket.
- Bags: backpacks and large bags are banned on the festival grounds.
- Bottles: bringing alcohol or drinks in glass bottles onto the grounds is forbidden.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen?
From 13 to 24 May 2027, according to the City of Erlangen. It opens on the Thursday before Pentecost.
Are buses free in Erlangen?
Yes, inside the city-centre zone. Since 1 January 2024 every bus line is free there, with no ticket needed.
What is a Keller in Erlangen?
A beer cellar dug into the Burgberg. The Henninger Keller, the longest, has a tunnel of 861 metres. During the Bergkirchweih the Keller serve beer on the hill.
Where can you drink smoked beer in Erlangen?
At the Goldmann Keller during the Bergkirchweih: the city says it pours the only Rauchbier on the Berg.