---
title: Krampus
url: "https://www.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/winter/advent-and-tradition/krampus.html"
description: Krampus runs with loud bells and jingles is a long tradition. Find out more about Krampus Day and its history.
image: "https://www.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/user_upload/salzkammergut/1_Logos_Grafiken/Destinationslogos-Kleinstversion-WEB-8.png"
date: 2019-10-09
modified: 2024-11-18
---

# Krampus

Krampus Tradition in Salzkammergut
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It's a gruesomely beautiful spectacle when hundreds of Krampuses gather for a run through the alleys. Krampuses with long horns, ugly masks, rattling chains and loud bells running through the streets, making noise and perhaps frightening the audience. It's a unique experience that has a long tradition in the Salzkammergut.

  © Open copyright  © Foto TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Fräulein Flora; Perchtenmasken am Adventmarkt Mondsee Close copyright

      ![Ausgestellte Perchtenmasken aus Holz](https://www.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/8/a/csm_PerchtenmaskenAdventMondsee_TVBMondseeIrrseeFraeuleinFlora_520121b8b0.jpg "Foto TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Fräulein Flora; Perchtenmasken am Adventmarkt Mondsee")

In Hallstatt, for example, there is wild activity every year at nightfall during the Krampus season, when the Krampuses are storming the marketplace. At the Salzkammergut Krampuslauf in Bad Goisern, there are many wild fellows too. More than 800 Krampuses with beautiful, mostly hand-carved masks and shaggy robes march through the town center and swing their long rods - a Krampus spectacle to watch, fear and celebrate.

Always at the end of November, the audience gets a glimpse of the tradition of the Perchten runs, which took place "innergebirg" in the "Rauhnächte", with a spectacular run at the Perchtenlauf in Mondsee.

You can find them also in Ausseerland, the evil and the good spirits! Every year at the beginning of December, dark figures in traditional robes parade through the darkness in Tauplitz, Pichl-Kainisch and Bad Mitterndorf, demonstrating their traditions. At the St. Nicholas games, one encounters peculiar figures such as the "Haberngoaß" or the "Schab" wrapped in straw. Year after year they offer an impressive picture.

In all regions of the Salzkammergut, it's scary - in Bad Ischl, several Krampus-Passes perform at the Zimnitz Pass Show, and around Lake Fuschl, Plötz Pass, the Seefeld Teifin or the Schwarzmühteifin provide fear and terror. Also in Weyregg and Unterach at the Attersee the dark figures gather at different "Krampuskränzchen" or Krampus runs. And at the Traunsee the Krampuses visit some Advent market.

  © Open copyright  © Photo TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Alexandra Fazan; Perchtenlauf at the Mondsee Advent Market Close copyright

      ![Some Perchten with traditional masks carved out of wood walk through Mondsee. St. Nicholas and an angel can be seen in the background.](https://www.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/4/0/csm_PerchtenlaufMondseeAdvent_TVBMondseeIrrseeAlexandraFazan_944ce3f0e7.jpg "Photo TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Alexandra Fazan; Perchtenlauf at the Mondsee Advent Market")

  © Open copyright  © Krampus at the Salzkammergut Krampus Run in Bad Goisern Photo: RudikainPhotografie Close copyright

      ![Auf diesem Foto sieht man einen schaurigen Krampus beim Salzkammergut Krampuslauf in Bad Goisern](https://www.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/8/e/csm_KrampuslaufBadGoisern_RudiKainPhotografie_ee01d9e6b3.jpg "Krampus at the Salzkammergut Krampus Run in Bad Goisern Photo: RudikainPhotografie")

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 [      ![Percht at the Advent Market in Mondsee, Salzkammergut](https://www.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/4/4/csm_PerchtenAdventMondsee_TVBMondseeIrrseeAlexandraFazan_a70e5a86bb.jpg "Photo TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Alexandra Fazan; Perchten at the Mondsee Advent Market, Salzkammergut")

Krampus Events

in Salzkammergut

 ](https://www.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/winter/advent-and-tradition/krampus/krampus-events.html)  © Open copyright  © Photo TVB Mondsee-Irrsee/Alexandra Fazan; Perchten at the Mondsee Advent Market, Salzkammergut Close copyright