Solstice bonfire in the Montafon

Fires light up the Montafon mountains at the summer solstice.

The solstice is traditionally celebrated on the weekend around the longest day of the year, June 21. On Saturday, June 21, mountain lovers will hike up to the heights with torches and large quantities of wood to celebrate the tradition of the solstice fires at nightfall.

Lit peaks and burning mountain ridges

Even in the Middle Ages, people celebrated great feasts and hoped for luck, blessings and healing by watching the fire. In earlier times, however, the summer solstice did not play such an important role. Rather, it was the night of June 24, St. John's Day, when bonfires were lit.