Bergfeuer and Prayers Attract to Pottenstein - Pottenstein’s Mountain Fires Illuminate a Centuries-Old Catholic Tradition
The Bavarian town of Pottenstein glowed under mountain fires on Epiphany Eve. Despite freezing temperatures, thousands of visitors flocked to the historic event. This annual gathering marks one of Franconia’s most famous Catholic traditions—the Eternal Adoration procession.
The tradition dates back to the 18th century, when Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, first established the Eternal Adoration. Each year, the event draws crowds from across the region and beyond. At its heart lies a solemn procession carrying a monstrance with the consecrated Host.
The celebrations reached their peak on 5 January, with fires lighting up the surrounding mountains. Despite frost and subzero conditions, spectators lined the streets. The procession culminated at St. Bartholomäus, the town’s parish church, where the ritual has been observed for centuries.
Pottenstein’s Epiphany Eve procession remains a major cultural and religious event in Franconia. The fires, the procession, and the enduring tradition continue to attract large crowds annually. This year’s gathering once again highlighted the town’s deep-rooted connection to its Catholic heritage.
