Adventmarkt beim Neuwirts Hofladen
The Brixental Valley Antlassritt horse procession
Corpus Christi, 16th June 2025
Tradition plays an important role in Brixental Valley - since more than 300 years the Antlassritt has been taking place in Brixental Valley. Year after a year, locals and guests look forward to the impressive procession with adorned horses through Brixental Valley, in which some 80 horsemen from Brixen, Kirchberg and Westendorf take part.
The Antlassritt takes place annually on Corpus Christi Day and leads along the national highway to Kirchberg to the rest area ("Schwedenkapelle") Chapel and back. The local bands as well as the peal of bells accompany the procession.
The schedule
check12:00 - The horsemen from Brixen, Westendorf and Kirchberg meet up in front of the church of the respective township.
check13:00 - Some 80 horsemen as well as three priests from the municipalities of Kirchberg, Brixen and Westendorf meet up in front of the parish church in Brixen and ride with the adorned horses from Brixen to Kirchberg to the chapel in Klausen.
checkThe procession on horseback comes through Kirchberg and is accompanied through the village by the bands from Kirchberg and Aschau. The priest issues the blessing to the crowd lining the streets with the Holy of Holies, the horsemen also still pray today during the ride in sections following the rosary.
checkAfter the mass in front of the Klausenkapelle Chapel and a short break, it’s back along the same way again.
checkNote: National highway closed between Kitzbühel and Brixen im Thale from 13:00 - 16:00!
The horsemen meet in Brixen and ride to Kirchberg together. 
The Antlassritt was introduced as a way of showing gratitude that the Swedes did not invade Brixental Valley during the Thirty Years' War, it was once believed. 
The procession is accompanied by the local bands. 
Flowers adorn a saddled horse. 
A small festival is held annually in Brixen im Thale on occasion of the Antlassritt. 
For the proud horsemen, the Antlassritt is an annual highlight. 
Only men can take to the horses for the Antlassritt, not women.
The tradition of the Antlassritt has been preserved in Brixental Valley for a long time, so long that no one really knows exactly since when – and for what reason. It was introduced as a way of showing gratitude that the Swedes did not invade Brixental Valley during the Thirty Years' War, it was once believed. Today we know that the Swedes never made it across the Inn River back then. Old church records, however, reveal that the ride was already held long before the Thirty Years' War. Probably as a farmland ride to ask for blessings for a good harvest season.
The Antlassritt takes place in any weather, and it may only be cancelled in case of natural disasters such as flooding.
Countdown
Brixentaler Antlassritt horse procession
