06/12/2025
St. Nicholas Day in the Eggental valley 🎅
On December 6, St. Nicholas brings quiet joy to the Eggental valley, celebrating kindness with small gifts for the children.
In the mountain village Eggen, St. Nicholas is the parish patron saint. The mountain miners once venerated him as their protector against water dangers, and in local belief he guarded the village from the wild torrents of the Sambach and Geroldbach.
And speaking of St. Nichola …you can’t miss the traditional Nicholas bread in Eggen:
At the Bakery Pichler, now run by Roland Pichler in the third generation, the famous "Eggentaler Breatln" are still made entirely by hand. With mild sourdough, a bit of yeast and plenty of care.
Before Christmas, they become the traditional Nicholas bread — each one topped with three caramelized almonds. They symbolize the three golden balls of St. Nicholas, shown in the fresco of the village church.
Every year, Roland bakes about 300 of these breads in an extra shift for St. Nicholas Day, when they’re handed out to the families of Eggen. 🎁
© Eggental Tourismus, Gabriel Eisath, Jens Vögele - WESTSIDERS