Old-Time in the Alps - in Bavaria

Jams, workshops and dance: from 4 to 6 September 2026 at Lake Kochel

A long weekend of old-time music in the Bavarian Alps, 5-7 September 2025, at the picturesque Lake Kochel: the ‘Old-Time in the Alps’ (OTITA) music camp. Located an hour south of Munich, 40 minutes north of the renowned violin-making town of Mittenwald, the camp offers the perfect blend of music and nature.
Registration opens on March 1, 2026  (Are you traveling from overseas and need to plan well in advance? Drop us a line at [email protected])
We're thrilled to announce that Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus are coming to Old-Time in the Alps 2026! We couldn’t be more excited to share that the wonderful Judy and Jeff — yes, from The Horse Flies! — will be teaching workshops in fiddle, guitar, and banjo uke, and sharing their signature energy and joy. And they’re bringing along Gus and Huck Tritsch!! So get ready for great tunes, inspiration, and good company!

A huge thank you to our generous sponsor (who prefers to stay anonymous) — thanks to their support, it’s possible to bring these wonderful musicians to Old-Time in the Alps! 

Highlights

  • 3 days of jam sessions, workshops, dancing and much more
  • our vibrant old-time community
  • Swimming, hiking, delicious food
  • Optional: Pre-camp in Mittenwald, the traditional violin-making town (see below for details)

Who can join?

The camp is for Old-Time musicians, but we also welcome people from other genres - such as Bluegrass or any others - who are eager to learn about Old-Time music. Come join our beautiful community!

Location

Castle "Schloss Aspenstein", Kochel am See, Germany: The location provides plenty idyllic spots for indoor and outdoor jams with great views. No nearby Neighbors, so making music all night guaranteed! 

Accommodation

  • Comfortable single & double rooms and shared rooms with double or triple occupancy (triple occupancy: one bed consists of a sofa bed). You can also book the shared rooms as a single person and we will find you room mates 
  • All rooms with private bathroom
  • Bed linens & towels included

Workshops

​We aim to offer a wide variety of workshops. If YOU would like to share your knowledge and conduct a workshop (90 minutes), please let us know (by filling out the registration form or sending an email). Workshops can cater to all levels, from beginners to advanced, covering topics ranging from rhythm to teaching tunes.

Catering

  • Extensive breakfast buffet, lunch with starter and dessert, coffee & cake in the afternoon, dinner (extensive buffet)
  • Delicious vegetarian and vegan food, meat is available on request
  • 1st meal: coffee & cake on Friday afternoon; Last meal: lunch on Sunday

Dates and Duration

Friday, 4 to Sunday, 6 September 2026

Pricing

  • 2 nights - single room >> € 325.-
  • 2 nights - double / shared room >> € 285.- p.P.
  • External stay (camp & food) >> € 220.- p.P.

Includes:
  • Accommodation (if booked single, double or shared room)
  • Meals (full board plus coffee & cake)
  • Workshop rooms
  • Programme
  • Houses & grounds for sole use (undisturbed jamming guaranteed...)

Impressions

Lots of outside and inside space for jams:
Area around the location: great walks in beautiful nature

​More Bavaria: pre-camp in Mittenwald

If you'd like to spend additional time in Bavaria, explore the charming town of Mittenwald - an old Bavarian mountain town with a rich history of violin and double bass making.
Let's gather in Mittenwald before the start of 'Old-Time in the Alps' (OTITA). In Mittenwald, you can have your violin or double bass set up at one of the famous workshops, visit the violin museum, go for hikes, take the cable car up to 2240 m, and more. Additionally, we will have some wonderful jams in beautiful nature! On Friday we will then move to Lake Kochel and commence our camp, 'Old-Time in the Alps'...
Distance
Mittenwald (pre-camp) – Kochel (OTITA): 30 km, 40 minutes (by car)

Links           If you want your instrument set up, get in touch with them in advance - they are quite busy.
Important Note
This is not part of 'Old-Time in the Alps'! Overnight stays, food, and so on need to be organized and booked by yourself.
​But to let us know if you come, so we can all meet up. 

About us

‘Old-Time in the Alps’ (OTITA) has its origins in Switzerland and has taken place five times in the Swiss Alps.
In 2024 the first OTITA took place in Bavaria...


Picture
Andrea Plötz (GER)
Picture
Caspar Noetzli (CH)

Getting here

  • Located about 75 km south of Munich, directly in Kochel
  • By train: direct connection from Munich main station (“Hauptbahnhof”)
  • By car: via the highway A95 “Munich-Garmisch”

Registration

  • You will be able to register here when the time comes.
  • A reservation fee of €50 per person is due with registration. This fee will be fully credited towards participation, but will be forfeited if you cancel. Thank you for your understanding!
  • After submitting the registration form, you will receive an email with information about the transfer. As soon as we have received this payment, you are registered.

Contact

[email protected]  (ending: ORG!)
We look forward to meeting you all and enjoying a memorable gathering at 'OLD-TIME IN THE ALPS', Bavarian edition.

Impressions from previous Old-Time in the Alps weekends. 

Old-Time in the Alps - Exclusion of Liability
Participants declare that they have no claims whatsoever against the organizer, the site owner, organizations associated with the event, or other participants in the event of damage, and that they are adequately insured against accidents and liability claims.
This exclusion of liability applies to claims on any legal grounds, particularly to claims for damages arising from contractual as well as non-contractual liability, and also to claims in tort.
The organizer is not liable for health risks and dangers to the participants. It is the responsibility of the participants to check their state of health before participating in the event and, if necessary, to have it confirmed by a doctor.
The organizer shall not be liable to pay compensation to participants if the organizer is obliged to make changes to the event or cancel it due to force majeure, official orders, or for safety reasons.