Trachtenhüte

Trachtenhüte are traditional headgear worn with regional folk costumes (Trachten) in the Alpine German-speaking areas. They are especially characteristic of Bavaria in Germany and of Austria, including Tyrol and Vorarlberg, with similar variants in other Alpine regions. The hats are commonly worn during folk festivals, parades, and dances, and may appear as ceremonial or festive components of a Tracht ensemble.

Most hats are made of felted wool or fur, though summer versions may be straw. They usually have a modest to medium-brim and a crown that can be pinched or slightly upturned; shapes and sizes vary by region and community. Colors are typically muted—greens, grays, browns—but local tradition may assign specific hues to particular districts.

Decoration is a defining feature: plumes or feathers, and often the iconic Gamsbart—a tuft of chamois hair attached to the crown; other hats bear edelweiss pins, heraldic badges, or decorative cords. The choice and arrangement of ornaments can reflect regional origin, guild membership, or family affiliation.

Regional varieties include the Tirolerhut (Tyrolean hat) with a drooping crown and a prominent Gamsbart or feather, and Bavarian styles that emphasize hat cords, badges, and embroidery. In contemporary use, Trachtenhüte are often handcrafted by regional hatters and preserved as cultural heritage; mass-produced versions exist for tourism and everyday wear.

The tradition relates to the broader Tracht movement, and to motifs such as Edelweiss and Gamsbart.