Churches and monasteries

The Capuchin monastery (since 1626) and the Capuchin Church are kept very simply, in line with the principles of the order. Continuing along the Dantestrasse, at the road junction to Dietenheim you will find one of the oldest and most beautiful shrines in Tyrol.

Holy Mass Sunday and ecclesiastical holidays at 08.00 am in German language and at 09.00 am in Italian language.
Mon - Fri: at 09.00 am in German language

The little church of St. Catherine & St. Florian was built in 1839.

This little church is located amindst the picturesque vineyards of the Santa Maddalena hills and it is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, patron saint of the wine-grower. 

The church is worth visit for its precious frescoes. Each year on the 22nd of July a splendid festival takes place in Santa Maddalena, celebrating the saint Mary Magdalene. 

 

The Church of St. Ottilia was built in 1681 at the behest of Casper Perlinger. The Madonna and Baby Jesus can be seen on the large votive table together with Perlinger and his entire family. The church is of simple construction with an octagonal-shaped choir enclosure and barrel vault.

Calvary was laid out by the Order of the Capucin monks near Bozen. After this, most other brother houses of the Order did the same, and this included Eppan. At the end of this pathway the Gleif Church was built in 1716. Each station of the cross took time to erect and several figures were finished in the 19th century. Architectural style: the church was built in the middle of the 18th century as the graveyard church at the end of the pilgrimage path. The two domed towers of the Renaissance building give it an impressive appearance. With all its inside decorations, it is definitely worth a visit. Extras: the view of Eppan from here is worth the walk. Walking: the easy walk to the Gleif Church is part of nearly everyone's holiday programme, but can also be combined with the Ice Holes, Matschatsch, Kem Ravine, the Mendel or the Gantkofel.

The beautiful Romanesque church, dedicated to St. Leonard, was built around the 13th century. Its main altar dates back to the 18th century.

Beneath St. Andrä, in a charming position on a hill, the small church of St. John the Baptist is situated in Karnol. Mentioned already in 1133, the renovation and the decor of the 15th century characterize the little house of God.A tender net- vault covers the inside, that impressions with cycles of frescoes of different periods. Beside the life and the death of the church patron John, the works of mercy and some saints, the martyrdom of the saint Ursula is of extraordinary quality.The representation in the apsis dates back to the Renaissance (around 1520), it shows the return of the saint Ursula with 11,000 virgins from Rome to Köln, where arrow riflemen of the Huns’ king Guam kill her. The wide scenery of the frescoes is flanked by John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.

The new-Gothic parish church in Scena was built between 1914 and 1931. The old church was continuously found to be too small and it was necessary to construct a more spacious building. The vicinity to the school, the old people’s home, the sexton’s quarters and the widows’ accommodation ensured the central location of the church. After several heated meetings about the planning and actual location, the design of the Vienna architect Eduard Hütter was welcomed and approved. However, in 1915 the building work was stopped due to the start of World War I and only recommenced in 1926 because of the political changes, which had occurred in South Tyrol. The altar area is decorated with the statues of the twelve apostles. The fourteen 14 carved cross stations by Johann Muhry are incredibly impressive. The glass windows come from the Tyrolean glass painting company in Innsbruck. At the side walls of the main church area, the statues of Sains Vigilius, the bishop of Trent, as well as one of Christ King, the blessed Heinrich of Bozen, Saint Nicolas of the Flüe, the apostle Philipp, the evangelist John, the Bishop Valentine and the blessed Josef Freinademetz are found on pedestals. At the back wall, the Baroque figure of Saint Michael takes pride of place. He is presented as a young knight with a flaming sword. This statue previously stood in the Michaels chapel, which was demolished before starting the new parish church building. The new organ was built by Franz Zanin from Udine in 1993 and its cover was artfully designed by Herbert Schönweger from Meran. It consists of 32 registers, the major organ part, the back positive and pedal, as well as 2,744 pipes. Both churches were consecrated to Mary, the mother of God and she is celebrated each year on 15th August. The church tower is 35 metres high and contains seven bells. The smallest one is the Zügen bell, which is struck just after someone in the parish dies. On Sundays and bank holidays, as well as other festivities and occasions such as the Ave Maria, the church bells are rung. For the twelve o’clock ring, the ring for the end of the working day, the ring for bad weather approaching, for weddings, baptisms etc, (the little bell, the second one, the third one, the eleventh one, the twelfth one and the large bell) are sounded. All six bells are only rung together for important festivities. The church is surrounded by well-cared for graves, which are decorated with flowers. The measurements of the graves were standardised in 1972 and at that time, the graveyard was redesigned. It is truly an honourable place for the dead. In between the graves, a simple monument remembers the 108 fallen soldiers in both World Wars.

In 2022, on the initiative of the meditation group of La Val, and under the direction of labyrinth expert Gernot Candolini, a labyrinth was built in the centre of the area occupied by the former church of San Genesio. It is a simple Gothic labyrinth, consisting of five paths traced with brook stones. Many things here in Dlijia vedla remind us of the transience of life: the remains of the old church walls, the abandoned cemetery.

Memento mori - Memento vivere!

Everything passes quickly, and the moment never stops. So be present and aware, enjoy the view, feel the hope that lurks in life, let yourself be inspired and blessed by goodness and change.

"This place here is a place of power, you must make use of it" Dr. Karl Gruber, Regional Conservator

                                

The chapel in Patscheid was probably built in the 17th century. It is a small building with a ridge turret and a bell from 1914. Inside the chapel hangs a panel painted on wood, depicting a picture of Mary with the saints Joseph and Anna.

Most of the sacred buildings are bound on legends, like the parish church in Sorafurcia. A bear shall have attacked the Arndt farmer whereon he built a church.

The parish church exhibits worth seeing works: the high altar from 1884, side altars from 1903, the pulpit from 1867 and the Queen of the Rosary from the Baroque period around 1700. A high artistic value has also the oil painting of Franz Sebald Unterberger which represents the St. Stephen, as well as the glass painting with the subject of the miners of Villandro in 1520.

St. Josef Church in Moos was built in 1679, you will find there some beautiful frescoes of Rudolf Stolz.

 

Set on the left bank of the Passer River, just outside Merano’s historic center, the Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit stands as a quiet monument to medieval compassion and Gothic artistry. Founded in 1271 by Count Meinhard II of Tyrol and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria, the church – together with the adjoining hospital – once offered shelter and care to the poor, the sick, and passing pilgrims. The original church was destroyed in 1419 by a catastrophic flood caused by the sudden outburst of Kummersee – a mountain lake whose name translates to “Lake of Sorrow”, reflecting the devastation it brought through repeated floods. The lake had formed in 1401 in the upper Passeiertal Valley due to a landslide and triggered eight major floods over the years before it eventually dried up in 1774.
The reconstruction of the Hospital Church was carried out under the rule of Duke Sigismund of Austria, known as "Rich in Coin", and the new building was consecrated in 1483. Today, it ranks among the most important examples of late Gothic architecture in South Tyrol and has been a protected monument since 1949. Architecturally, the church captivates with its rare three-aisled hall design and a decagonal chancel that spans the full width of the building – an architectural feature seldom seen in the region. The main portal is adorned with a tympanum depicting the Holy Trinity, flanked by sculptures of the church’s founders.
Inside, visitors will find a wealth of artistic treasures: a Baroque Pentecost altar by Franz Xaver Pendl, flanked by late Gothic winged reliefs by Jörg Lederer. The Stations of the Cross, executed in the Flemish style, were painted by Benedikt Schinle. On the southern exterior wall, a well-preserved fresco of the Crucifixion by Ambrosius Gander (1450) bears witness to the building’s long-standing devotional role.
More than a sacred space, the Hospital Church is a historical time capsule – offering insight into Merano’s medieval healthcare, the impact of natural disasters, and the resilience of its citizens. It is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in history, art, or architecture.
Masses (in Italian only) Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. Holiday eves: 6:30 p.m. Holidays: 11:00 a.m.

From the pilgrimage church in Santa Maria, via several stations of the Cross, a meditation road (built in 1996) leads you to the oldest religious sanctum of the Alta Pusteria Valley: St. Peter am Kofl. It is said that the chapel was used as a refuge for some priests during the turmoil of the mass migrations from Aguntum (near Lienz in Eastern Tyrol). St. Peter am Kofl was first mentined in 1329 and later renovated in 1987.

The first written documentation referring to this church appears at the end of the 14th century. From this era, the bell tower remains today, with its double-mullioned windows surmounted by triple-mullioned windows and frescoes on the façade representing the saints Anne, Catherine and Margaret, Christopher with the baby Jesus, and St. Michael, to whom the church is dedicated. In 1672, the church was restored, supplied with a barrel vault, and supplemented with a new chancel, side altar, and sacristy. Particularly rich are the decorations of the choir stalls: The scenes depicted on the parapet stem from the 17th century and represent the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, the Adoration of the Magi, the circumcision of Jesus, the flight from Egypt, and the Massacre of the Innocents. The busts painted on the lower part of the choir stalls represent the twelve Apostles and date back to the 18th century. The interior of the church is bare due to the theft of the furnishings and sacred images in 1969. The stolen original altarpiece was replaced by a representation of St. Michael fighting evil.

 

The origins of the "Unsere liebe Frau" Sanctuary in Mörre/Mora just outside St. Leonhard/S. Leonardo can be traced back to a curious occurrence. Legend has it that village doctor and farmer, Matthias Pichler, purchased a votive image of the Virgin Mary from a street trader. Sometime later, in 1750 he decided to build a chapel on his property. Since word of Pichler’s ability to cure diseases and heal wounds was widely known, many came to him for help and also to see the image of the Virgin Mary. The growing number of needy visitors prompted Matthias Pichler to enlarge his chapel in 1752 and again in 1764. But as the miracles diminished in frequency, so did the number of pilgrims. This happened just at the time when Emperor Joseph II had decreed a program of enforced secularization and the chapel fell into disuse and eventually ruin.
In the mid-nineteenth century, a number of well-intentioned benefactors decided to renovate and further enlarge the church into the valued place of worship that it is today. An image of the Madonna was placed at the center of the new Baroque altar, inspired by a work of painter Giovanni Battista Salvi (known as "Sassoferrato"). Matthias Pichler was the first country doctor in the Passeiertal Valley to have been mentioned officially in the town records and his descendants followed in his footsteps. The country doctor could cure a variety of ailments afflicting both humans and animals and various treatments were administered, such as to stop haemorrhages. Many patients flocked to the doctor partly because of the scarcity of doctors and partly because the bad state of repair of the roads leading elsewhere. The first public pharmacy only opened in 1983 in the village of San Leonardo, serving the entire valley.
The two statues created by the sculptor Anton Ferner represent Saint Leonard and the canonised medical practitioner, Damian (1764).
The votive images are also noteworthy in themselves. Impressive and rich in detail, they express the gratitude of the population. Most of the votive paintings date back to the nineteenth century, one of which is the work of Josef Haller (1737-73). Among the best known of the late Baroque painters of Tyrol, together with sculptor Anton Ferner, Haller is one of the greatest exponents of the Passeiertal Valley School of Arts (his original work from 1768 is displayed at the MuseumPasseier museum).
So the ascent to Mörre from St. Martin is certainly worthwhile, to pray or meditate at the pilgrimage shrine, as well as to admire the works of local artists. Not least, there is the spectacular view of the valley below to enjoy.

An inscription refers to the first consecration of the church in 1199. The nave has a flat ceiling and is equipped with oylets. The choir has a semi-circular, vaulted apse with a Majestas representation and two well-preserved Evangelist symbols. There are traces of frescoes dating back to the 13th century. To the south of the triumphal arch appear the victims of Cain and the upper body of a fish-tailed siren. The head with long hair, the thoughtful expression and the gestures of the arms give the depiction a uniquely melancholic appearance, which contrasts significantly with the image of the demonic element in the other wall paintings.

The Church of S. Nicolaus is open from 15.04.2025 - 07.10.2025 every Tuesday at 2 pm for the guided tours in German and Italian language (3,00 € per Person, no registration needed).

The Neo-Gothic church in Pedross was built from 1908 to 1912 according to the plans of the brothers Paul and Theodor Huter from Innsbruck under the curate Franz Habicher and inaugurated on 28 October 1912 by the Brixen prince-bishop Franz Egger. Patron Saint is the St. Martin, pictured in the large window behind the high altar. The church is painted yellow. It has an open porch and a rose window above the entrance to the west. The interior of the church is decorated with a barrel-shaped ribbed vault. The church has 10 large windows, all of which were donated by private individuals. The church has three altars designed, carved and painted by Josef Bachlechner. The pulpit, designed by Josef Bachlechner and made by J. Peitner from Wilten, shows Christ as sower and the four evangelists. The Stations of the Cross is a relief in wood, executed by the sculptor Franz Kobald from Schwaz. The left side altar is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the right to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The central theme of the neo-Gothic winged altar in the presbytery is the Holy Trinity. The outer sides of the wings show the victim of Melchizedek on the left and the sacrifice of Abraham on the right. Inside the altar shrine the saints Wolfgang and Wendelin are depicted. Wendelin is the patron saint of shepherds and peasants and was much revered in Langtaufers. The chapel in the nearby "Ochsenberg" is also consacrated the St Wendelin. Under the windows of the presbytery the seven sacraments of angels are represented in round medallions. On the ceiling of the whole church various herbs, flowers and medicinal plants are depicted. The cemetery is built around the church. Here the deceased are buried from thea first part of the valley.

The Joseph chapel at the 'Moartalalmwiese' (Moar Valley alpine meadow) was built in 1897 by the Association for Alpine Hotels. In the summer of the years prior to World War I, a mass was held there every day. For this reason, the management of the 'Grand Hotel Carezza' employed a hotel chaplain. In 1976, the parish of Nova Levante bought the chapel. Thereafter, the little church was renovated and extended. Today, it offers space for 200 people. The renovated chapel was consecrated on the 18th June 1983.

The appearance of the parish church to the hl. Pankratius is characterized by different architectural styles. A special highlight are the two gold reliefs.

Little Chapel with view to the dolomites of Sesto / Sexten The San Antonio Chapel was built in 1930 and is located at Mitterberg / monte di mezzo. Sebastian Holzer and his wife Anna Mitteregger constructed this chapel around 1930 as a result of a vow that the wife should recover from a severe illness. The chapel was dedicated to S. Antonius from Padova.

The original parish church of St. Walburga is thought to have already been in existence around 1203, and is located close to the permanent settlements by the stone river surfaces in Val Martello. The church was consecrated in 1440, it was extended in 1650, and an upper section was added in 1759. The neo-romanesque altar was completed in 1887.

To the west of the village center lies the historically significant hill of Peterbühl. This is where the beginnings of Völs am Schlern and the entire Schlern region can be found. People settled here thousands of years before Christ. Today, a theme trail commemorates these long-past times and the exciting excavation sites around the small chapel on the Peterbühl. The chapel rises directly on the crest of the hill and stands out with its 13th-century tower. Above the doors, you can see the crossed keys of St. Peter and next to them the coats of arms of the Thun and Firmian families. The coats of arms belong to Regina von Thun and Katharina von Firmian, the two wives of Leonhard the Elder von Völs. The Renaissance-style paintings date back to around 1600. The 16th-century winged altarpiece is now on display in the Völs Parish Museum.

The Peterbühl is an ideal destination for a leisurely stroll or for those seeking a place of peace and reflection. Several benches offer a relaxed atmosphere and invite you to linger.

A new theme trail describes the fascinating beginnings of Völs am Schlern and the entire Schlern region, as well as the period of excavations and findings on the Peterbühl.

The small chapel was built in 1867 and consecrated in honour of the picture of grace Maria Hilf in Innsbruck. In the chapel there are sculptures of Peter and Paul, Isidor and Hubertus. The chapel was last renovated in 1994.

The church of St. Martin was mentioned for the first time 1380.

The gothic building Dates back to the befinning of the 15th century and houses the Teutonic order. The elegant building is well worth a visit for ist collection of coats of arms, mortuary shields, tombstones and flags of the members of the order dating back to the 16th and 19th century.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Congregatio Jesu in Brixen is consecrated to St. Joseph. The classicist building was owned by the Order of the English Misses until it was taken over by the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol in 2011.

The classicist façade is simple and is divided by four pilasters. These are crowned by a triangular gable. Above the rectangular portal there is a round-arched window.

In addition to stucco work by Franz Singer, there is a high altarpiece inside the church depicting the death of St. Joseph. It was probably painted around 1770 by Josef Anton Zoller for the parish church in Schmirn. To the left and right of it are the figures of St. Joachim and St. Anna.  On the left side altar is the painting of St. Philomena by Gebhard Flatz (1870), on the right side altar the communion of St. Antonius by Jakob Fink (1846) is shown. In the choir there is a ceiling painting with the representation of Jesus in the temple by Josef Mühlmann (1854). The other paintings and the neo-baroque decorative painting are by Johann Matthias Peskoller (1904).

Although consecrated in 1281, St. Margaretha, the late Gothic parish curch in Schabs was only completed in 1454. By the end of the eighteen century its interior had been reconstructed in Baroque style with its poral framed in Stone. It is worth noting that the 72 m bell-Tower is unusually tall and narrow.

The church of St. John in Tschötsch (mentioned in 1406) was built from granite blocks of Brixen.On the façade St. Christophan reminds old transitions in the low mountain range. Slight stucco on the inside of the church reveals renovations in the Baroque period, from that time dates also the fresco of the baptism of Christ in the vault (Joseph Anton Zoller, 1763).During the World War, the church withstands some bombs, which were thought for the near bridge of the village of Albeins.