Churches and monasteries

At the eastern side of Brixen, beyond the confluence of the Rienz river and the Eisack river, in the village of Milland a new parish church was built between 1984-1985, and it is consecrated to the Saint Father Josef Freinademetz. The church is a curiosity, a work of modern architecture, a sacred place full of light.In the basement, there is an exhibition about the life and the work of the church patron, the Saint Father Josef Freinademetz, the Tyrolian China- missionary.
Guided tours possible after request.

The San Valentino Church The San Valentino Church was built in 1825 at Bagni di Moso / Bad Moos. The chapel was constructed in 1925 by Valentin Wassermann for bathing guests. In 1980 the chapel was renovated.

St. Valentine's Church on the Gentersberg is traditionally regarded as the oldest church in the Val Sarentino/ Sarntal Valley. The little church is famous in particular for its outstanding medieval frescoes.

The church, situated on a hill in Viums, was consecrated in 1281 and is considered as the most beautiful shrine in the surroundings. The present church construction dates from 1500 and was build on the fundament of a church, the expansion of the tower happened in the 17th century.

The seminary of Brixen has a very interesting history. The current seminary building was built in the years 1764-1771 under Prince-Bishop Leopold of Spaur on the site of the old pilgrims' hospice and was consecrated on 28 June 1767. Today the seminary is the seat of the Theological-Philosophical Seminary.

Already in 1239 was mentioned the consecration of the church. Today's making should have been made, however, in the context of a baroque change in the 18th century. The stout tower with the four-sided pyramid roof is impressive. A broad canopy is located in the main entrance at the west façade. The frescos at this façade show the Saints Johannes, Laurentius, Stephanus and Christophorus and were donated, according to an inscription, from Hans von Freising to Aichach and Dorothea von Freising in 1727. The altar is in a neo-Gothic style. A sculpture , called the "Johannesschüssel", is a copy of a very valuable sculpture from the 14th century. A sculpture of Saint Mary with her child from the master Leonhard of Brixen's school is also deposited in this church.

The Church of St. Nicholas in Kematen was built despite the pronounced popular hostility between 1801 and 1807, integrating parts of a neogothic construction dating from 1468 into the new building. The Church was consecrated in 1833. The barrel vault was rebuilt in 1861. The main altarpiece is by Anton Sieß (1768) and depicts the patron, Saint Nicholas. The frescoes are by Franz Altmutter of Vienna (1811).

The church is consecrated to St. Petrus and the earliest recorded mention of the building dates back to the start of the 13th century. The ceiling frescoes were painted by Christoph Brandstätter and combine with the interior of the church to produce a remarkable example of a room dating from the late Baroque or Classical period. Open all day long.

The St. Catherine church in Aica di Fiè was originally dedicated to St. Michael.
The frescoes on the exterior wall were made in 1420 and are worth a second glance. They show us the legend of the Christian princess Catherine of Alexandria.

One of the oldest and nicest regional churches in Tyrol.

Holy Masses on Sundays at 8:30 a.m.

Special masses are held on all Catholic holidays. The parish church is open daily throughout the year.

The parish church of Laives/Leifers – Where past and future meet

The parish church of Leifers is made of two parts, a historical one and a modern one. The historic part was first mentioned in 1286 and contains the miraculous image of Maria Weissenstein. Thanks to the former curate of Laives/Leifers, Johann von Kolb it is still possible to admire the statue. During the 70s there was already the intention of expanding the church. The Italian speaking community first wanted an own parsonage, but the bishop of that time was keen on reinforcing the connection between the two communities (Italian and German speaking), not separating them. Therefore, the decision to extend the already existing church has been made. The construction began in 2000 and ended 4 years later. The modern part has been christened in 2004. The form of the building is a symbol for acceptance, home, friendship and understanding and shows the way to an eternal home. As a sign for Christianity and resurrection, a triumphal cross has been put up over the altar. The different light inside the church symbolise Christ, who is the world’s light.

Of demotic power is the church of St. Leonhard. Leonhard, the patron saint of cattle and prisoners, is commemorated by the heavy chain that winds one and a half times around the entire church. Consecrated in 1194, the church was redesigned around 1430 and baroque in the 18th century. The rich ceiling stucco from Franz Singer's workshop (around 1770) is a reminder of the Baroque and the creative joy of master builder Tangl. More recent history is evoked by the frescoes by Toni Kirchmair (around 11920), which interpret St. Leonhard as the patron saint of prisoners and fallen soldiers of the First World War.

PARISH CHURCH, ST. ANNE’S CHAPEL AND CHAPEL OF THE DECEASED: St. Stephen’s Parish Church was built between 1792-96 during the late Baroque period and it contains frescoes by Franz Altmutter, sculptures by Nissl and an altarpiece by Martin Knoller. A Gothic-style twofold chapel dating from the 15th century is located to the left of the steps of the church. The lower part of it is occupied by the Chapel of the Deceased, while St. Anne’s Chapel is found above. A fresco by Simon von Taisten may be seen in the Chapel of the Deceased. Chapel of the Deceased open to the public: Daily 8-17.00

Visit only on request!

Contact: Hannes Volgger +39 340 545192

The 19th century neo-Gothic nave was demolished in 1988 and replaced by a modern octagonal structure. The beautiful chancel dating back to 1670, however, was preserved, complete with the painting of the Madonna with Child by Lukas Cranach on the high altar (now a copy). In 1503 Wilhelm von Wolkenstein had a chapel dedicated to the Virgin built here, which subsequently had to be enlarged several times to cope with the large numbers of people who came to this popular place of pilgrimage as they still do today. On the outside wall of the sacristy there is a stone painted with the coat of arms of the Counts of Wolkenstein.

The parish church to the hl. Veit was inaugurated at the beginning of the 16th century and restored again and again during the past centuries, even after the great fire in 1783.

The late Gothic church was mentioned already in 1147 for the first time. According to the legend the church stands on the foundations of a heathen victim place. Today's building was built in the 15th century. Gothic elements of the church are the ogival portals, the rosette window above the main entrance with the Gothic three passports and the dainty net ribbed vaulting inside. The high altar (at 1620) shows Jesus' birth, statues of Peter and Paulus as well as figures from the Life of the Virgin Mary. The painted windows on the left and on the right side of the high altar were donated from Lajen's nobility families in 1905. The remaining fittings are in the neo-Gothic style. The tower of Our Lady's Church is adorned on the northern side and has impressing frescos.

Already in the Bronze Age, there existed a settlement at Abeins/Albes, mentioned in a document for the first time around 960, under the name of Allpines, later Albines. The actual church was built around 1320, at the end of the 15th century it was rebuilt and finally, in 1784, it was changed into Baroque style. It is consecrated to the Saints Hermagoras and Fortunat (painting on the high altar). The side statues date from the first part of the 18th century and represent the St. Albuin and the St. Ingenuin, while the wall- painting on the front and the ceiling fresco on the inside date from the period around 1700. The oldest church of the village is the Margarethen- Church. It has been arched in the late Gothic period, changed into Baroque in the 17th century with remnants of Gothic and Baroque frescoes. Precious Mary- statue of Master Leonhard von Brixen.

St. Zeno Parish Church in Naturns A Romanesque chancel chapel is known to have stood on the site of the present-day parish church which dates from 1200. The older pre- Carolingian building was later incorporated to become the apse of the present-day Late Gothic church which is dedicate to St. Zeno, patron saint who protects against flooding and erstwhile Bishop of Verona. It was built between 1474 and 1475. The choir was re-built in Baroque style in 1760.

The mystical Hill of Tartsch towers amidst the green valley of Upper Vinschgau Valley, surrounded by the villages of Glurns/ Glorenza, Matsch/ Mazia and Mals/ Malles. Due to its position as viewing platform, the schist drumlin was already settled in prehistoric times. In the 11th century A.D. the Romanesque St. Veit Church dedicated to St. Vitus was erected upon a pagan cult site. It is one of the few churches that were never restored and displays precious medieval murals.
The Romanesque frescoes, which unfortunately have only been preserved in a few places, are of great art-historical importance. The interior of the church has a wooden ceiling from the 16th century. 
Traces of fire can still be seen in some parts of the church. These date back to the Engadine War of 1499. 

The church S. Veit is open from June to October every Thursday at 5pm for the guided tours in German and Italian language (Info: +39 0473 831190).

Although the first reference to a church consecrated to St. Magdalena appeared in a letter of indulgence dating to the year 1273, the origins of the chapel would appear to stretch even further back in time. The chapel as we know it today was built around 1480/1481 by the Schneeberg/Monteneve miners. The centrepiece of the chapel is the late-gothic winged altar, created in the workshop of Matheis Stöberl in 1509 and depicting scenes from the life of Saint Magdalena together with a number of other saints considered to be patron saints of miners. The second altar, attributed to artist Hans Harder and dated ca. 1470, is also worthy of note. Other works date back to the late Gothic and Baroque periods. In 2004, the church underwent extensive renovations. The altar and ambo were created by Hartmut Hintner of the Gsies/ Casies Valley in 2005.    

From the beginning of May to the beginning of November, a guided tour in German and Italian takes place in the miners' chapel every Monday from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm. In July and August, there is also a guided tour every Friday from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.
The guided tour is free of charge. No registration required.

The chapel of St. Peter is the symbol of the Municipality of Laives/Leifers, and is also depicted in the town’s coat of arms. It is located on a hill above Laives and dates back to the 12th century. The chapel was originally intended to be the chapel for Castle Lichtenstein. Next to the church there are only a few ruins left of the ancient castle, which was also part of a fortress below, which was built in 1160 and destroyed in 1290. Today the chapel can only be visited from the outside. Inside only the altar remains with its altar stone.

The first documentary mention of the St. Cyprian Chapel in Sarnthein / Sarentino Village was in the year 1328. In the middle of the 15th century, the church was rebuilt in the Gothic style. The well-preserved frescoes are a special treat.

The present parish church, which we have before us is already the third church in Weißenbach/Rio Bianco. Already in the year 1000 stood near the present-day Kirchler-yard (hence the farm name), a small church, on a small level. However, this small church was a flood in 1336 not withstanding and was swept away.

This tiny, charming place of silence and meditation was dedicated to the patron saint of cattle. 300 year-old frescoes illustrating the history of Jesus' life were uncovered during restoration work in 1993.

St. Anthony’s Chapel built in 1673 and situated on the main square in Ortisei/St. Ulrich is a popular photo motif thanks to its simple and unadorned style and roof turret.

It features an altar painting depicting St. Anthony from Padua, by the Swiss painter Melchior Deschwanden.

The origin of the church surely reaches back much further than the consecration in 1465. In the inside are shown the consecrating document, translated into German, and a detailed list of the restaoration work of 1989.The capstones of the soft net ribbed vaulting represent saint figures and different coats of arms. The painting of the baroque high altar (1733) shows Saint Mary with the child and Saint Jakobus Senior and Saint Jakobus Junior. These two saints are represented, together with Saint Silvester and a Bishop, on both sides of the church one more time. Moreover, a Pieta from the 18th century and a figure of Saint Valentin with a cattle are remarkable (at 1800).

The Maria Heimsuchung chapel in Brennerbad/Terme di Brennero between the villages of Brenner/Brennero and Gossensass/Colle Isarco was built in the time of the noble tourism around 1900. In this period of time uncountable celebrities found accommodations in the gorgeous Grand Hotel and the village of Brennerbad/Terme di Brennero had also an own train station. However, a first chapel was already consacrated 1680 in honor of the Maria Heimsuchung chapel.

1882 effected the laying of the cornerstone to the chapel of today. Built according to the drafts of the master builder Josef Vonstadl, it was consecrated in 1886.

The Neoromanic building consists of a nave and two side aisles and a round apsis. The first high altar was made by F. Schmalzlaus from St. Ulrich/Ortisei, but it seems that already in the year 1889 the chapel received a new altar, made by the sculptor Stufflesser according to drafts by Johann Maria Reiter.

Monastery of Novacella was founded by the blessed bishop Hartmann in 1142 as an Augustinian monastery. Thanks to its monastery school it became one of the most important centre of education and art. In 1742 the monastery was the largest in Tyrol, the Romanesque abbey church of Abbazia di Novacella was redesigned in Baroque style. Unique at  the monastery of Novacella is the round building of Castello dell'Angelo, former hostel and defence facility. The Gothic cloister benefits from valuable frescoes, while the well in the courtyard depicts the wonders of the world. The 8th wonder is said to be Novacella. The Rococo library of the monastery  of Novacella is uniquely beautiful, the Pinacoteca houses medieval paintings by outstanding masters Michael and Friedrich Pacher and Marx Reichlich. The Turkish wall dates back to turbulent times. The mill, water buildings and wine cellar point to the economic importance of the monastery. The area around the monastery is the northernmost winegrowing region of Italy with the well-known white wines Sylvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner.

Other information about the monastery of Novacella

Visit without guide from Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm

The historical garden: The historical garden is situated at the entrance to the monastery complex. It reopened in summer 2004 following extensive restoration work. The monastery garden can be visited indipendently from Thuersday to Saturday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm

The monastery of Novacella is closed on Sundays and Catholic Holidays. 

The year of construction of the first church is uncertain, but certainly in the year 1490 it was destroyed by a landslide that destroyed a large part of the village. 1492 another church was rebuilt. Over the centuries this church changed style several times and was also enlarged. In recent times the altar has been modernized with works from the artists Mellauner y Promberger. The church can be visited all year round.