Churches and monasteries

The most beautiful baroque church of the Pusteria Valley, built on the foundations of a Roman and later Gothic church. Rudolf Schraffl, an architect from Dobbiaco, was commissioned to plan and oversee the consturuction works. The bell Tower, situated North-west of the main nave, was completed in 1804.

The Parish Church of St. Martin in Gsiesertal Valley was first mentioned in 1425, though its origins likely date back much earlier. Rebuilt in Baroque style in 1778, it features frescoes by Johann Mitterwurzer depicting scenes from St. Martin’s life. Gothic elements, including tower windows and frescoes by Simon of Taisten, remain visible. Further artworks by Kluibenschedl, Dusi, and Nißl enrich the interior.

The parish church St. Petrus and Paulus in Kiens was built between 1835 and 1838. Only the tower dates back to the 15th century. The paintings on the ceiling are remarkable.

The St. James Church is located near the pre-Christian burnt offering site of Tschaufis. The walls of the nave date back to the 12th century and the bell tower was built in Gothic style. The gothic winged altarpiece from 1517 is the most precious piece of the church.

The "Leitnstöckl" is one of the many plague shrines in our area. At the "Leitnstöckl" there is a beatiful view of the surrounding mountains an the center of Dobbiaco/Toblach. 

The hiking trail offers a wonderful view of Dobbiaco and leads past the Leitnstöckl chapel. The chapel is of great historical importance as it is one of the plague sticks and is reminiscent of the time of the Black Death in the Alps. The path leads through Dobbiaco and the sunny faction Wahlen.

 

The simple building established 1687 from Giovanni Delai. After a collapse a new consecration took place in 1693 . A splendourful iron lattice separates on the inside the visitor from the sister

The Lutheran church is a lime block northeastern of St. Magdalena, accessible from the church of St. Magdalena. The supporters of the lutheran teaching shall have met in secret to celebrate The Liturgy of the Word.

The church of St. Mary is built in Gothic style. The Gothic middle relief and the side figures are significant. From the church there starts a path of meditation which leads to the chapel San Pietro in Monte/St. Peter am Kofl.

The parish church of St. Florian/St. Floriano on the old imperial road north of Laag/Laghetti was first mentioned in 1189, but it dates back to around 1145. The lower part of the nave dates from the time of its first mention (1189). The choir with the accentuated towering choir loft replaced an older end in the 13th century. The church of St. Florian is a unique artistic monument. In the nave, the old Romanesque building form is still preserved. Later, an elevated transverse square was attached to this nave, which was probably intended as a domed building. A round apse was attached to it in the 12th century, the exterior decoration of which features beautiful pilaster strips and a round arch frieze with various sculptures worth seeing. From 2005 to 2008, the church was restored from the ground up. The outside area around the church was also redesigned and a parking lot was built. On May 03, 2008, the church of St. Florian was consecrated by Bishop Wilhelm Egger.

With a height of 82 meters, the church steeple in Castelrotto is not only the highest in the vicinity, it's also – they say – the one with the most-beautiful-sounding bells. But the big tower bell has always been the greatest source of pride. They never fail to admiringly mention "Big Bell." The citizens of neighboring villages were so incensed by this that the young fellows in nearby Laion finally decided to teach the boastful natives of Castelrotto a lesson…
The chapel in the church tower is open daily from 08:00 - 18:00.

The church of St. Magdalene was first mentioned in 1394. The present-day late Gothic building dates back to 1492 and the interior is characterised by baroque elements. The paintings by the Ladin artist Johann M. Pescoller in the choir vault from 1928 are well worth seeing.

Important information on arrival:
The access road to the church is closed for cars (gate) and only accessible to residents. It is best to park at the "Putzen" car park shortly after the village St. Magdalena and walk to the church (approx. 30 min.).

St. John’s Chapel at Welsperg Castle was consecrated on 12 November 1510 and is a fine example of Gothic architecture. Located outside the main castle walls and accessible from the small courtyard, it features three pointed-arch windows and a flat wooden ceiling later adorned with Baroque stucco. Recent renovations revealed rare 16th-century secco paintings depicting a Crucifixion scene.

The Ascension Church in Ehrenburg was first built in the year 1370. Today's building was built in the baroque period between 1698 and 1701. The mercy-painting was painted by I. A. Mölck (1755). In the crypt, there is an old statue of the Virgin Mary and other interesting paintings.
The church stands on the church hill, above the Castle Ehrenburg.

Paul Troger, born in Welsberg in 1698, is among the great masters of Austrian Baroque painting. His signature “Troger Blue” remains iconic. In the Parish Church of St. Margareth, he gifted his hometown three major works (1738–1739): the main altarpiece and two side altar paintings depicting St. Margareth, St. George, St. Ulrich, the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the Adoration of the Magi. Another painting, “St. Jude Thaddeus,” can be viewed in the Raiffeisen Bank.

The church St. Valentine dates back to 1303 and the nave as well as the bell tower are built in Romanesque style. Probably there was already a previous church at this position around 1090. While the majority of the frescoes inside the church date back to the 15th century, the oldest ones were painted in the 14th century. Exceptional is the Gothic winged altarpiece, an oeuvre by Hans Klocker from 1500.

Already in the 13th century, there was a St. Mary’s church at Teis which, however, was destroyed by the heavy earthquake in 1471. The present-day neo-Gothic nave was completed in 1890 and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The bell tower dates back to around 1500 and the great bell was cast at Innsbruck in 1734.

Marienberg Abbey above Burgeis/ Burgusio dates back to the 12th Century. The highest located Benedictine abbey in Europe is situated at an altitude of 1,340 m a.s.l., since 900 years monks live here according to the rules of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Today, the main hall displays impressions about the daily life of the monks marked by Benedict's credo ora et labora. The exhibition displays also beautiful paintings such as the Romanesque Crypt frescoe with its unique depiction of angels.

Special exhibitions:

- Marienberg in front of and behind the lens
- Maria

Guided Tours
All information about guided tours and timetables can be found at https://www.marienberg.it/en/museum/guided-tours.html.

The Parish Church of St. Magdalena was first mentioned in 1347. Late Gothic features from 1488 remain in the choir and tower windows. Extended and Neo-Gothic in style since 1840 and 1952 under architect Erich Pattis, the church showcases Nazarene-style altar paintings by K. Jele and wood sculptures by Franz Xaver Nißl. The apse frescoes by Johann Bapt. Oberkofler and the memorial to martyr Father Johann Steinmair add historical depth.

The church in St. Konstantin is the most impressive daughter church of Völs and offers Gothic splendor and unique architecture. Its tower with onion dome and charming pointed arch portals is unique. Inside, a beautiful painting of the church patron Constantine awaits you, lovingly recreated by H. Pescoller. From here you can also enjoy a breathtaking view of the Schlern.

The 5 chapels (1519) representing scenes from the Passion of Christ. Together with the former "Görz" chapel in the parish church and the circular chapel in Lerschach, they form the so-called "Calvary Mountain" pilgrim road. The chapel was built to commemorate the fallen in the war against the Republic of Venice.

The sawmill chapel is located at Dobbiaco Nuova/Neutoblach. The chapel is possible to reach by car or by foot. The walking trail can be continued until the Lake of Dobbiaco.  

The chapel was built in 1903 due to the frequent threat from the stream "Troge".

     

The parish church in St. Sigmund is one of the most beautiful historical monuments in South Tyrol. First mentioned in the year 1363, today's building was built between 1449 and 1489. The altar (1440) is one of the oldest and most important sidepiece altars in South Tyrol. The church “Unsere liebe Frau im Stöckl” was built in the year 1621 and enlarged in the year 1644. It was built totally new in the year 1680.

Tucked away on a quiet side street in Merano lies an unexpected architectural treasure: the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. With its distinctive onion dome and traditional interior, it offers a rare glimpse into Russian cultural and religious life – unique in South Tyrol and found only here in Merano.
In the late 19th century, the spa town on the Passer River became a popular destination for affluent Russians escaping the severe climate of their homeland. Thanks to the generous legacy of Moscow native Nadezhda Ivanovna Borodina – for whom the adjacent memorial is named – the church was built in 1897 to plans by Merano architect Tobias Brenner.
Inside, visitors are greeted by arched windows, glowing icons, and an atmosphere of quiet reverence. Just next door, the Borodina Memorial houses a rich collection of books, periodicals, and photographs that chronicle the life of Merano’s Russian community.
Architecture and Historical Context:
This chapel is a fine example of 19th-century Russian Orthodox architecture adapted to the Alpine setting. The onion dome and round-arched windows reflect traditional stylistic features, while the interior exudes a spiritual calm. Built at a time when Merano attracted Russian aristocrats and intellectuals, the church continues to serve as a spiritual and cultural focal point for the local Orthodox community.
Nadezhda Borodina Memorial:
Next to the church, the memorial houses over 1,300 books, magazines, liturgical texts, and historical documents, making it a valuable archive of Russian cultural heritage. Among the collection are also handcrafted toys from the Pescatori-Bragaglia collection in Verona, providing an intimate window into everyday life of the time.
The church was officially transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2017, reaffirming its enduring significance for Orthodox Christians in Merano and beyond.

The parish church of St. Peter was built according to the plans by Matthäus Wachter in the 18th century and was dedicated to the saints Peter and Paul. The late baroque frescoes were painted by Joseph Schöpf, one of the most eminent painters of Tyrol. The bell tower dates back to the year 1897.

A little further north of piazza Gries stands the old parish church of Gries located in the middle of an antique cemetery. It is a late Gothic building, dating back to the early 1400, and hosts two stunning treasures: the altar of Michael Pacher (1471-75) and the Romanesque wooden crucifix of 1200. The first one is undoubtedly a masterpiece of Gothic art of the wooden altars with casket and hatch remaining today, while the second one, which probably in relation to north French sculpture is believed to be of foreign origin, is considered of great relevance.

The church stands in an area which was inhabited ever since Roman times. It was called "Keller", or "Chellare" (cellar), and later named "Gries", or sand. Until 1908 the wine farm of Bishop of Frisinga in Baviera stood next to the church.

The Parish Church of St. Margareth in Welsberg has a rich architectural history: originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt in stone in 1343 and redesigned in Gothic style in 1430. Between 1736 and 1738 it was transformed into its Baroque form and expanded in 1906–1908. Inside, the three altarpieces by Baroque painter Paul Troger—born in Welsberg—are true highlights. The slender Gothic bell tower defines the village skyline.

The Parish Church of St. Nicholas in Pichl was first mentioned in 1334 and has undergone several transformations—from Gothic to Neo-Gothic style. The bell tower with pointed-arch windows dates back to 1472. In 1879, the church was redesigned by Josef Vonstadl, and expanded in 1963 by architect Erich Pattis. Highlights include Nazarene-style statues by Michael Hintner and Neo-Gothic altars by the Colli & Adam workshop.

The unique tabernacle is particularly interesting: the Cross is made from a grapevine. The key can be collected at the nearby Gasthof Lamm.

Popular wisdom says that the church square, which offers many beautiful views, was once home to one of the oldest baptisteries in the area. Today, the Parish Church stands on an even older site dating back to the pre-romanesque period (lombard-carolingian style) and is one of the rare examples of a cross-domed church with central nave and side naves.

In 1287 Count Meinhard II of Tyrol transferred the patronage to the Cistercian monastery of Stams in the Oberinntal valley. St. Peter is still under the pastoral care of the monastery today. Under Meinhard, the lombard-carolingian church underwent a thorough reconfiguration; further modifications were made in the Gothic period. The church is rich in precious Romanesque and Gothic frescoes. The southern side nave has an especially well-preserved half-length portrait of St. Paul dating back to the 11th century.

The Parish Church of Saints Ingenuin & Albuin in Taisten is one of the most important sacred buildings in the Puster Valley. First consecrated around 1150, it was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1493 and redesigned in Baroque style in 1770 with frescoes by Franz Anton Zeiller. The Erasmus Chapel houses noble tombs and a Marian painting by Michael Pacher, while the St. James Chapel features Passion scenes by Simon of Taisten.