Here you will find cultural similarities and special features of the towns and regions along the Via Claudia Augusta, between the Danube and the Adriatic Sea: cultural landscapes, people who have left their cultural mark on the areas and what they have left us in terms of cultural assets, but also current cultural creativity. Some of this can also be experienced on site.
Culture of regions and places
in all its fullness
Via Claudia Augusta "Altinate"
Die Ur-Aufführung des Monumentalwerkes "Via Claudia" von Johan de Meji des synfonisches Blasorchesters der Stadtmusikkapelle Landeck anlässlich deren 375. Geburtstages.
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The administrative district Donau-Ries has 132,000 inhabitants, 7 cities and 2 market towns. The area around the mouth of the Lech into the Danube and the Ries crater also has a diverse and fine, lively cultural scene. The bridge in Donauwörth was long the only one far and wide. Numerous people from near and far therefore travelled through the region and made stops there. Among them were Napoleon Bonaparte and numerous cultural and artistic figures who inspired the population. The most famous was none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The traces he left in the area are maintained by cultural organisations and communities together in a separate association. Then as now, music has a special significance in the region. It is a central part of several series of events and has always produced important composers and musicians beyond the region. The centres of the district, its numerous historical points and cultural monuments, some of which belong to the local princely lineages of Oettingen-Oettingen, also form a stage for contemporary art and a small but fine theatre and cabaret scene.
A separate association of municipalities and cultural organisations has taken up the numerous traces that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left in the region. With the composer brothers Ignaz and Vinzenz Lacher as well as Werner Egk, the district has also produced several composers itself. Music enjoyment is provided by classical event series such as the Donauwörther Kulturtage, the Leitheim Castle Concerts, the Oettinger Residence Concerts, the Kulturkreis Mertingen and also the Rosetti Festival in the Ries as well as the Rieser Kulturtage. Several music schools are the basis for the next generation of musicians. The violinist Veronika Eberle from Donauwörth and the chellist Maximilian Hornung, who partly grew up in Nördlingen, are two musicians known nationwide.
Artists from the Ries who have left their mark on the region are the sculptor Johan Georg Bschorer (*1692 +1763) and the well-known Swabian rococo painter Johann Baptist Enderle, who, for example, created the ceiling fresco "Göttermahl" in the Enderlesaal of the Deutschordenhaus in Donauwörth. Anette Steinacker-Holst runs the Donau-Ries Art Museum with the art of her father Ernst Steinacker, her own art and changing special exhibitions.
The inhabitants of Donau-Ries are said to be down-to-earth, loyal and sometimes a little bit resistant to change. The most famous inhabitant of the district is probably Count Stauffenberg, who is well known for the almost successful Hitler assassination. His family still lives in Amerdingen today. Other famous personalities are the scholar, doctor and botanist Leonhart Fuchs (*1501 in Wemding), the Nördlingerin Maria Holl (+1634), who was burned as a witch, Krafft Ernst Fürst zu Oettingen-Wallerstein (1748 - 1802), who married into the dynasty of Thurn und Taxis, the author Ludwig Auer, known as "Uncle Ludwig", and the politician Anton Jaumann from Belzheim (+1994). The princely line of Oettingen-Oettingen is still today as the successor lines Oettingen-Wallerstein and Oettingen-Spielberg are resident in the region and has or had numerous cultural assets (castles, churches, monasteries).
A speciality with a great tradition in the Donau-Ries district is the Rieser Bauerntorte. It is available in a catholic and in an evangelic variant. From this it can be concluded that it has been around since the time when the population in the area was religiously divided. Other traditional dishes are the Rieser festive soup and the Rieser roast goose. Current specialities from the Ries or Danube-Lech region are asparagus and potatoes.
Anyone who has ever celebrated at a festival in the district of Donau-Ries knows that its inhabitants know how to celebrate. Important festivals and events in the annual cycle are, for example, the Reichsstraßenfest, the Inselfest or the Swabian Children's Day in Donuwörth, the Nördlinger Mess, the Brückenfest in Harburg, the Jakobikirchweih Oettingen, the herb and fuchsia market in Wemding, ... and much more. Typical customs are the Rieser Bauerntorte, the Easter fountain, maypoles or the Johannifeuer.
Events in Donauwörth
Here you can find events in the city of Donauwörth
Events in Donau-Ries
Here you can find events in Donau-Ries
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
at the Bavarian Danube, at the Ries crater, at the Swabian Alp, at the beginning of the Lech valley and the Lechrain
belong to:
- City Donauwörth, Topfheim, Asbach-Bäumenheim, Genderkingen, Niederschönfeld, Mertingen, Oberndorf am Lech, City Rain, Münster, Holzheim and beyond
- the whole Lankreis Donau-Ries
Still in the making:
Lechtal, right and left of the Lech; 5 towns, 2 market towns; smaller and larger communities in rural areas between the Danube and the Augsburg conurbation; districts of Donau-Ries, Augsburger- and Wittelsbacherland;
Asbach-Bäumenheimer (choir); Music Association Asbach-Bäumenheim;
Carnival Mertingen; Musical Mertingen;
Kloster Holzen, cultural meeting and cultural activities;
Choir Nordendorf; Music Association Nordendorf; Theater Nordendorf
CineplexxSaal Meitingen; Youth Wind Orchestra Meitingen; Theater Herbertshofen
Music society Langweid am Lech;
Art (prize) Gersthofen, Swing Gersthofen; organizing nationally important concerts in Gersthofen; Gospel choir Gersthofen; Theater Gersthofen
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
in the Lechtal and Lechrain between Danube and Augsburg
belong to:
- Asbach-Bäumenheim, Genderkingen, Niederschönfeld, Mertingen, Oberndorf am Lech, City of Rain, Münster, Holzheim, Allmannshofen, Ellgau, Nordendorf, Ehingen, Westendorf, Kühlental, Markt Meitingen, Markt Thierhaupten, Todtweis, Biberbach, Langweid am Lech, Rehling, Gablingen, Affing, City of Gersthofen, City of Neusäß, City of Stadtbergen, City of Friedberg and beyond
- the administrative district Donau-Ries, the administrative district Augsburg and the administrative district Aichach-Friedberg
Still in the making:
Concerts of national importance
large theatre in a theatre house worth seeing with a stage worth seeing
Domsingerknaben
vibrant museum landscape
many architectural monuments and generally a great city with a lot of history
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
At the Via Claudia Augusta corridor
between Lech and Wertach
belongs to
the city of Augsburg, the former Roman provincial capital Augusta Vindelicum and city of the Fuggers and beyond
the Landsberg district (the Augsburg region) and
the district of Aichach-Friedberg (the Wittelsbacherland)
Still in the making:
between the agglomeration of Augsburg and the town of Landsberg am Lech; in the west Lechfeld between Wertach and Lech; in the east between Lech and the Leitenberg terminal moraine;
Königsbrunn: ballet, sailors' choir;
Oberottmarshausen: music;
Kleinaitingen: music;
Untermeitingen: music; theatre;
Obermeitingen: theater;
Hurlach: Theatre
Igling: music, historical cycling club;
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
between Augsburg and Landsberg am Lech
belong to:
- in the Lechfeld (scene of the famous "Battle of the Lechfeld") and
- on the Lechrain
- City Königsbrunn, City Bobingen, Kissing, Markt Mering, Meriching, Schmiechen, Steindorf, Oberottmarshausen, Wehringen, Großaitingen, Kleinaitingen, Prittriching, Graben, City Schwabmünchen, Scheuring, Untermeitingen, Klosterlechfeld, Obermeitingen, Hurlach, Igling, Langerdingen, Markt Kaufering, City Buchloe, Waal, Jengen and more
- the administrative district of Aichach-Friedberg (the Wittelsbacher Land), the county of Augsburger (the Augsburger Land) and the administrative district of Landsberg am Lech (the region of Ammersee-Lech)
Still in the making:
beautiful, worth seeing theatre in the historical centre
good band
Vocal Ensemble Landsberg
active gallery
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
between Augsburg and Landsberg am Lech
is part of it:
- the medieval town of Landsberg am Lech, at the junction of the Salzstraße and the Via Claudia Augusta and beyond
- the entire rural district of Landsberg am Lech (the Ammersee-Lech holiday region)
Still in the making:
Underdownward: Music, Malura Museum,
Fuchstal: Theater
Denklingen: Music, Theatre
Kinsau: Music, rural youth
Hohenfurch: Music, Theatre
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
on the banks of the Lech
belong to:
- in the Lechfeld (scene of the famous "Battle of the Lechfeld") and
- on the Lechrain
- City Königsbrunn, City Bobingen, Kissing, Markt Mering, Meriching, Schmiechen, Steindorf, Oberottmarshausen, Wehringen, Großaitingen, Kleinaitingen, Prittriching, Graben, City Schwabmünchen, Scheuring, Untermeitingen, Klosterlechfeld, Obermeitingen, Hurlach, Igling, Langerdingen, Markt Kaufering, City Buchloe, Waal, Jengen and more
- the administrative district of Aichach-Friedberg (the Wittelsbacher Land), the county of Augsburger (the Augsburger Land) and the administrative district of Landsberg am Lech (the region of Ammersee-Lech)
Still in the making:
Music Society Altenstadt
Schwabniederhofen Theatre
Operas in Bavarian
Choir and orchestra concerts, current concerts in Schongau and Peiting
Christmas Market Schongau
Peitinger costume group and theatre group
good and active music band Peiting
Festive summer in the Wies
Cultural Center Herzogensaegmuhle
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
the historical crossroads
is part of it:
- Altenstadt (original parish of Schongau)
- the town of Schongau with its still completely preserved town wall
- the Peiting market (opposite on the other side of the Lech) and beyond
- the whole district of Weilheim-Schongau (the Pfaffenwinkel)
Still in the making: Traditional costume associations, active customs (maypole), active music bands and marksmen, many art-historical gems, also contemporary art, rafting tradition, sometimes nationally important concerts, Lechhalle cultural centre in Lechbruck am See, open-air cinema, theatres in almost all towns, Guettinger pottery
Events in Pfaffenwinkel (up to and including Bernbeuren)
Events in the Ostallgäu district (from incl. Lechbruck)
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
in the Auerbergland between Schongau and Füssen
belongs:
- in the picturesque hilly country with lush meadows, lush green woods and numerous lakes and ponds
- Burggen, Schwabsoien, Schwabbruck, Ingenried, Rettenbach am Auerberg, Steingaden, Wildsteg, Lechbruck am See, Stötten, Prem, Rosshaupten in Allgäu, Halblech, Rieden am Forggensee, Hopferau and beyond
- the whole district of Pfaffenwinkel and
- the whole district Ostallgäu
Still in the making: Musical theatre Füssen, concerts and concert series (classical and contemporary, e.g. jazz, castle concerts), historical parade, tradition and traditional associations; active music bands, city tours and sightseeing,
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
in the Allgäu hill country before the Alps
belongs:
- the city of Füssen
- Schwangau and the royal castles and beyond
- the whole district Ostallgäu
Between Füssen and Reutte:
The Gateway to Tyrol and the
Culture and nature park region
- 10
The small town of Vils and the three towns of Pinswang, Musau and Pflach together have only 3600 inhabitants. But the area at the gateway to Tyrol and the Nature Park Tyrolean Lech, dominated by the natural river Lech, and the adjacent Tannheimer Tal also have a lot to offer culturally.
Josef Müller (sculptor) Tannheim
Balthasar Riepp (painter, Vils)
Balthasar Springer (Vils)
Freu Dirr, Autorin (Vils)
Breitenwang, Reutte and Ehrenberg:
Center of the culture-
and nature park region
- 11
The entire Tyrolean Außerfern, whose centre is Reutte, has only about 33,000 inhabitants. But the area in the Tyrolean Lech Nature Park, at the foot of the Bugenwelt Ehrenberg, is also culturally well-positioned and has a lot to offer. The active team of the Reutten Museum in the Green House is in charge of a district wide museum network, in which each museum has a different focus. The Ehrenberg castle ensemble is a top attraction, conveying history and culture in the open air, in a didactically sophisticated museum and in several event locations. The houses in the district centre and many architectural monuments are largely influenced by the Zeiler dynasty of painters. As esteemed building craftsmen and artists, the Reutteners shaped buildings and places beyond the regional borders. Even today every cultural area in the central part of the district is well represented: art, music, theatre and cabaret, literature, ... There is even a film circle dedicated to the cultivation of the moving image.
It is noticeable in the central area of the district that several active persons of cultural history have come here at the same time. The active Reutten Museum in the Green House under its chairman Ernst Hornstein, independent master painter and director of the woodcarving school Elbigenalp, is the leader of a district wide museum association, in which each of the museums has a different focus, which complement each other to form a whole. The retired bank director Richard Lipp, who studied history as a senior, and the school director Klaus Wankmiller complement the culturally and historically active team. The driving force behind the top attraction Burgenwelt Ehrenberg is architect Armin Walch. Burgenwelt conveys cultural history in the successively renovated 4 fortress parts of the ensemble in the open air, in a didactically sophisticated exhibition and several event locations.
The people of Ausserfern, as esteemed building craftsmen and artists, left their mark on their region and also on buildings and places beyond the region. From the immediate central area of Reutte, the painters, especially the painter dynasty Zeiler, are worthy of mention. It is also a painter who today plays a major role in shaping the museum scene in the district capital and district, Ernst Hornstein.
Among the artists, the Zeiler dynasty of painters stands out in particular, who left their mark on buildings and art monuments in the region and beyond. With their architectural painting they once created what makes the historical core of Reutte special today. Currently, the Galerieverein Reutte and art projects such as Landart on the natural river Lech are revitalising art in the Reutte area.
The Reutte area had and has always had good musicians. Not far from Reutte, in Bach im Lechtal, the leader-maker, singer and bandleader Toni Knittel is also at home. With his band and the song of the same name the "Bluatschink" helped to mobilise for the nature park Tiroler Lech. The district music school in Reutte takes care of the new generation. Franz Wachter and Klaus Wankmiller constantly organize musical events that serve as a stimulus and stage for musicians from the region.
Among the traditional festivities of the Reutte area, the St. Nicholas parade in Lechaschau and the Patrocinia festivities deserve special mention. By the way, the patron saints of the churches trace the course of the Via Claudia Augusta. The biggest cultural event in the area is certainly the Ehrenberg Time Travel, where hundreds of historically dressed showmen bring history back to life.
Heiterwang am See and Bichlbach-Lähn-Wengle:
Life on and with the road
Guild Center
- 12
Although the area between Reutte and Lermoos has only about 1200 inhabitants, there is also a lively cultural life. The 4 villages have 3 music bands. Only the Bichlbacher fractions Lähn and Wengle have joined together to form one. The villages also maintain a lively tradition. In Heiterwang am See a theatre stage invites to performances again and again. A traditional and current cultural centre is certainly the guild house in Bichlbach in the former Vidum, which is a museum, library, tourist information and cultural meeting point in one. It goes back to the Ausserfern guilds, which had their headquarters in Bichlbach. The only guild church in Austria is a reminder of this. The guild brotherhood of St. Joseph is also still active.
Lermoos, Ehrwald and Biberwier:
living mining history and
lived tradition in the natural arena
- 13
Over the Fernpass:
numerous cultural and historical testimonies
in a fascinating nature
- 14
The Fern pass between Biberwier and Nassereith is hardly populated. However, the fascinating landscape of landslides, which nature is laboriously reclaiming, contains numerous testimonies to eventful history and culture. Above all, the remains and traces of prehistoric paths, the Roman road, an early modern road and the old Fernpass federal road. Up to and including the Middle Ages, traffic led over the old Fernpass height above the prominent bend in the Fernpass road and then slid down the mountain slopes into the valley. From early modern times, the roads led over the current Fernpass height, but with different routes, adapted to the respective time. Squares and sacred buildings, to ask and thank for a safe, event-free crossing of the pass height, line the way. At the current Fern pass height there is a mixture of early modern buildings and buildings that can be attributed to the current road. The eventful cultural history of the Fernpass is also told by the Fernstein Castle ensemble at Fernsteinsee. The Roman road leads there along the Sammeranger and Fernsteinsee lakes. The early modern road leads through the castle gate and is today the cycle route. A cultural gem is, among other things, the Nothelfer Chapel. On an island between Fernsteinsee and Samerangersee there are the ruins of a summer residence.
Top-Events between Heiterwang and Biberwier
Calendar of the events from Heiterwang to Biberwier
Top-Events Nassereith - Imst - Schönwies
Weekly programme Nassereith - Imst - Schönwies
Between Fernpass and Imst:
mining, carnival, wine and
other cultural activities
- 15
The landscape jewel Gurgltal between Fernpass and Inn Valley has - besides the town of Imst - only 2 municipalities with about 5000 inhabitants. However, one can notice in the valley that it has always been an eventful one, which has been in lively inter-regional exchange, among other things due to the important road and mining. Nassereith was not only situated on the Via Claudia Augusta it formed and still forms the junction of two important roads. The cultural life is accordingly lively. Impulse centres are the great mining past, which is cultivated and can be experienced in the miners' world of Gurgltal. The great Fanacht tradition of the Gurgltal - in Nassereith, Tarrenz and Imst - moves and encompasses the whole community at fixed intervals and attracts numerous visitors from near and far. But Tarrenz and Nassereith are also two other lively communities where there is a lot going on regularly, not only in the fields of theatre, music, art, ... Last but not least it should be mentioned that due to the milder climate in Tyrol viticulture is developing again. The climate-friendly Tarrenz is a pioneer, with most of the winegrowers and its own winegrowers' association, which organises the annual Wine Culinarium together with the Tourism Association.
Top-Events in the area of Imst and the Gurgltal
The weekly programme of events in the area Imst and Gurgltal
The "Fasnacht" house at Nassereith (Schellerlaufen)
The minors world at the Gurgltal: Museum and culture centre
Wine at Tarrenz
Imst:
World Cultural Heritage: The Carnival of Imst
and a lively and cosmopolitan contemporary culture
- 16
Imst is the largest town on the Via Claudia Augusta in Tyrol. The capital of the district with the same name with a total of about 60,000 inhabitants has only about 10,000 inhabitants. Nevertheless Imst manages to maintain its great tradition on a high level and at the same time has a lively scene of contemporary culture. The undisputed traditional highlight is the immaterial world cultural heritage Imster Fasnacht. Every 4 years all of Imst is Schemenlaufen. The Artclub Imst regularly brings top-class concerts to the town, making Imst a national stage. Even the Rolling Stones performed in the Gurgltal metropolis and Imst also has a lively theatre scene. In addition, it repeatedly produces well-known artists, who can be seen in local galleries and exhibitions.
Writer (to bring up what would otherwise remain unsaid) Annemarie Regensburger: layering, prose in dialect and written language
Top-Events in Imst and Gurgltal
Weekly Programme of events in Imst and Gurgltal
The "Fasnacht" House in Imst (Schemenlaufen)
Museum in the Ballhaus
Artclub Imst (Top concerts)
Top-Events in the area of Imst
Events and activities in the area of Landeck
Weekly events in the area of Imst
Zams, Landeck and Fliess:
Culture and enjoyment region
with thousands of years of history
- 18
Necessity is the mother of invention. Before the road over the Arlberg was reactivated, which had already existed in Roman times, and finally the railway and some industrial companies arrived, the region around Landeck was bitterly poor. Numerous children moved away as Swabian children. Maybe it was really because the Landeckers were always very creative, in general, but also artistically. Jakob Prandtauer and several other baroque master builders known beyond the borders came from the area. The region has also always been a good soil for artists. Chryseldis Hofer-Mitterer, Herbert Danler and Norbert Strolz unfortunately do not live anymore, but have left a lot in Landeck. Norbert Strolz was, in addition to his artistic activities, chairman of the District Museum Association in Landeck Castle. Herbert Danler is considered one of the founders of the Galerie Elefant. A number of artists from the Landeck area are also currently active: Georg and Arthur Salner, Michael Schneider, Alwin Chemelli, Norbert Pümpl, Erich Horvath, Christian Moschen, ... to name but a few. There are also several other exhibition locations beyond the Elefant Gallery: the Museum Gallery in Landeck Castle, the Town Hall Gallery in Landeck, the Gallery of Walter Stefan and Pepi Walch in Fliess. Last but not least, Gerald Kurdoglu Nitsche is active as gallery owner and organizer. So the creativity in the Landeck area is probably not only due to poverty.
In the Landeck area you can regularly hear music at the highest level. The first flutist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra grew up in Landeck and organizes the annual music festival Horizons there. Also the Stadtmusikkapelle Landeck stands out once again from the already very high level of brass music in Tyrol. It is the oldest brass band in Tyrol and its repertoire also includes symphonic works, with which the ensemble even won a World Championship gold medal. For the 375th birthday of the ensemble the composer Johan de Meij, who was born in Holland and works in the USA, composed the monumental work "Via Claudia" and performed it for the first time with the orchestra. "Via Claudia" was also released on CD in America. Interested parties can obtain the work as part of a CD from the Stadtmusikkapelle and as an MP3 from the iTunes-Store, among others.
The Landeck area is rich in architectural monuments, archaeological excavations and cultural treasures. Since pre-Roman times, all sunny slopes around the district town have been inhabited: Stanz, Grin, Fliess... Above Fliess a burnt offering place was discovered, which was used before and during the Roman period. In the Museum Fliess, in the former Meßnerhaus, you can marvel at a number and quality of pre-Roman finds, which can otherwise only be found in museums of larger cities. Some churches are also very old. E.g. those of Fliess. The roots of the parish church in Landeck even go back to the 5th century, which confirms that Landeck was a Roman road station around which a settlement developed. It is no coincidence that the Tyrolean documentation centre Via Claudia Augusta is also located in Fliess, through which the Via Claudia Augusta von Landeck continues southwards. Around Landeck, three castles, the Kronburg, the ruins of Schrofenstein Castle and Landeck Castle, watch over the densely populated area and the thousand-year-old traffic junction. Bidenegg Castle follows in the direction of Reschen, in the upper part of the village of Fliess. In a room full of history, monuments and art history, there are of course restorers and art historians such as Dr. Habicher and Mrs. Mader.
Slightly above the town is Landeck Castle, which first gave its name to the district and then also to the district town, which is made up of several independent towns. The castle is the seat of the district museum association and the museum association of the town. The latter has successively turned the castle into a multifunctional cultural centre and meeting place. Art has always been important in Landeck and the function of a gallery has been correspondingly important from the very beginning. The first chairman of the museum association, Norbert Strolz, was himself an active artist. He was followed by the wine dealer ... and with Albin Chemelli again an active artist. Under Eva Lunger, the renovation of the entire castle was completed and it increasingly developed into a general meeting place, beyond pure culture. The current management team under Christian Rudig continues this development. Today the castle houses a museum with several exhibitions, a gallery, serves continuously as a venue for cultural and other events, has a restaurant with an outdoor area and is generally a cultural meeting place. By the way, from the tower you also have a beautiful view of the city.
Fliess is the "capital" of the Via Claudia Augusta Tirol. Fliess was the starting point of the initiative to revive the Austrian Via Claudia Augusta, initially as a hiking route from Landeck to the Reschenpass. It is still today a part of the long-distance hiking route Via Claudia Augusta in the footsteps of the Romans, one of the most beautiful parts, especially from Landeck Castle via the Fliesser Platte to Fliess. The documentation centre of the Via Claudia Augusta in Tyrol and the headquarters of the Tyrolean Association Via Claudia Augusta are also located there. Vis-a-vis, the Archaeological Museum of Fliess inspires with a number and quality of pre-Roman finds, which are otherwise only found in larger towns. Above Fliess, a burnt offering place, which was used in pre-Roman and Roman times, the Kaunergrat Nature Park House and the Gache Blick are waiting to be discovered.
With... Krismer from Zams, Raoul Schrott, who was born in Landeck, and Prof. Gerald Kurdoglu Nitsche, Landeck also has interesting writers. Kurdoglu Nitsche, by the way, gave himself the second surname Kurdoglu in protest. He is also an editor with a focus on minority literature and a gallery owner.
A creative space also usually has exciting personalities. One such was Oswald von Schrofenstein, for example, who was an influential aristocrat, was considered a great patron of the Landeck parish church and was very popular. Pastor Maaß from Fliess is even known to have been a saint. Furthermore, the current governor of Tyrol, Günther Platter, comes from the region. Before that he was mayor of Zams and minister in Vienna. Governor Platter is also a member of the Via Claudia Augusta Tirol association.
The region around Landeck is the only dedicated region of pleasure along the Via Claudia Augusta. It has numerous specialities to offer. The best known are probably the fine brandies. With 100 distillers, the region is probably the richest in distillers. Most of them come from the sunny slopes between Stanz and Grins. Some of them are, as awards show, among the very best. Schnapps is distilled not least from the Stanzer Zwetschke, which is also appreciated as a particularly tasty fruit beyond the region. A selection of other fine products from the region are seedlings, herbal specialities or handmade chocolate. The products are offered, among other things, at a weekly fresh market. They can also be found more and more in the gastronomy. Josef "Seppl" Haueis from Zams, co-founder and gastronomer of the Tyrolean inn culture, has made a great contribution to this for decades. By the way, the inhabitants of the region particularly like to eat zochne Kiachl, Krautspätzle, Riebl, dumplings and meat from Tyrolean grey cattle and Tyrolean mountain lamb.
The former farm "Beim Winkl" is the oldest house in the village. The core dates back to the 14th century. The building was given its present appearance in the 16th century. The municipality bought it and turned it into a multi-purpose house with an event centre. On the stage inside the house and in the open air the Winklbühne Prutz/Faggen, the most renowned stage in the region, which looks back on 100 years of history, plays regularly. The Winkl also regularly hosts art and other cultural events.
Sigmundsried Castle developed directly on the successor road to the Roman road in the southern part of the town centre. It was the seat of the court until Landeck took over this role for the communities between Prutz and Pfunds, and gave the region its historical name, "Obres G'richt". Today Sigmundsried is the seat of the Sigmundsried cultural association with several sections, which runs a cultural event centre with a small bar there. Chairman Sascha Pedrazzoli, himself a musician, is in charge of the music section, Christoph Mathoy of the fine arts and Deputy Chairman Günter Patscheider of the music section. The local theatre association also has its home in the castle.
The region has a great mining history. The centre was the smallest community on the valley floor today, Tösens. Until the 20th century ore was mined in the Platzer and Berglertal between Tösens and Pfunds. The mining reached up to 3000 meters above sea level and is therefore the highest in all of Tyrol. The high altitude meant that mining had to be discontinued for 250 years in 1610 because the Bergler-Ferner spread more and more during the small ice age. Some years ago the Platzertal Mine Association under Christian Sturm took up the history of mining and began to renovate the mining facilities and make them accessible to the public.
There are 11 theatre stages in the communities of the uppermost Tyrolean Inn Valley and Kaunertal with its 10,000 inhabitants: Urgen, Prutz-Faggen, Kauns, Ried im Oberinntal, Ladis, Fiss, Serfaus, Tösens, Pfunds, Nauders. The most renowned stage is the Winkl Stage Prutz-Faggen, which looks back on a 100-year history and regularly performs on stage in the Winkl Cultural Centre and in the open air. The numerous stages are also used for cabaret, music, readings, ... readings, ...
The uppermost Tyrolean Inn Valley and the Kaunertal Valley not only have an active music band in every community. There is also an active music scene. Chairman Sascha Pedrazzoli, himself a musician, regularly organises a varied music programme in the cultural centre of the Sigmundsried cultural association. Julia Schmitzberger from Pfunds enlivens the music scene as a music teacher, versatile musician, singer, composer and always new musical paths. With the Pfundskerlen, the region is also home to a well-known band whose repertoire ranges from folk music to hits, rock and pop.
Contemporary and modern music is also at home in several places in the Upper G'richt. There are regular exhibitions in the two cultural centres, in the Winkl House in Prutz and in Sigmundsrie Castle, among others. Furthermore in the Rechlerhaus in Ladis and in Altfinstermünz. In addition to painters, Reinhard Thöni, a wood and stone sculptor, also works in the region.
The Upper Inn Valley has many castles, which line up along the old road or its side roads: Bidenegg Castle in the upper part of Fliess; Berneck Castle at the entrance to the Kaunertal Valley and on the road over the Piller; Laudegg Castle in Ladis, above the Via Claudia Augusta and on the old road over the sun terrace above the valley; the old court seat Sigmundsried Castle, the fortification of the customs station Altfinstermünz, founded in the Middle Ages, at the bridge over the Inn, ... Among churches, St. Georg above Toesen is worth mentioning, which is also worth seeing inside.
2 of the most famous "children" of the Upper Tyrolean Inn Valley are Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Dietmar Schönherr. The Federal President grew up in the Kaunertal Valley. Dietmar Schönherr is best known for his leading role in the science fiction television series "Space Patrol - The Fantastic Adventures of the Starship Orion". But he also hosted the then innovative television show "Wünsch Dir was". By far the most important part of his life's work, however, was his commitment to social and cultural projects in Nicaragua. Schönherr was also active as a radio announcer, dubbing artist, pop singer, writer, translator and director and was co-founder of the Tyrolean Volksschauspiel.
The uppermost Tyrolean Inn Valley and the Kaunertal are still relatively agricultural. The farmers produce traditional, new and revitalized: One of the flagships is certainly the Fisser barley. On the numerous alpine pastures, some of the cattle are still raised and milked and alpine cheese is produced, which may only be called Almkäse if it is also made from alpine milk. Another cheese speciality is the grey cheese, which is produced in Ried, for example. In Prutz apricots are cultivated on a larger scale. In Prutz and Pfunds there are vineyards again. In the Tyrolean Oberland one already knows the Schüttelbrot, which is especially widespread in the South Tyrol bordering to the south. Of course it is called Obergrichtler Schüttelbrot. Old breeds of domestic animals from natural small-scale farming also provide tasty and substantial beef and mutton. More and more bacon is also being produced from farm pigs. Typical dishes are by the way Zochne Kiachl, Krautspätzle, Riebl, dumplings, Gerstlsuppe or the Schledennocken from Pfunds. Besides markets and farm shops there is also a farmer's land in Pfunds.
For some years now, Prutz has been back to viticulture, currently the highest quality winery in Austria. Claus Aniballi swears by the green Veltliner, which he calls "Weißgipfler" in Tyrolean tradition. In nearby Pfunds an even higher vineyard was established. Traditionally, the Upper Court is a schnapps stronghold, with distillery greats such as Gerhard Maass, Klaudia & Heinz Kofler (all Prutz) or Peter Gspan (Pfunds).
The most famous custom in the upper Inn valley is probably the Blochziehen, one of the most traditional carnival customs. Its stronghold is Fiss, whose Blochziehen even counts among the immaterial cultural heritage of the Unesco. For 500 years the Heiliggrab brothers in Pfunds have been worshipping the Easter grave in the Liebfrauenkirche, which is also worth seeing, 24 hours a day at Easter. The region is also still a very agricultural one, with several original Almabtriebe, in the course of which also the Schafschoad (shearing of the sheep) takes place. Special festivals are the apple festival in Prutz, the Rieder autumn market or the three-country market in Pfunds. In Ladis and Altfinstermünz there is also an annual medieval festival.
Events and activities between Prutz and Pfunds
Cultural association Sigmundsried at Ried in the Upper Inn Valley
Cultural centre at the "Winkl" House in Prutz
The Reschen Pass:
Tradition and cosmopolitanism
on the roof of the historic route
- 20
The customs station Altfinstermünz with its striking bridge tower was founded in the Middle Ages. Already in Roman times there was a bridge on the Via Augusta at the same place. In 1856 the construction of the Reschenstraße was completed, which, partly further developed, still connects Pfunds and Nauders today. Up to that time, all traffic led across the bridge from Altfinstermünz and then through the gorge up to Nauders. Only a few decades ago Altfinstermünz was still inhabited. Then the fortress ensemble threatened to fall into complete ruin. Thanks to the Altfinstermünz Association under Nauders former mayor Hermann Klapeer this did not happen. He renovated piece by piece and breathed new life into it. This includes a permanent exhibition, rooms for temporary exhibitions, a simple catering, ...
The roof of the Via Claudia Augusta is a special place that inspires. It can be seen, for example, along the old road between Nauders and the Reschenpass, which largely corresponds to the Via Claudia Augusta and is now the cycle route. Art is displayed along the narrow road. In Nauders, a painting circle meets every week, to which everyone can join. Art is also at home with the hosts at Reschenpass. GrenzARTig, for example, is an initiative launched by the Kleinhans family in and around their Alpin Art & Spa Hotel Naudererhof. Every year artists and art lovers are invited to the Art and Enjoyment Festival for one week, which shows what the border region of Obergricht (A), Vinschgau (I), Engadin (CH) has to offer in the way of art, culture and culinary delights.
Historical customs station Altfinstermünz
Fortress Nauders, the northernmost fortress of the Habsburg Empire to the south
Naudersberg Castle
Leonhardskapelle directly on the old pass road near Naudersberg Castle (already mentioned in 1391)
Portals and baptismal font of the parish church in Nauders
War memorial in Nauders
Church tower of the parish church of Altgraun in Reschensee
The inhabitants of this area are considered to be rather reserved and stubborn, but also true to line and consistent.
Norbert Pleifer, with "his" greenhouse" driving the alternative Innsbruck cultural scene, comes from Nauders on the Reschenpass. With Dr. Hans Tschiggfrey, the community also produced a Tyrolean governor. In addition, Michael Ploner, a multiple medal winner at international cooking competitions and team member of the Austrian world champion team 2018, comes from Nauders.
Michael Ploner from Nauders is a multiple medal winner at national, international and worldwide cooking championships. Among other things he won 2 x gold at the Culinary Olympics 2016 and was part of the Austrian World Champion team in 2018.
At the Reschenpass, people like to eat Zochne Kiachl, Krautspätzle, local beef and lamb, Riebl and dumplings.
Sheep Shoad in Nauders
Medieval festival in Altfinstermünz
Events and activities at Nauders at the Reschenpass
Events and activities at Reschen, Graun and St. Valentin
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
at the Bavarian Danube, at the Ries crater, at the Swabian Alp, at the beginning of the Lech valley and the Lechrain
belong to:
- City Donauwörth, Topfheim, Asbach-Bäumenheim, Genderkingen, Niederschönfeld, Mertingen, Oberndorf am Lech, City Rain, Münster, Holzheim and beyond
- the whole Lankreis Donau-Ries
The Via Claudia Augusta not only connected places through which it passed. The first trans-European road across the Alps connected regions across Europe, just as it still does today as a connecting cultural road.
To the corridor of the Via Claudia Augusta
at the Bavarian Danube, at the Ries crater, at the Swabian Alp, at the beginning of the Lech valley and the Lechrain
belong to:
- City Donauwörth, Topfheim, Asbach-Bäumenheim, Genderkingen, Niederschönfeld, Mertingen, Oberndorf am Lech, City Rain, Münster, Holzheim and beyond
- the whole Lankreis Donau-Ries
Before the Dolomites:
Tradition, contemporary and modern art with
Open-air culture
- 34a
