The best traffic-free bike rides around Wattens

Kloster St. Martin in Gnadenwald That St. Martin in Gnadenwald was chosen as one of our places of power is actually self-evident. When you arrive there, you can already feel the special aura of this place. First and foremost, St. Martin is a place of recreation - both physical and spiritual. In our fast-paced times, "coming to rest" is extremely important. The Cretan or classical stone labyrinth located to the left below the monastery is a symbol of the human life path. Labyrinths have existed in many cultures for more than 5000 years and are shaped by the need for inner peace and a sense of home. Text / Source: Hall-Wattens Tourismus, Unterer Stadtplatz 19, Hall in Tirol https://www.hall-wattens.at/de/st-martin-in-gnadenwald.html

History of St. Martin in Gnadenwald As early as the 11th century, a hunting lodge with a chapel in honor of St. Martin is said to have stood on the site of the present-day monastery. The first documented mention dates from 1337 in a will of the Tyrolean master of the hunt, Heinrich von Rottenburg. A second mention occurred in 1382. Around the same time or not long after, a hermitage was also founded here, inhabited by two lay brothers. The daughter Magdalena Getzner of the wealthy Hall citizen Jörg Perl entered the monastery of St. Magdalena in Halltal together with her daughter in 1486. This was possible because her father donated a considerable sum annually to the monastery of St. Magdalena. The daughter of Magdalena Getzner, also named Magdalena, had health problems, probably a mental disability, which is why the bishop allowed her to leave the monastery of St. Magdalena and settle in a healthy location in monastic habit. Magdalena Getzner and her daughter now chose St. Martin in Gnadenwald as their new place of residence. This is evidenced by a document from 1497 from the parish archive of Baumkirchen. In addition, some sisters followed them to St. Martin, so that a monastery was established there, of which Magdalena Getzner the Elder became the abbess. On October 7, 1520, the Augustinian monastery in St. Martin in Gnadenwald burned down. The 30 nuns found refuge in the St. Salvator chaplaincy in Hall and remained there until 1566. The era of the Peasants' Wars and the Reformation was not an age for rebuilding burnt-down monasteries. Thus In 1826, the entire church was renovated, and in 1836 it received a new high altar with an altarpiece, presumably by Arnold Schöpf. The frescoes by Milldorfer remained. During the Nazarene period, the small monastery received its Christmas nativity scene with figures over 80 cm tall. In 1935, the Tertiary Sisters from Hall moved into the long-vacant cells and have run a guesthouse for visitors there since 1939. This was a valuable place of refreshment for pilgrims during their journey. Unfortunately, the rental business was discontinued in 2019, and the Tertiary Sisters no longer live in the monastery. Text / Source: Hall-Wattens Tourismus, Unterer Stadtplatz 19, Hall in Tirol https://www.hall-wattens.at/de/st-martin-in-gnadenwald.html

Beautiful castle view

Beautiful bike path, beautiful views.

St. Laurentius Church in Wattens, also known as the Old Parish Church, is a significant building with a long history. A predecessor church may have stood on this site as early as the 7th century, and it was first documented in 1318. A new late Gothic building was constructed around 1500, but was destroyed in a fire in 1809. Between 1810 and 1811, the church was rebuilt in the Neo-Classical style and consecrated in 1820, preserving certain Gothic elements, such as the west portal. The characteristic tower with its onion dome was added in 1834. The interior features impressive frescoes by Joseph Schöpf, a Neo-Classical high altar, and the Pflüger organ. The church is not only a listed building but also has spiritual significance, for example, through the memorial to Father Jakob Gapp, who was murdered in 1943. Today it shapes the townscape of Wattens and is an important religious and cultural center of the region.

Comfortable route with many beautiful places

Two routes towards Hinterhornalm, one on asphalt and the second via Gana Alm

A mostly well-developed bike path that's also well signposted. Of course, it also runs along the highway for some parts, but you can also enjoy the diverse nature on the opposite side. Otherwise, there are hardly any inclines, so the route is also easy for children to ride.