Kapellenweg Mieders

Important Infomation

Route Length
5.43 km
Route Time Total
03:00 h
altitude meters uphill
721 hm
altitude meters downhill
41 hm
highest point
1690 hm
Difficulty
Middle
Parking:
Parking is possible at the valley station at the Serles lifts.
Starting point:
Mieders village fountain
End Point:
Maria Waldrast
Best Season:
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Altitude Profile

Weather

Description

CONTEMPLATION AT THE KING’S FOOT

At the village fountain in Mieders, the Kappelenweg trail initially leads uphill towards Schmelzgasse. At the first small chapel, the road eventually turns to the left, until you come to a fork in the road. From here you follow the pleasant and steadily rising forest path until you are just below the Koppeneck, where the summit station for the Serles lifts is also located. When you come to a large crossing, you follow the flat hiking trail and stick to the signs marked throughout until you reach Maria Waldrast. The return route follows the same hiking trail back to the Koppeneck. Here you can decide whether or not to take the cable car into the valley. Alternatively, both the hiking trail and the summer toboggan run will take you to the valley. The ‘Serlesblitz’ will have you back down the valley in just a few minutes and the ride is an experience for all the family.

The Kappellenweg trail in Mieders is part of the ‘Quo Vadis’ pilgrim trail that leads from the Cathedral of St. James in Innsbruck to the pilgrimage site of Maria Waldrast. Within the municipal district of Mieders, the pilgrim trail runs along the so-called Kappellenweg (Chapel route). The 15 rosary chapels on the old path from Mieders to Maria Waldrast are believed to have been built in the second half of the 17th century, while the paintings are an impressive modern testament to this time and were spread across the walls of the little chapels in a colourful fresco by the Tyrolean artist, Caspar Jele. The open chapel floors are totally dedicated to the life, suffering and resurrection of the Lord – according to the secrets of the joyful, sorrowful and glorious Rosary.
Generally speaking: ‘Walking is man’s best medicine’, according to Hippocrates (460 – 375 BC). Prolonged walking, i. e. keeping your body constantly ‘on the move’, also starts to move your soul. Hiking on the Kappellenweg trail is therefore an extremely thought-provoking hike that is rewarded with some healing and thirst-quenching water from the Waldraster natural spring.