Innichen between Sacred Architecture, Mountains and the Drava

During your stay in Innichen, several distinct travel interests come together: sacred architecture in San Candido, the sources of the Drava, mountains in the immediate surroundings and historic destinations in the wider region. Depending on your personal interests, you can make culture, landscape, cycling or a spiritual journey the focus of your trip.

Sacred Architecture in San Candido

The collegiate church of San Candido is a Romanesque sacred building dating from the 13th century and is considered one of the most significant sacred buildings in the Alps. Another defining church is the Chiesa dei Francescani in San Candido, which was consecrated in 1697. Its cloister contains 31 paintings depicting the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Lukas Platzer created these paintings between 1706 and 1709. San Candido therefore offers several concrete points of interest for a trip in which architecture, religious art and historic spaces are important.

Museum and Traces of the Past

The MIK Chapter Museum houses sacred art, the cathedral treasury, artistic textiles, an extensive library, as well as finds from the Celtic early period and the Roman era. The wider region around San Candido also includes the Resti del Castello Sant'Uberto, a ruin, and Roggia dei Mulini, an ancient site. The Batterie Corazzate di Col Vidal and Forte Alto di Col Vidal fortifications are also located in this wider regional area. The different periods and types of buildings make the cultural landscape varied, without requiring you to limit yourself to churches and museums.

Sources of the Drava and Mountains in the Surrounding Area

The sources of the Drava lie three kilometres west of San Candido, in the meadows towards Dobbiaco. Several prominent mountains and peaks also form part of the surrounding landscape: Croda dei Baranci is a mountain in the immediate vicinity of San Candido, while Rocca Dei Baranci is a peak in the same nearby area. Pfannhorn is a mountain in the area around San Candido, while Cornetto di Confine is a peak in the surrounding area. This allows cultural sightseeing to be combined with views of different aspects of the landscape.

Cycling Along the Drava

The San Candido–Lienz cycle path follows the Drava for 44 kilometres. It is classified as easy and runs mostly away from main roads. Anyone wishing to include cycling in their travel plans will find a clearly described route with a comprehensible length, difficulty rating and characteristic course along the river.

A Pilgrimage Route with a Fixed Stage Starting Point

The fifth stage of the “Hoch und Heilig” pilgrimage route begins at the collegiate church of San Candido. This starting point directly connects the spiritual aspect of the journey with the important sacred building and complements the themes of architecture, history and landscape with a religious walking experience.

Planning Your Journey and Accommodation in Innichen

For travel by regional train, the Puster Valley regional train towards San Candido/Lienz stops in Villabassa, Dobbiaco, San Candido and Versciaco/Monte Elmo. When choosing a hotel in Innichen, you can weigh these locations according to your preferred travel profile: culture enthusiasts can focus on churches and the museum, while mountains, the sources of the Drava, the cycle path or the pilgrimage stage provide different focal points.

More places for your travel planning: Pens, Petschied, Kardaun, Puster Valley, Verschneid, Lazfons, Vals, Colle di Fuori.

For the overarching travel overview: Bolzano.