Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde-St. Felix – Pilgrimage, Trails and Landscape

Pilgrimage site on a historic route

At the center is the present-day three-nave Gothic church of Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde, which was consecrated on June 10, 1432.

Church, art and pilgrimage tradition

The pilgrimage church has carved Baroque altars. On the high altar, an image of the Virgin Mary with the Child is displayed in a glazed Rococo shrine. Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde is considered one of Tyrol’s oldest pilgrimage sites. Its history is also connected with the historic long-distance route from Merano via the Gampen Pass to Milan. As early as 1184, a monastery operated a small hospice for travelers crossing the Gampen Pass.

Trails from the Gampen Pass to Senale

If you would like to explore the area on foot, the Pilgrimage and Stations of the Cross Trail provides a clearly identifiable historic connection: it leads from the Gampen Pass to the pilgrimage church and includes 14 Stations of the Cross as well as a 15th station in the cemetery. A walking trail from Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde to the Gampen Pass starts at Widummoos, right in the village center, and takes around 50 minutes. The Sentiero Dinosauri educational trail also leads from the Gampen Pass to Senale; this route is estimated to take about one hour. The start at Widummoos is located directly in the village center, while the educational trail begins at the Gampen Pass.

Wetland and Lake Felix

The natural area includes the protected Widummoos wetland and Lake Felix. Lake Felix is located near St. Felix at an altitude of 1,604 m. The natural biotope lake is open for swimming. An approximately one-hour AVS Trail No. 9 leads from the Klammbrücke parking area above St. Felix through woodland and open larch meadows to Lake Felix. The approximate duration provides a clear time frame for the hike. The protected Widummoos wetland is located directly next to the church in Senale.

Getting there, cycle route and Gampen Bunker

For travel to the area, bus route 246 connects Lana via Gfrill and the Gampen Pass with Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde and St. Felix. By bicycle, the Gampenstraße road forms a cycle route from Lana via the Gampen Pass to Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde and St. Felix and onward to the Mendel Pass. The bus route and cycle route use the same pass connection, but have different starting and ending points. Just beyond the Gampen Pass, the Gampen Bunker houses mineral and photographic exhibitions.

Choose accommodation to suit your plans

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde-St. Felix, you can choose your accommodation based on your planned priorities. Those interested in culture can begin with a visit to the pilgrimage church and the image of grace, while hikes to the Gampen Pass, Senale or Lake Felix can shape the rhythm of the day.

More places for planning your trip

For additional orientation, you can also explore Moos In Passeier, St. Leonhard In Passeier, Naturns, Algund, Lana An Der Etsch, Riffian, Plaus and Burgstall.

For the overarching travel overview: Burggrafenamt.