Stams: Monastic Culture, Oak Forest and the Way of St. James

Stams combines impressive monastic culture with nature and walking experiences that give a journey its own rhythm. The collegiate church, Stift Stams Museum, the Stams Oak Forest, Stams Alpine Pasture and the Tyrolean Way of St. James offer different ways to experience the area. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Stams can therefore choose between history, landscapes, regional traditions and sporting experiences when planning their trip.

Stift Stams and the Churches of the Area

The collegiate church has been a minor basilica since September 1984. One particularly vivid way to get to know Stift Stams is on a guided tour, during which visitors can see the basilica, cloister, Bernardisaal and museum. In a permanent exhibition, Stift Stams Museum presents a cross-section of the abbey’s collections while also documenting the monastery’s connection with the history of the Tyrol region. A visit can therefore focus not only on individual rooms or works of art, but also be connected with Tyrol’s historical development.

Another religious and historical trace leads to Stams Parish Church. It is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. There has been a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist in Stams since the year 700; in the 11th century, Stams Parish Church was an important pilgrimage church. This long history makes the church a suitable destination for anyone interested in sacred architecture, regional traditions and the development of historic places.

Oak Forest, Alpine Pasture and the Way of St. James

The Stams Oak Forest has been a natural monument since 1929. A nature trail runs through the oak forest along the stream. At various stations, it provides information about birds, herbs, grasses and wetlands. This offers a nature experience for your daily itinerary that combines observation and exercise without requiring you to leave Stams’s cultural focus behind.

Stams Alpine Pasture adds an important Baroque building ensemble to this landscape perspective. The residential building and church were built there in the mid-18th century as a summer retreat for the members of the Stift Stams religious order. The Tyrolean Way of St. James passes through Stams; on the section from Pfaffenhofen to Roppen, hikers encounter Stift Stams there. Anyone travelling along historic routes can therefore include Stams in their itinerary as a stop with religious, architectural and landscape significance.

Regional Production and a Sporting-Historical Note

The Stift Stams distillery is also part of the local tradition. Schnapps, spirits and liqueurs have been produced there since the 16th century. This centuries-old production adds a culinary aspect to a visit and shows another facet of the abbey alongside its church, museum and history.

The Brunnental ski jumps, K105 and K60, provide a modern sporting-historical contrast. Their construction as an important summer training centre for Austrian ski jumpers began in 1988; the facility, including snowmaking equipment and a lift, was completed in 1990. The ski jumps add a sporting dimension to the image of Stams that differs clearly from its historic buildings and nature trails.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

When looking for accommodation, you can base your choice on your preferred travel rhythm. For a culture-focused trip, the collegiate church, guided tour, museum and parish church take centre stage. If you place greater emphasis on nature and exercise, the oak forest, nature trail, Stams Alpine Pasture and the Tyrolean Way of St. James become central to your plans. Those who want to combine different interests will find several clearly distinct themes in Stams: historic sacred buildings, regional production, landscapes and ski-jumping history. It is best to choose a holiday apartment or holiday house according to the scope and mix of your planned experiences, without limiting the trip to just one attraction.

For comparing other places, you can also include Karres, Sölden, Imsterberg, Mötz, Thannrain, Mieming, Sautens and Längenfeld in your search.

For the overarching travel overview: Imst.