Discover Völs: Culture, Nature and Excursions

Völs combines remarkable cultural history with a wide range of experiences in nature. Between historic churches, a museum in a former manor house, Völser Teich and hikes in the surrounding area and nearby Karwendel Mountains, the village presents a diverse picture. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Völs, you can therefore plan your trip around your own interests: culture, water, hiking and cycling can be combined into different kinds of holiday days.

Cultural history around the village square and old churches

A good starting point for exploring the local history is Thurnfels Museum. It is housed in Völs’s historic municipal building, the former Thurnfels manor house, which is also known as the Tower of Völs.

Another defining building is St. Blasius Church, dedicated to Saint Blaise. It is now a landmark of Völs and was first mentioned in 1286. As early as the 15th century, it was a popular pilgrimage site. Anyone wishing to visit the church can reach it via a Way of the Cross that begins near the village square. This combination of pathway, sacred building and historical tradition is particularly well suited to a quieter cultural part of the day’s itinerary.

The Old Parish Church and Emmaus Church offer further insights. The Old Parish Church preserves fragments of Gothic frescoes depicting the Last Judgment. Emmaus Church was built in 1966/67 as a new church centre for the municipality of Völs, based on plans by architect Josef Lackner. It houses a large nativity scene built in 1997 by the local Association of Nativity Scene Friends in the Oriental style, requiring more than 1,000 hours of work. In the Chapel of Saint Nepomuk, a highly valuable artistic statue of the saint stands in a pointed-arch niche; it is believed to date from the first half of the 19th century.

Smaller historical reminders also deserve attention. The group of crosses at the plague cemetery north of the old village centre, near the railway on Kranebitter Straße, dates from the mid-17th century. It recalls that Völs was almost completely depopulated by the plague in 1637. The Völser Bacchus adds another element to this cultural selection: it is currently the only surviving piece of its kind on Tyrolean soil.

Water, landscapes and observing nature

The outdoor swimming pool “Völser Badl” lies below Blasiusberg on a 12,000 m² terraced slope. Its facilities include a competition-standard sports pool, an adjoining teaching pool and a children’s area with a spacious play stream. The pool café has a viewing terrace with panoramic views.

Völser Teich offers a different kind of experience. The 3,700 m² recreational landscape reaches a maximum depth of 1.3 m and is also a wetland habitat. It is home to protected animal and plant species, including the common toad, common frog, European tree frog, fire-bellied toad and 11 species of dragonfly.

Hiking and cycling as active alternatives

Thanks to its central location, Völs is an ideal starting point for numerous hikes in the surrounding area and in the nearby Karwendel Mountains.

There is also a specific option for cycling. Nasses Tal, Route 34, is a moderately difficult bike tour covering 11.7 km with 289 metres of elevation gain. This information helps you assess a cycling tour by distance and elevation gain when planning your trip, without mixing it up with the quieter cultural or nature days. In winter, part of the artificial-turf field at the Völs sports ground is artificially iced over, adding a seasonal feature to the village.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Völs, it is worth first deciding on the balance of relaxation and activities you want. For culture-focused days, the museum, churches and historic memorial sites take centre stage. If you prefer water and nature, you can include Völser Badl and Völser Teich in your plans. For active days, the hikes in the surrounding area, the nearby Karwendel Mountains and the Nasses Tal bike tour offer different focuses. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to the character of your trip, rather than just a place name.

Compare other destinations

If you would like to consider other places for your holiday planning in addition to Völs, you can find Rum, Fulpmes, Axams, Telfs, Unterweg, Pettnau, Grinzens and Patsch here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Innsbruck-Land.