Easy hikes and walks around Mils

Besinnungsweg Absam – Hike to St. Martin in Gnadenwald This peaceful hike connects Absam with the special place of power, St. Martin in Gnadenwald. The Besinnungsweg (meditation trail) leads along quiet forest paths through gentle terrain, accompanied by spiritual stations and expansive views of the Karwendel and Tux Alps. This hike is part of the Hall, Wattens & Watten- und Voldertal hiking region, which is considered one of the most diverse hiking areas in the Inn Valley with its tranquil alpine pastures, scenic high-altitude trails, and varied circular routes. On the Besinnungsweg to St. Martin Monastery From the information portal at the entrance to the car park, follow the road for about 160 meters in a northerly direction into the Halltal valley. At the signpost "Besinnungsweg Absam – Gnadenwald", turn right, cross a wooden bridge, and follow the wide hiking trail in a northeasterly direction. The path continues through forest terrain in a gentle up-and-down fashion towards Gnadenwald. After crossing a small valley, a short ascent follows. Afterwards, you reach an unmarked fork that leads a few meters downhill to the right to the Walderkapelle chapel. This short detour is worthwhile. Back on the main path, continue following the nine stations of the Besinnungsweg, cross two debris flows, and hike towards Gnadenwald. After reaching the access road to the Hinterhornalm, keep left briefly, then immediately turn right again to follow the Besinnungsweg, along above the monastery. Then, turn right via a narrow path down to a chapel and continue right to the monastery of St. Martin with its monastery church. Text / Source: Almenrausch.at https://www.almenrausch.at/touren/detail/besinnungsweg-absam-gnadenwald/

Beautiful and lonely in autumn

Gasthof Tiefenthaler, Unterdorf 2, 6068 Mils The exact time when Gasthof Tiefenthaler was built cannot be found in chronicles or history books. What is certain, however, is that hospitality, warmth and a traditional inn culture have been cultivated in this place for centuries and are being lived again today. Text / Source: Gasthof Tiefenthaler, Familie Tiefenthaler, Unterdorf 2, 6068 Mils https://www.gasthoftiefenthaler.at/

Anna Chapel in the cemetery, Mils near Hall The late Gothic Anna Church stands on the southern cemetery wall. It contains the important Mount of Olives group (4 life-size figures made of pine wood) from around 1510. They represent Christ and the apostles John, Peter and James. According to legend, a ship that was supposed to take the figures to Vienna ran aground in the Inn near Mils, and so the figures came to Mils by God's will. Text / Source: NETGRAF Webdesign & Internetservice, Schulgasse 2, A-6060 Hall in Tirol https://www.hall-tirol.at/hall-in-tirol/mils/ortsrundgang/kirche.php

Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary, Mils near Hall (Part 3) The next extensive renovation took place in 1907/08 on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Mils miraculous image under Pastor Alois Mair. The ceiling paintings by Rudolf Margreiter and the mosaic on the entrance facade date from this period. The vestibule at the portal was built in 1913 by master builder Josef Bair from Absam. It had to be practically rebuilt by master builder Mairamhof in 1955 because it was in disrepair. In 1945, around 20 aerial bombs fell on Mils, which did not hit any houses directly, but did hit the front of the church inn. The church was protected by the mighty linden tree, so only the windows were destroyed. The exterior was renovated in 1964 and the interior in 1976/77. The following renovation work was carried out in recent years: 1994 the organ gallery, 1995 a new organ was purchased, 1998 a new floor and new pews, 1999 the gilding of the altars, 2000 the altarpieces, 2001 wall paintings up to and including the cornice and 2002 the sacrificial arches, the pulpit, the choir stalls, the baptismal font and the ambo. The exterior renovation took place in 2003. Text / Source: Milser Dorf Chronik, Gemeinde Mils, Unterdorf 4, Mils https://dorfchronik.mils-tirol.at/dorfleben/pfarre/2010/08/27/pfarrkirche-baugeschichte/

Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary, Mils near Hall (Part 2) In 1587, the Hall painter Hans Maisfelder received 208 guilders on behalf of Archduke Ferdinand II "for his painting work on Our Lady's Church in Mils". In 1597, the church was in disrepair due to the earthquake. In 1653, Auxiliary Bishop Jesse Perkhofer consecrated a side altar in the parish church in honor of St. Joseph. In 1662, there was talk of a damaged roof and broken windows, but by 1666 everything was back in order. In 1678, a gust of wind smashed the rear corner of the church wall, destroying the vault and the organ. In 1765, Pastor Wolf wrote that he had the entire choir decorated with frescoes and stucco with eight Marian symbols. In the Möltel Abbey Chapel, the windows were renewed and the pulpit renovated. He also had the Madonna of Grace placed on the high altar and in a halo, and the Mount of Olives group placed higher up near the sacristy. In 1783, Father Popp acquired a valuable organ and the pews from the dissolved Poor Clares' monastery in Hall (now a psychiatric hospital). But on August 23, 1791, everything was destroyed by fire. In the following years, the parish church was rebuilt, with the direction being in the hands of the Imperial and Royal Court Building Authority and Accountant Franz Josef Naus. Father Popp acquired the three altars from the church of the dissolved regular house in Innsbruck and he also had the idea of having the interior of the church decorated with frescoes by the famous Tyrolean painter Josef Schöpf. But this never happened. In 1837, some renovation work was carried out in the parish church: the first lightning rod in Mils was installed on the church tower. Mundler von Thaur (Josef Romed Kramer 1783–1855) was paid 36 guilders for painting work in the parish church. A certain Hägele created the two portals (sacrificial arches) at the high altar, and in 1861 the painter Grissemann from Grins decorated the church with decorative paintings. Text / Source: Milser Dorf Chronik, Gemeinde Mils, Unterdorf 4, Mils https://dorfchronik.mils-tirol.at/dorfleben/pfarre/2010/08/27/pfarrkirche-baugeschichte/

Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary, Mils near Hall (Part 1) If a document from 1215 mentions a "Fridericus plebanus de Mulles", i.e. a Friedrich pastor of Mils, it can be assumed that there was already a church in Mils at that time. Nothing of this church can be seen anymore. Unfortunately, no archaeological soil investigations were carried out in the church during the most recent renovations. The foundations of the previous buildings would certainly have been found. Donations for masses at "Our Lady's Church" in Mils are documented from 1359. The church may have been destroyed in 1415, when all the villages around Hall were set on fire during one of the Bavarian invasions. Another indication of this is that the new Mils image of grace was created around 1420. Of the Gothic building of the church, the northern and part of the western nave walls are certainly still preserved. This can be seen on the outside in the cornice and the triangular pilasters made of Höttinger Breccia. This late Gothic building was built by master builder Narziß Pecherer. According to a document in the archives of Schneeburg Castle, the roof of the church was built in 1453 under the master builders Hanns Äberser and Otto Scheffler for 34 pounds of Perner and 4 Kreuzer. Until the fire in 1791, the church had a tower with a steep pointed roof. In 1475, the painter Jörg from Hall repaired the glass painting donated by the town of Hall with 390 bullion panes. In 1490, the parish church received a side chapel dedicated to the 14 helpers in need, which was built by the Schwaz citizen Christian Möltl. This side chapel was probably built on the southern nave wall of the then narrower Gothic church. In April 2003, during excavation work on the outside of the church, the foundation of a wall was uncovered, which runs parallel to the southern nave wall at a distance of 2 meters. The Gothic parish church was probably originally about 3 meters narrower than the current building, so the foundation found was probably the southern outer wall of the Möltl Chapel of the 14 Holy Helpers, which was added in the manner of a lower side aisle. Text / Source: Milser Dorf Chronik, Gemeinde Mils, Unterdorf 4, Mils https://dorfchronik.mils-tirol.at/dorfleben/pfarre/2010/08/27/pfarrkirche-baugeschichte/

Very worth seeing, you have to see it