You are in: HOME / Culture & Culinary /

Culture & Landscape

The landscape influences the people's life and character - and vice versa. The Oberinntal (Upper Inn Valley) not only differs from other Tirolean regions in traditions and costumes but also in architecture. In the Oberland physical geographic factors shaped both the buildings and the people's mentality.

The Tirolean Oberland to the west of Telfs comprises the upper Inn valley and its many side valleys. Farming in this mountainous region was often difficult and not very productive. The narrow and often high lying valleys rendered cultivation almost impossible. Rich farmers with large granges were rare. Small farms, built from stones and wood, were found in the valleys and even on steep slopes.

Although the Oberland's house and farmscape is quite varied, the Paarhof (a farm building consisting of two parallel two-story houses) is still predominant. Due to the region's geographic features the space available for settlements was rather cramped and the houses were built one next to the other. Another characteristic feature were the communal outdoor ovens which several families shared.

For centuries it was custom in the Tirolean Oberland region for several families to share one house and/or one farm. The reason for this is to be found in the peopling of Tirol. While the Bavarians, who settled in the east of the country, left their farms to their eldest son, the Romans in the Oberland region parceled out fields, houses and stables among all children. The result were completely fragmented land holdings which characterize the region's landscape until today. This tradition is still clearly visible in old buildings which feature many differently styled annexes.

The people of the Oberland region are said to be very headstrong. Maybe this has to do with the fact that the people always had to stand their ground against their rough natural surroundings. An old folk song (= the Oberland anthem) goes something like this:
"We from the Oberland are steady as a rock and when the townies come to us we will pull their ears".

top

back

forward