Attraction Guild museum | Tradition and culture in the Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena

Stop by for a visit!

Description

How the Guild in Bichlbach originated
“To understand the history of the crafts guild brotherhood, we need to go back in time a bit,” describes chairman Paul Strolz. “On February 4, 1689, there was a severe avalanche disaster in the neighboring village of Lähn. The then parish priest, Lukas Egger, made a vow due to this catastrophe: to establish a brotherhood and to build a church. “He accomplished both.” For this reason, Bichlbach became the center of all craftsmen in the Außerfern starting in 1694.

Exclusive Tours
The crafts guild brotherhood also offers tours of the guild church and the guild museum/house. Together, it forms a cultural ensemble and a highlight in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.”

Support the Guild Bichlbach
“The crafts guild brotherhood St. Joseph was reestablished in 1977 by Bishop Dr. Paul Rusch. In the association board (brotherhood council), the tasks are clearly distributed. A special feature is the annual guild celebration and brotherhood meeting on March 19. Since 2010, a symbolic social prize has been awarded annually. The social prize recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of social services with a regional connection, considering the contents of a Christian-social worldview. We also have an open membership,” Strolz explains. This means anyone can become a member of the guild brotherhood: ladies, gentlemen, businesses, or institutions. To become a member, interested parties only need to visit the guild brotherhood's website and fill out the membership application. After submission, the brotherhood council confirms the admission. The membership fee is 20 euros annually. “We manage our tasks and challenges with the membership fees, donations, and grants. The money is used for the renovation/preservation of the guild church. Each individual thus makes a significant contribution to preserving this unique baroque gem,” explains Paul Strolz.

The Guild Museum
In addition to the guild church, the guild museum can also be seen. It is located in the guild house (old parsonage). “The valuable museum items showcase the varied history of the lively craftsmanship guild in the Außerfern. But there are also many old tools on display that were used from the 17th to the 19th century,” explains Walter Feineler, chairman of the cultural round. “The house, as it stands today, was built in 1761 and reopened in 2006 after careful renovation.”
In the guild museum, the only original (copy) of the “birth certificate” of the guild brotherhood St. Joseph in Bichlbach is exhibited, in facsimile with transcription in book form, discovered by chance in 2017 in the “Sammlung Jäger” in the village of Ötz (Ötztal). It also includes the guild appendage Holzgau (Lechtal). According to current knowledge, it is the oldest surviving founding document of a Bichlbach appendage, in which all previous contracts and decisions were jointly bound into a book and certified by the then lord of the court.