15 extraordinary chapels in Tyrol

The Kaisertal in Kufsteinerland has been voted the most beautiful place in Austria several times. The valley owes its beauty to the Wilder Kaiser mountain range and three special chapels. St Anthony's Chapel has stood in the Kaisertal for over 300 years. It can be reached on foot from Kufstein and can be combined with a hike to the Stripsenjochhaus.

The Maria auf dem Stein chapel is located at the head of the Kaisertal valley. The rocky peaks of the Wilder Kaiser tower impressively above the chapel, which is located right next to the Anton Karg House. A refreshment stop is possible there.

The third chapel is located at the Ritzaualm, which is accessible all year round. Behind the chapel there is an impressive panorama of the Kaiser.

The Gmail Chapel nestles into a rock face not far from the Niederkaiser hermitage near St. Johann. The chapel, built in 1782, can be reached in an hour and a half on a scenic hiking trail from the Hinterkaiser district.

The "Salvenkirchlein" stands on the summit of one of the most beautiful panoramic mountains in Tyrol: the Hohe Salve in the Kitzbühel Alps. The chapel can be easily reached by mountain railway from Hopfgarten im Brixental or Söll.

The high mountain chapel (St Valentin Chapel) can be reached from the dam wall of the Zillergrund reservoir in 1.5 to 2 hours on a steep path. The climb is worth it, as the location of the chapel high above the reservoir at 2,250 metres above sea level and the view of the Zillertal Alps are fantastic.

The Kellerhochkapelle chapel is located at 2,344 metres above sea level at the highest point of the Kellerjoch and is the highest chapel on this list. It is an attractive destination for sure-footed hikers. The view from the summit of the Kellerjoch over the Inntal valley and into the Zillertal Alps is impressive. The chapel can be reached in two and a half hours from the Spieljochbahn mountain station via the Alpinsteig trail or via the Kellerjochhütte.

The Astenau-Alpe is located above Wiesing high above the Inntal valley on the slope of the Ebner Joch in the Rofan mountains. In 2003, the owner family of the Astenau-Alpe built the Notburga Chapel in this special place. The Astenau-Alpe can be reached in an hour and a half from the car park on the main road to Lake Achensee.

The small chapel against the grand backdrop of the Lafatscher north face is one of the most famous photo motifs in the Karwendel Nature Park. Right next to the chapel are two mountain huts, the Hallerangeralm and the Hallerangerhaus, which can be reached as the destination of a long but beautiful bike & hike tour through the Hinterautal valley from Scharnitz. Alternatively, you can visit the chapel as a stage destination on the Adlerweg trail.

The Calvary with its church of the same name and the seven chapels is the landmark of Arzl near Innsbruck. In addition to the typical sights in and around Innsbruck, a visit to the Calvary is highly recommended. The view over the capital of the Alps and the surrounding mountains is fantastic and always a reason to visit the chapels as part of an evening walk.

A chapel in a lake? The Chapel of Our Lady on the Lake was built in 1934 on a peninsula in Lake Obernberg. A visit to the chapel can be perfectly combined with a hike around Lake Obernberg.

The Simmeringalm is a rewarding destination for mountain bikers and hikers on the broad ridge of the Simmering between the Inn and Gurgl valleys. The small but beautiful wooden chapel not far from the hut is a real eye-catcher against the impressive mountain panorama in the background.

The Pfundser Tschey is considered one of the most beautiful high valleys in Tyrol. Hidden among the numerous hay barns on the wide meadows of the Tschey is a real gem that is considered a place of power in Pfunds. We are talking about the Maria Schnee chapel, which can be reached on an easy hike or a leisurely mountain bike tour.

The Gschlößtal valley in East Tyrol has a number of beautiful sights to offer. There are the vast glacier fields of the Großvenediger, the "Eye of God" and the alpine settlements of Inner- and Außergschlöß. There is also something else that makes a hike in the Gschlößtal valley even more worthwhile: the rock chapel. Today's chapel, carved into the natural rock, was built in 1870 after being repeatedly destroyed by avalanches.

The Oberstalleralm is a marvellous alpine village in the Villgratental valley that is hard to beat in terms of rusticity. The centre of the alpine village is a chapel, around which the 18 alpine huts gather - a wonderful motif! Whether you ride your mountain bike from Innervillgraten to the Oberstalleralm or walk from the car park at the Unterstalleralm to the slightly higher Oberstalleralm is up to you.

The further you get into the head of the valley, the smaller the chapels become. Quite rightly so, as visitors are few and far between back here. This makes the small chapel of Celar all the more beautiful, lying alone and peaceful on the wide valley floor.

If you've read this far, you've got an insider tip: my personal favourite chapel is in Valsertal, a pristine side valley of the Wipptal. Although the chapel is right next to the road (with hardly any traffic), it offers a wonderful view, especially in autumn, when the trees are coloured and the Olperer and Fußstein mountains are already covered in fresh snow. The Valsertal is also worth a hike to the Geraer Hütte or the Vennspitze.