Vals is the main settlement the Valsertal Valley, a remote side valley between the busy Wipptal Valley to the west and the mighty Tux Alps to the east.
The municipality of Vals, which includes part of the nearby village of St. Jodok am Brenner, has 540 inhabitants and reaches all the way to the Italian border at 3,000 m altitude. In days gone by the Valsertal Valley was a centre of marble mining – the floors in the Hofburg imperial palace and the cathedral in Innsbruck are made from this precious material. Today, Vals is a quiet village where time seems to stand still. Hikers and mountaineers are often drawn here by the steep rock faces around the Geraer Hütte mountain hut at 2,324 m. As well as the famous Olperer (3,476 m) there are many other peaks well over 3,000 m – ideal terrain for rock climbers. At the end of the valley is the protected Grauerlenwald forest with a rare selection of flora and fauna. During the winter months, Vals is a haven of peace and quiet with showshoe hikes, a small draglift and two toboggan runs.
The municipality of Vals, which includes part of the nearby village of St. Jodok am Brenner, has 540 inhabitants and reaches all the way to the…
