In Stams, cultural history and nature can be explored through a variety of places and traditions. Stams Abbey, the parish church, the Stams Oak Forest and the Stams Alpine Pasture each offer a distinct perspective; other themes include the Tyrolean Way of St. James, a distilling tradition and the history of the Brunnental ski jumps. When planning your stay, you can therefore choose how to balance ecclesiastical heritage, knowledge of nature and other local themes.

Stams Abbey: Church, Museum and Guided Tour

The abbey church has been a minor basilica since September 1984. The permanent exhibition at the Stams Abbey Museum presents a cross-section of the abbey’s collections and documents the monastery’s connection with Tyrolean regional history. In Stams, you can therefore encounter a religious building, the abbey’s collections and a theme from Tyrolean history.

On a guided tour of Stams Abbey, you can visit the basilica, the cloister, Bernardisaal and the museum. The tour thus includes the basilica as well as other specifically named rooms. As tour arrangements may change, check the current visiting options before your visit.

Church History in Stams

There has been a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist in Stams since the year 700. Stams Parish Church is dedicated to the same saint and was an important pilgrimage church in the 11th century. Those interested in the town’s religious history will find two distinct points in time here: a church tradition stretching far back into the past and the parish church’s role as a place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages.

Nature Themes at the Stams Oak Forest

The Stams Oak Forest has been a natural monument since 1929. A nature trail runs through the forest alongside the stream, offering information about birds, herbs, grasses and wetlands. Its focus is therefore on nature and habitats, setting it apart thematically from the history of the church and museum. If you plan your stay around your interests, you can make these nature themes a focus of their own.

The Way of St. James and the History of Ski Jumping

The Tyrolean Way of St. James passes through Stams. On the section from Pfaffenhofen to Roppen, hikers will find Stams Abbey there. If you plan to follow this route, check the route conditions before setting out. The Brunnental ski jumps offer another, sports-history perspective on the town: construction of the two jumps, K105 and K60, began in 1988; the facility, complete with snowmaking system and lift, was completed in 1990. It was built as an important summer training centre for Austrian ski jumpers. The Way of St. James and the ski jumps thus represent two very different themes: a hiking route and the development of a sports facility.

The Stams Alpine Pasture and Distilling Tradition

The Stams Alpine Pasture includes a significant Baroque ensemble of buildings. The residence and church were built there in the mid-18th century as a summer retreat for the religious brothers of Stams Abbey. This gives the buildings a clear historical connection to the monastery and its use at the time. A different tradition is represented by the distillery at Stams Abbey, where schnapps, spirits and liqueurs have been made since the 16th century. At the alpine pasture, the focus is on architectural history and former use; at the distillery, it is on the production of various drinks over a long period.

Discover more destinations: Obsteig, Karres, Thannrain, Roppen, Köfles, Imsterberg, Sankt Leonhard Im Pitztal, Obergurgl.

For the regional travel overview: Imst.