Kolsass combines a circular hiking trail with a local history shaped by both ecclesiastical development and mining. This offers two distinct perspectives for planning your visit: on the loop to the Lourdes Chapel, meadows, woodland, and the route itself shape the excursion; the historical sites tell stories of parish history, sacred buildings, and former occupations. You can focus on a hike or explore the different chapters of the village’s history.
Hiking to the Lourdes Chapel
A circular hiking trail runs between Wattens and Kolsass. One special stop is the Lourdes Chapel in Merans: the route passes through meadows and woodland on the way there, then returns via the Archenwald. Both the landscape along the trail and a visit to the chapel are part of what makes this loop distinctive. The return via the Archenwald forms a separate section of the route and leads the hike back.
If you are planning this route for your excursion, check the current route details in advance. Route details may change. The description of the trail as a circular hike with a chapel stop and a return via the Archenwald also makes clear what sets it apart: the destination and the route are connected, rather than simply listing individual places.
Church History and Protected Sites
Kolsass’s ecclesiastical history goes back a long way: the parish was elevated to mother parish status in 788, and a priest in Kolsass is first mentioned in a document from 1233. The church’s building history also spans several periods. The Romanesque church was remodeled in the Gothic style in the 14th century, and the nave was enlarged in the 17th century. These dates mark distinct historical milestones: they show both the parish’s early significance and later changes to the church building.
There are currently six listed heritage sites within the municipality. These include the Catholic Parish Church of the Visitation of Mary at Kirchplatz 3, as well as the cemetery and cemetery chapel at the same address. Also protected are a mural in the passageway between the primary school and kindergarten, a wayside shrine at Fiechterweg 4, and a wayside cross near Kirchplatz 3. Together, these sites represent various forms of religious and artistic heritage. For a cultural focus, the village’s history can thus be understood not only through individual dates, but also through different kinds of buildings and artworks.
Mining History and the Inn Cycle Path
Alongside agriculture, mining was an important source of income in Kolsass for several centuries, particularly in the hamlet of Mühlbach. Iron ore was processed in smelting works from the 14th to the 16th century. Gold was panned in Kolsass in the 16th and 18th centuries. These activities therefore belong to different historical periods: iron ore processing is documented over several centuries beginning in the 14th century, while gold panning took place in two separate centuries. Together, they complement the ecclesiastical and architectural themes with a look at the village’s former work and sources of income.
The Inn Cycle Path, which passes by the village of Kolsass, offers another perspective. In summer, the Inn Cycle Path through the Tyrolean Unterland runs from Kolsass to Innsbruck; Innsbruck is 20 kilometers away. The two options therefore have different focuses: the circular hiking trail is a loop with a special stop and a described return route, while the Inn Cycle Path connects the area in the direction of Innsbruck. If you include both in your travel plans, check the current route details in advance.
Discover more travel destinations: Thaur, Wildermieming, Hatting, Kematen In Tirol, Innsbruck, Inzing, Fritzens, Obernberg Am Brenner
Return to the main travel overview: Innsbruck-Land.
