The pilgrimage church, the ruins of Vellenberg Castle and the small Theresienkirche chapel offer historical points of interest. Activities include a described hike via Götzner Alm to Mutterer Alm; Götzens is also a starting point for the mountain ascent to the Muttereralm ski area. First, consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay; this will help you include the village’s history and possible activities in your plans in a focused way.

Churches and a castle: different layers of history

The pilgrimage church in Götzens was built between 1772 and 1775 to plans by, or under the direction of, master builder Franz Singer. The church is the final resting place of the martyred priest Otto Neururer. Its acoustics are another special feature: they delight visitors and performers at concerts. This place therefore brings together architectural history, remembrance and a specific cultural use.

Another historical trace leads to Vellenberg Castle. It once served as a district court and, from the 15th century, also as a prison. Only remnants of defensive walls and cellars remain of the ruins. Its former functions and its present form as a ruin thus tell different chapters in the history of the building.

Today’s Theresienkirche chapel lies on the western edge of Götzens. It was the village’s first church and is mentioned as early as 1350. An altar in the Theresienkapelle dates from 1676. Together with the construction period of the pilgrimage church, these details form a timeline from the early mention of the first place of worship, through the altar, to the 18th-century church building. Anyone interested in local history will find several clearly dated points of reference here, which are easy to distinguish from one another.

Hike via Götzner Alm

A hike via Götzner Alm, Mutterer Alm and Mutters starts in the centre of Götzens at an elevation of 868 m. It first follows a paved path to the Götzner mountain farms. Götzner Alm lies below Nockspitze at 1,542 m; Mutterer Alm is at 1,608 m. These elevations help put the route’s stops into context. For planning your time, it is important to note that the approximately 40 minutes refers to the section from Götzner Alm to Mutterer Alm, which follows a forestry road. This estimate does not apply to the entire hike from the village centre. The actual time for this section may also vary depending on conditions.

Mountain ascent and downhill trails

Götzens is a starting point for the mountain ascent to the Muttereralm ski area. The base station of the Nockspitzbahn is right in Götzens and is easy to reach on foot. If you include this option in your plans, check operating hours and seasonal operation in advance. This keeps the mountain ascent as a separate planning item alongside the hike via the alpine pastures.

There is also a specific rule for the Götzens downhill trails in Bikepark Innsbruck: riding is not permitted in the designated capercaillie protection zones. Check the operator’s trail rules before riding. The hiking route, mountain ascent and downhill trails therefore differ not only in type, but also in the conditions to consider for each activity.

Discover more destinations: Scharnitz, Mühltal, Wildermieming, Tulfes, Natters, Neustift Im Stubaital, Kolsass, Telfes Im Stubai

To the regional travel overview: Innsbruck-Land.