Faggen lies on the alluvial fan of the Faggenbach stream at the entrance to the Kaunertal valley. Its landscape, local history and several routes with clearly named destinations give the village a number of different facets. When planning a trip, it is worth keeping these themes separate: natural areas and historic irrigation systems tell a different story from chapels and monuments; the routes described, in turn, lead to their own waypoints and destinations.
Landscape and traces of water use
The dry grasslands in Faggen are part of a nature reserve and are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. They are a distinctive natural feature of the village. Historic irrigation systems known as Waale have also been preserved. The name refers to an earlier form of water use and adds a cultural-historical dimension to the landscape. A small prehistoric settlement dating from the Bronze Age was also discovered above Faggen in 1993.
Chapels, monuments and art
The Faggner Wirt was built in 1678. As a former inn, it is protected as an immovable monument under an official decision. The WeiĂźes Haus chapel is also protected as an immovable monument, in this case under a regulation. An inscription inside the chapel records its construction in 1854 and a renovation in 1958.
Other chapels add to this historical picture, each with its own time period. The Mariahilf Chapel was built between 1975 and 1977 and consecrated on 2 March 1980. The chapel in Obergufer was renovated in 1995; inside are an old crucifix and a somewhat newer image of the Virgin Mary. On the rear wall of the new Faggen Chapel hangs the altarpiece from the old chapel, dating from the 18th century.
Sculpture is also part of the village’s history. The Baroque sculptor Anton Sturm (1690–1757) came from Faggen and is best known for his work on the furnishings of the abbey church in Füssen. The sculpture group “Martin with the Beggar” was created by Engelbert Gitterle from Urgen and stands on the path to Außergufer.
Routes with different destinations
The Kaunerberg Water Trail starts at the confluence with the Inn near Faggen or Prutz. From there, it passes through Kauns and Kaunerberg, as well as the hamlets of Unterfalpetan and Oberfalpetan, and continues to the Gallruth tunnel. The sequence of places makes clear that this is a route with several named waypoints and its own endpoint. As trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check the current route before setting out.
For a walk in the direction of Außergufer, the Faggen–Außergufer walking path is a separate option: it starts in Prutz or Faggen, passes the Maria Hilf Chapel and continues to the hamlet of Außergufer. The Faggenpromenade Variant 2 is a different route. It follows the Faggenbach stream to the Faggen Bridge and then continues along the opposite bank to the Faggen footbridge. Each description focuses on different waypoints.
The Prutz–Faggen–Kauns trail-running route follows yet another course. It crosses a wooden bridge over the Faggenbach stream and passes the Fischerranch on the way to Kauns. The return to Faggen and Prutz goes via Innergrufer. When comparing the routes, you can therefore use the destinations explicitly named as a guide, rather than assuming that similar place names indicate the same route. Faggen is also suitable for various cycling and mountain biking tours.
Local offerings and practical choices
The Mair farm shop in Faggen offers products from its own farm and regional specialties; the selection may change. The playground by the Faggen Chapel has a slide, a climbing frame and a swing. This equipment may also change, so it is advisable to check before visiting.
Faggen offers several concrete starting points for deciding which themes to focus on during your stay: protected dry grasslands and Waale, the history of chapels and monuments, or routes that follow the Faggenbach stream or lead to named hamlets. Those interested in cultural history will find chapels and artworks from different periods of construction and creation. Those who would rather choose a route can distinguish between the different destinations. This lets you tailor your stay to your own interests without turning the individual sights and routes into a single combined itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Schönwies, Landeck, Ischgl, Zams, Fiss, Flirsch, Strengen, See
Go to the main travel overview: Landeck.
