Sankt Jakob in Defereggen offers a range of ways to explore nature, water and culture. When planning a stay, you can time your trip to coincide with the season for specific activities: cross-country skiing is available throughout the winter season; group tours of the Deferegger Heilwasserwelt are held year-round by appointment.
Nature and Water
123 km² of the municipal area of St. Jakob in Defereggen is protected within the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Oberhauser Zirbenwald is the largest contiguous Swiss stone pine forest in the Eastern Alps.
On the southern edge of St. Jakob in Defereggen, directly beside the Schwarzach, there is an extensive water-themed nature playground with a small side channel branching off from the main river. West of the town centre, in the district of Oberrotte, is the Haus des Wassers. A programme run by the Hohe Tauern National Park includes hands-on water analyses and experiments in which participants take part themselves.
Another water-themed destination is the Wassermythos Ochsenlacke at the Mooseralm in the St. Jakob im Defereggental ski centre. Along the circular path around the reservoir, there are interactive water-animal stations. The destination can be reached by gondola and chairlift to the Mooseralm.
For groups, the Deferegger Heilwasserwelt offers exclusive guided tours year-round by appointment, either with or without a walk along the Mythenweg to the healing water world. Sculptures by artists from East Tyrol line the Mythenweg. The healing water world also includes a Kneipp fountain.
Cultural History and Architecture
The valley museum “Zeitreise Defereggen” opened in 2005 in the basement of the music pavilion in St. Jakob in Defereggen. Its focus is on archaeological finds; it is not a local folklore museum. The largest object on display is a roughly 1,000-year-old dugout canoe made of Swiss stone pine, recovered in 2000. It was found at the Obersee or Staller Sattel at an elevation of 2,000 m and is currently considered the only known dugout canoe made of Swiss stone pine.
The parish church of St. Jakob in Defereggen was first mentioned in a document in 1299. It is a relatively rare example of a Neoclassical church in Tyrol: a simple hall church with three shallow domes. The settlement of Jagdhausalm also has a long history: its origins date back to the 13th century, while the stone houses date from the 16th century.
Winter and Specific Routes
Cross-country skiing is available in St. Jakob in Defereggen throughout the winter season, with many kilometres of trails. The Bruggeralm route is a freeride route with ten downhill options.
The Hintere Alpe Stalle mountain bike route, No. 110, starts and ends at the Maria Hilf church in St. Jakob in Defereggen at an elevation of 1,422 m and is 6.3 km long. The Trojer Alm route, No. 151, starts in St. Jakob in Defereggen, ends at the Trojeralm snack station and is 4.8 km long.
Discover more destinations: Bruggen, Thurn, Kartitsch, Sillian, Untertilliach, Dölsach, Innergschlöß, Raneburg
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