Strass in the Zillertal offers two specific starting points for planning a trip: the history of the Raffl Chapel and routes for cycling and pilgrimage. If you are looking for a hotel in Strass in the Zillertal, it helps to decide which interests matter most first: should the town’s history or the choice of a suitable route shape your trip more?
Location at the Entrance to the Valley
Strass in the Zillertal is located at the entrance to the Zillertal, where the Ziller flows into the Inn. The town is bordered by the Inn to the north, the Ziller to the east, and the Rotholzer Bach to the west. These details provide a clear geographical reference and place Strass at the confluence of the Ziller and the Inn.
Chapel and Church History
The Raffl Chapel, dedicated to Saint Mary, stands by the Raffl farms. Jakob Singer built it in 1743. It was renovated and reconsecrated in 1977/78. The two dates mark distinct phases: construction in the 18th century was followed more than two centuries later by a restoration and a separate reconsecration. This means the chapel’s history can be traced not only to the year it was built, but also to a later step in its preservation.
The parish church of St. James the Greater also offers a tangible connection to the town’s religious heritage: a 36-page church guide is available there. The chapel’s history and the church guide highlight different aspects—one focuses on construction and renovation, the other on a dedicated publication about the parish church. For culturally minded travelers, these are two clearly distinct topics to explore during a stay.
Exploring on Foot
The Tyrolean Way of St. James leads from Strass along the Lindenallee to Rotholz, Jenbach, and Stans. Strass is therefore part of a route that continues beyond the town toward these other stops. If you are also considering your trip from a pilgrimage or hiking perspective, this sequence of places offers a different point of reference from the cycling routes: the focus here is on the path along the Lindenallee and its continuation to Rotholz, Jenbach, and Stans.
Cycling Routes and Cultural Connections
The Zillertal Cycle Path runs from Strass along the left bank of the Ziller via Schlitters, FĂĽgen, and Uderns to Kaltenbach. It is an easy, family-friendly route with no significant climbs. Most of the path is paved; only short sections are gravel. The details about difficulty and surface answer different questions: the rating describes the character of the route, while the surface specifies the terrain. Families cycling with children can take the explicitly family-friendly rating into account alongside these route details.
The fifth stage of the Inn Cycle Path offers a different perspective. At the start of the Zillertal, it passes Schloss Rotholz and offers beautiful views of the Maria Heimsuchung pilgrimage church on the Brettfall. Schloss Rotholz, originally called “Thurnegg,” was built between 1575 and 1585 as a hunting and pleasure palace, commissioned by Archduke Ferdinand II, the ruler of Tyrol. Those primarily interested in the route and surface on a cycling trip can find these details about the Zillertal Cycle Path; those interested in the connection between a cycling route and architectural and church history can consider the fifth stage of the Inn Cycle Path, with its castle and pilgrimage church.
Train Travel and Bicycle Rental
The Zillertalbahn railway stations are also useful for bicycle logistics: city bikes, children’s bikes, child seats, and helmets can be rented and returned there. ZVB AG rental bikes are carried free of charge on Zillertalbahn trains, subject to space being available on the train. This space requirement is an important part of planning. If you want to combine cycling and train travel, check before your journey whether capacity is available to take the bike on board.
Discover more destinations: Mayrhofen, Hippach, Hainzenberg, Gerlosberg, Finkenberg, Hochpillberg, Ried in the Zillertal, Distelberg
For the wider travel overview: Schwaz.
