Absam

Altitude: 632 m a.s.l.

Absam with its two component localities is one of the so-called "MARTHA-villages". This term refers to Mühlau, Arzl, Thaur, Absam and Heiligkreuz, a district of Hall, all located along the road from Innsbruck to Hall in Tirol. They are known as area of origin of the famous Carnival custom "Mullerlaufen". Every four years, also Absam offers a Carnival parade, the "Matschgerer-Umzug".

The highest elevation of the municipality is Mt. Grosser Bettelwurf, a 2,725 m high peak that belongs to the Karwendel Mountains. They offer wonderful possibilities to experience nature when hiking or cycling - especially popular is e.g. the trail from Absam into the Halltal valley, where you come across the St. Magdalene Convent and retrace the salt mines of Hall in Tirol. From the Halltal valley you can also ascend the summit of Mt. Grosser Bettelwurf on a fixed rope route.

Absam is idyllically located along the Way of St. James which snakes across all Europe. The village itself is a pilgrimage site of the Way of St. James as well as of Mary, despite of the fact that the parish church is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. This church, raised to the rank of "basilica minor", tells of miracles that are attachable to this site on several votive panels. It was the 18-year old Rosina Bucher, who in 1797 saw a Madonna in a window, which could not be removed.