Mils

Altitude: 605 m a.s.l.

The sunny village of Mils at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains was a famous pilgrimage site, until the parish church burnt down in a conflagration in 1791 AD. Subsequently, Mils more and more passed into oblivion as religious destination. Today it is a pleasant holiday resort located close to Hall and Innsbruck, and its Oswald-Milser-Chor is one of the most famous choirs of Tyrol.

In the above mentioned Karwendel Mountains there's the Karwendel Alpine Park, one of the largest nature reserves of the Alps. A beautiful trail takes you from the neighbouring Gnadenwald to the Walder Mountain Hut at 1,500 m a.s.l., situated on a sunny plateau near a pond. Here you can try Tyrolean delicacies, and enjoy speck dumplings as well as the traditional "Graukäse" cheese. Also popular is the MTB tour to the Ganalm, Walderalm und Hinterhornalm huts: The position beneath Mt. Hundskopf, with other peaks in the background, is simply breathtaking.

The sacred buildings in Mils are worth to be noticed. The Mary Assumption Parish Church, that was rebuilt after the devastating fire, boasts the "Gnadenmutter von Mils" (Our Lady of the Graces of Mils), a statue dating back to the 15th century which survived the fire. The St. Anna Chapel, however, was erected in the 16th century by miners who settled down in Mils. It is famous throughout the German-speaking area for its life-size Mount of Olives group.