Attractions & Landmarks In Schwaz
Rich in natural beauty and history, Schwaz presents a wide range of attractions for guests to investigate. Every visitor has something to pique their interest from the depths of the Schwazer Silberbergwerk, the biggest silver mine, to the futuristic YOUR DOME Tirol, where guests can immerse themselves in 360-degree multimedia experiences. The medieval Burg Freundsberg and the Gothic Stadtpfarrkirche will thrill history buffs; outdoor enthusiasts will savor the breathtaking views from Kellerjoch mountain. At last, the Museum der Voelker asks guests to travel the world via its extensive collection of cultural relics and artwork.
Museum der Völker
Showcasing the diversity and inventiveness of human civilizations from around the globe, the ethnographic and art museum Museum der Völker (Museum of Peoples) is located in Schwaz. Local photographer and journalist Gert Chesi started the museum in 1995 after giving the town of Schwaz his collection of objects from Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The museum wants to be a dynamic venue promoting intercultural communication and understanding as well as covering socially and culturally pertinent subjects.
More than 1,000 objects from many nations and peoples—masks, sculptures, textiles, jewelry, and musical instruments—are on show permanently in the museum. Along with explanatory texts, images, and videos, the objects are organized in thematic sections—such as rituals, symbols, power, beauty, and identity. The museum also features a changing show emphasizing particular facets of the collection, such Indonesian shadow puppets, African textile art, or spiritual Tanzania.
The museum provides educational programs for groups and businesses in addition to guided tours, seminars, lectures, and events for guests from all walks of life. Visitors may unwind and take in the view of the town and the mountains at the museum’s library, shop, and café. The admission fee is 8 euros for adults, 6 euros for seniors and students, and free for children under 14; the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
One of Schwaz’s most fascinating and distinctive attractions is the Museum der Völker, which also provides an excellent venue for learning about the art and culture of many people and civilizations. The museum is evidence of the vision and passion of Gert Chesi, the founder who committed his life to investigating and recording the variety and beauty of human expression. For everyone who is open-minded about the world and its people, the museum is absolutely must-see.
YOUR DOME Tirol
Offering guests a 360-degree dome, YOUR DOME Tirol is a singular attraction that lets them enjoy many movies, events, and shows. The dome is housed in Schwaz’s former planetarium, which underwent renovation and conversion into a cutting-edge multimedia space set for 2022. Comprising a height of 9 meters and a diameter of 18 meters, the dome can hold up to 200 people. The dome features a surround-sound system, a high-resolution projection system, and a unique ventilation system designed to produce a comfortable temperature inside.
The dome presents a range of events fit for many interests and tastes. Among the initiatives include:
- Planetarium Shows: Using realistic and striking images and animations, planetarium presentations explore the wonders of the universe—from the solar system to the galaxies. Expert and celebrity narrators for the shows include Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Hawking, and Neil deGrace Tyson.
- Nature and Adventure Shows: From the Amazon rainforest to the Himalayas to the Arctic to the African savanna, these shows transport guests to some of the most breathtaking and exciting locations on Earth. The amazing visuals and sound effects in the shows help guests to feel as though they are part of the action.
- Music and Art Shows: Famous musicians and artists including Mozart, Beethoven, Van Gogh, and Monet are presented in fresh and immersive manner in music and art exhibits. The shows mix the music and art with amazing visuals and animations that produce a harmonic and motivating ambiance.
- Live Concerts: Local and international musicians including rock bands, jazz ensembles, classical orchestras, and choirs will be present in live concerts. The projection and sound system of the dome accentuates the concerts by giving the viewers a realistic and immersive experience.
To further educate, entertain, and link the guests, the dome also hosts unique events including celebrations, seminars, conferences, and parties. Depending on the program and seat type, the tickets run from 10 to 25 euros; the dome is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Discounts for groups, students, seniors, and children also abound from the dome.
Silberbergwerk Schwaz
Opening in 1991, the Silberbergwerk Schwaz museum sought to preserve and exhibit the legacy of the silver mine and town of Schwaz. Guided tours provided by the museum allow guests to enter the mine’s subterranean tunnels and chambers, so enabling them to experience the real conditions and atmosphere of mining activity. Multimedia presentations and exhibits covering the mining techniques, ore processing, coin minting, social and economic facets of the mining sector complement the tours.
Visitors of the museum can unwind and take in the view of the town and the mountains in the restaurant, shop, and playground there as well. Daily operations of the museum run from 9:00 to 17:00; admission costs are 18 euros for adults, 16 euros for seniors and students, and 9 euros for children. Discounts for groups, families, and web bookings are also available at the museum.
The amazing Silberbergwerk Schwaz displays the rich and intriguing past of Schwaz and Tyrol as well as the significance and impact of the silver mining business worldwide and in Europe. Anyone who wants further knowledge about the medieval and early modern periods as well as the mining work’s culture and technologies has to visit the museum. One ought to visit and investigate Silberbergwerk Schwaz.
Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
In Schwaz, an old town in the Austrian state of Tyrol, the Gothic Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is found. Constructed in the fifteenth century, the church is among Tyrol’s most significant and striking examples of religious architecture.
The History of the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Built between 1438 and 1497, during the height of the silver mining business in Schwaz, the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary made the town among the most rich and powerful in the Holy Roman Empire. Rich and strong Schwaz residents commissioned the church in order to show their allegiance and status by a grand and large structure. Master builder Hans Sewer designed the church; he also worked on the Hofkirche and the Cathedral of Innsbruck.
Dedicated to the patron saint of Schwaz, the Virgin Mary, the church was consecrated in 1497 by Salzburg’s Archbishop, Cardinal Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg. Originally a hall church with three naves and a polygonal choir, the church had Gothic frescoes, stained glass windows, and sculptures decorating it. Completed in 1515, the tall tower of the church also functioned as a town landmark and a watchtower.
Particularly following the fires of 1578 and 1639, which destroyed the roof, the tower, and the interior, the church saw several modifications and repairs throughout the centuries. New altars, paintings, organs, and bells adorns the Baroque-style restored and ornamented church. In 1750 the church also acquired a fresh facade that enhanced its elegant and harmonic look. Aiming to preserve and restore its original Gothic characteristics and eliminate some of the Baroque additions, the church underwent more renovation in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Features of the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
With many elements to be appreciated and investigated, the amazing example of late Gothic architecture and art in Tyrol is the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Among the attributes are:
- The Exterior: With a red-tiled roof, a white facade, and a 63-meter-tall tower, the church boasts an arresting and commanding outside. Three portals on the facade feature a tympanum and a relief illustrating events from the life of the Virgin Mary. Two angels flank the monument of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus that dominates the main portal. The tower boasts a sundial, a clock, a spire with four pinnacles and a cross. Twelve bells on the tower also play melodies every quarter of an hour.
- The Interior: Separated by octagonal pillars and pointed arches, the church boasts a large and brilliant inside with three naves and a choir. With Gothic frescoes illustrating the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, the church boasts a ribbed vaulted ceiling. Along with the coats of arms of the donors and Schwaz guilds, the church features stained glass windows—some from the 15th century—that depict scenes from the Old and New Testament. Additionally offering a view of the nave and the altar, the church features a wooden gallery running along the side walls and the choir.
- The Altars: 10 altars in the church feature varying themes and designs. Built in 1739 by sculptor Bartolomeo Eder, the most striking and complex altar is Comprising statues, reliefs, and paintings, the main altar boasts a marble base, a wooden frame, and a gilded canopy. Rising surrounded by angels and saints, the main altar depicts the scene of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Along with a tabernacle with a Christ figure, the main altar features a painting of the Last Supper by Josef Kramolín. Other saints and subjects including St. Anne, St. Barbara, St. Sebastian, St. Roch, St. Anthony, the Holy Cross, the Holy Trinity, the Holy Family, and the Rosary are honored at the other altars.
- The Organs: The church boasts two organs, one in the gallery and one in the choir. Built by Johann Georg Gröber in 1740, the choir organ boasts a Baroque case and 25 registers. Liturgically as well as for concerts, the choir organ is used Built in 1898 by organ builder Franz Reinisch, the gallery organ boasts a Neo-Gothic case and forty registers. Festive events as well as choir and congregation accompaniment find place in the gallery organ.
Reflecting the history, culture, and faith of Schwaz and Tyrol, the magnificent and outstanding Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is Anyone fascinated in Gothic architecture and art as well as in the religious and social life of the town should definitely visit the church. Daily open from 8:00 to 18:00, the church provides guided tours and audio guides for guests.
Franciscan Monastery Schwaz
Located in Schwaz, an Austrian state of Tyrol, the Franciscan Monastery Schwaz is a religious and historical monument. Founded in 1507 by the Franciscan order, the monastery has been the hub of spiritual and artistic activity in Schwaz always.
The History of the Franciscan Monastery Schwaz
The Franciscan friars arrived at Schwaz at the invitation of Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol, the patron of the town and the silver mining business, so founding the Franciscan Monastery Schwaz in 1507. Built on the site of a former hospital, the monastery honored the founding Franciscan order member St. Francis of Assisi. The rich and powerful Schwaz people who valued the friars’ pastoral and charitable work as well as their preaching and education helped to support the monastery with their bequests and donations.
Especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the monastery was ornamented in the Baroque style with fresh altars, paintings, organs, and furniture, it was enlarged and rebuilt several times over the centuries. Along with the wars and strife that rocked the area—the Napoleonic Wars and the World Wars—the monastery also survived the fires of 1578 and 1639, which devastated most of the town. The reforms and persecution of the religious orders—such as the Josephinism in the 18th century and the secularization in the 19th century, which lessened the number and impact of the friars—also had an impact on the monastery.
Still active today, the monastery hosts a small community of Franciscan friars who keep serving the town of Schwaz and the parish. In addition, the monastery welcomes guests and pilgrims eager to learn more about the history and spirituality of the Franciscan order and hosts a variety of cultural and social events including concerts, displays, lectures, and workshops.
The Features of the Franciscan Monastery Schwaz
With many elements to be appreciated and investigated, the Franciscan Monastery Schwaz is an amazing example of the Gothic and Baroque architecture and art from Tyrol. Among the attributes are:
- The Church: The main draw of the monastery is the Church, among the oldest and most exquisite ones in Schwaz. Built in the Gothic fashion with a single nave and a polygonal choir, the church featured sculptures, stained glass windows, and frescoes. Along with a 62-meter-tall tower finished in 1515 and a landmark and bell tower for the town, the church features a Baroque front added in 1750.
The church features seven altars with varying themes and styles. - The Altars: Comprising statues, reliefs, and paintings, the main altar boasts a marble base, a wooden frame, and a gilded canopy. Rising surrounded by angels and saints, the main altar depicts the scene of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Christoph Anton Mayr painted the Last Judgment on the main altar, and it features a tabernacle featuring a Christ figure also. Other saints and subjects including St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Clare, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, and the Holy Cross are honored at the other altars.
- The Organs: The church boasts two organs—one in the nave and one in the choir. Built in 1642 by organ builder Daniel Herz, the choir organ boasts eighteen registers and a Baroque case. Liturgically as well as for concerts, the choir organ is used Built in 1738 by Johann Georg Gröber, the organ builder, the nave organ boasts a Rococo case and 25 registers. Festive events as well as choir and congregation accompaniment find use in the nave organ.
- The Library: Comprising almost 15,000 books and manuscripts ranging from the 15th to the 20th century, the library is among the most valuable and fascinating collection of the monastery. Along with rare and valuable editions like the first German Bible printed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1466 and the first edition of Martin Luther’s Bible translated in 1534, the library covers a wide range of disciplines including theology, philosophy, history, literature, and art. Visitors may peruse and study the books and manuscripts in the reading room of the library as well.
- The Cloister: Surrounded by arcades and corridors linking the church, the library, the refectory, and the cells, the cloister—the inner courtyard of the monastery—is Frescoes, paintings, and sculptures covering scenes from St. Francis’s life, the monastery’s past, and the coats of arms of the donors and the friars adorn the cloister. Visitors may unwind and savor the peace and beauty of the cloister by means of a garden, well, and fountain.
Reflecting the history, culture, and faith of Schwaz and Tyrol as well as the significance and impact of the Franciscan order in Europe and the globe, the magnificent and great landmark known as Franciscan Monastery Schwaz is Anyone fascinated in Gothic and Baroque architecture and art as well as in the religious and social life of the town should definitely visit the monastery.
Freundsberg Castle
Rising from a hilltop, Freundsberg Castle is a mediaeval castle overlooking Schwaz. Influential nobles and Habsburg allies, the lords of Freundsberg constructed the castle in the 12th century. Today, the castle serves as a museum featuring several collections and displays concerning Schwaz and Tyrol’s history, art, and folklore.
The History of Freundsberg Castle
Originally part of the Kingdom of Bavaria in the 10th century, Freundsberg Castle has a rich history. The castle was first mentioned in 1150 when it belonged to the lords of Freundsberg, a noble family derived from the adjacent town of Freundsberg. Important players in the politics and wars of the area, the lords of Freundsberg were obedient vassals of the Habsburgs. The main residence and administrative hub of the Freundsberg lords, who also possessed several other castles and estates in Tyrol and Bavaria, was their castle.
Particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the castle confronted the dangers of the Swiss Confederacy and the Ottoman Empire, it was enlarged and strengthened several times over the ages. The town became among the richest and most strong in the Holy Roman Empire as the castle also saw the rise and fall of the silver mining business in Schwaz. Among the eminent visitors the castle welcomed were King Ferdinand I, Emperor Maximilian I, and Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol.
The castle suffered from the effects of the fires, earthquakes, and wars that impacted the town as well as lost its strategic and financial value in the 17th and 18th centuries. The last lord of Freundsberg sold the castle to Schwaz in 1812; it served as a prison, a hospital, and a school. Restored in 1948, the castle became a museum displaying Schwaz and Tyrol’s cultural and historical legacy.
The Features of Freundsberg Castle
With many elements worth appreciating and investigating, Freundsberg Castle is a magnificent illustration of the medieval and early modern architecture and art in Tyrol. Among the features are:
- The Exterior: With a square keep, a round tower, a curtain wall, and a gatehouse, the castle’s striking and imposing façade A garden and a moat round the castle to provide a panoramic perspective of the town and the valley. Built in 1637, the chapel housed in the castle honors St. George, the patron saint of the knights. The chapel features a Baroque altar and a St. George martyrdom painting.
- The Interior: The castle boasts a large and sophisticated interior with several halls and rooms displaying different collections and exhibits. From the prehistoric era to the present, the castle exhibits permanently the history and culture of Schwaz and Tyrol. Artifacts, records, paintings, sculptures, weapons, clothing, and models that highlight the subjects of the silver mining, coin minting, religious life, folklore, and Schwaz and Tyrol’s art abound in the exhibition.
- The Tower: Rising from the 12th century, the tower is the oldest and highest portion of the castle. There are four floors in the tower, each with a different theme and style. Originally serving as a banquet hall and a courtroom, the Gothic hall on the first floor Renaissance hall on the second floor served as a living room and bedroom. Once a chapel and a library, the third floor features a Baroque hall. Rococo hall on the fourth floor was used as a study and music room. Additionally featuring a roof terrace, the tower provides an amazing perspective of the surroundings.
Reflecting the history, culture, and faith of Schwaz and Tyrol as well as the significance and impact of the lords of Freundsberg in Europe and the globe, Freundsberg Castle is a magnificent and outstanding construction. Anyone fascinated in medieval and early modern architecture and art as well as in the social and political life of the town must visit the castle. The admission fee is 6 euros for adults, 4 euros for seniors and students, and free for children under 14; the castle is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
Old Town Schwaz
The historic and cultural center of Schwaz, an Austrian state of Tyrol town, is the Old Town Schwaz Thanks to the silver mining business, the Old Town Schwaz maintains the beauty and legacy of the medieval and early modern periods when Schwaz was among the richest and most powerful towns in the Holy Roman Empire.
The History of the Old Town Schwaz
The Old Town Schwaz’s history begins in the 10th century, when the area was under Kingdom of Bavaria. Schwaz first comes mentioned in 930, as a small settlement on the Inn river’s banks. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the town developed and prospered as a market town and trading hub got the town charter and the coat of arms from the Habsburgs. When the town developed the center of the silver mining business, which generated roughly 85% of the world’s silver and 70% of the world’s copper, it peaked in wealth and glory in the 15th and 16th centuries. After Vienna, the town was the second-largest city in the Holy Roman Empire with a population of roughly 20,000 persons. Attracting traders, bankers, artists, and academics from all over Europe, the town also developed as the hub of business, culture, and education.
The town suffered several difficulties and crises in the 17th and 18th centuries, including the depletion of the ore deposits, the rivalry from other mines in Europe and America, the wars and conflicts that tore across the area, and the social and religious upheavals that affected the workers and the residents. Along with the earthquake of 1670 and 1694, which devastated the infrastructure and buildings, the fires of 1578 and 1639 destroyed most of the town. The town became a provincial and rural town losing its political and financial relevance.
Once a center of industry and tourism, the town rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries gained from the expansion of the railway and the road system. In order to appreciate the beauty and charm of the Old Town Schwaz, tourists and pilgrims started flocking to the town, which also kept and restored its historic and cultural legacy.
The Attractions and Landmarks in the Old Town Schwaz
There are many worthwhile sites and monuments in the Old Town Schwaz that one should visit and investigate. Some of them are:
- The Fugger House: Built in 1515 by the Fugger family, the richest and most influential bankers and traders in Europe, the Fugger House is the most magnificent and elegant construction in the Old Town Schwaz. Renaissance fronting the Fugger House features a coat of arms, a portal, and a balcony. Along with a courtyard featuring a fountain and fresco, the Fugger House also The Fugger family, who funded the coin minting in Schwaz and the silver mining, lived and worked from the Fugger House, closely associated with the Habsburgs and the pope.
- The Parish Church: One of the most significant and striking religious buildings in Tyrol, the Parish Church is the main one of Schwaz Built in the fifteenth century, the church boasts a remarkable tower, a richly ornamented interior, and a great organ. Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol, a patron of Schwaz and advocate of the silver mining business, is also buried in the church.
- The Trading House: Built in 1460 by merchant Hans Lasser, one of Schwaz’s wealthiest and most powerful residents, the late Gothic structure known as the Trading House The Trading House boasts a Gothic front featuring a coat of arms, bay window, and portal. Additionally housed in the Trading House is a hall with fresco and vaulted ceiling. Taxes and duties were gathered at the Trading House, where the copper and silver were weighed, kept, and traded as well as housed.
- The Silver Mine: Originating in the 15th century, this is the biggest and oldest silver mine in the globe. Once the second-largest city in the Holy Roman Empire, Schwaz mostly derived wealth and power from the mine. Now a museum with guided trips into the subterranean tunnels and chambers where guests may learn about the history, technology, and culture of the silver mining business.
- The Freundsberg Castle: Rising from a hilltop, the medieval Freundsberg Castle commands views of Schwaz. Powerful nobles and Habsburg allies, the lords of Freundsberg erected the castle in the 12th century. Nowadays, the castle is a museum featuring several collections and displays on Schwaz and Tyrol’s folklore, art, and history.
Reflecting the history, culture, and faith of Schwaz and Tyrol as well as the significance and impact of the silver mining business worldwide and in Europe, the Old Town Schwaz is a magnificent and wonderful location. Anyone fascinated in medieval and early modern architecture and art as well as in the social and economic life of the town should definitely visit the Old Town Schwaz. One ought to visit and investigate the Old Town Schwaz.
