History of Seefeld in Tirol

Perfect Austrian Alps town with a rich past is Seefeld in Tirol. From a Roman town to a pilgrimage site, from a trading post to a tourist destination, Seefeld has evolved throughout the millennia.

Early History

The Illyrians and Celts called Seefeld home before the Romans invaded in the first century BC. The military road the Romans constructed across Seefeld linked Germany with Italy. Derived from the Latin word “Sevelt,” meaning “lake field,” the name Seefeld honors the adjacent Lake Wildsee.

Seefeld grew in popularity with pilgrims visiting the 13th-century church of St. Oswald throughout the Middle Ages. Legend has it that the chapel featured a miraculous wooden Virgin Mary statue fashioned by angels. Additionally stored in the church was a Holy Cross relic brought in from Tyrol’s Duke Sigmund the Coin-rich in the 15th century.

Because of its strategic location on the path between Venice and Augsburg, Seefeld flourished as a commercial post as well. The Habsburg emperors, especially Maximilian I, who regularly visited Seefeld and started fish aquaculture in the area, safeguarded and supported the village. He built a hunting lodge as well, which grew to be Seefeld Castle.

Modern History

Wars and epidemic in the 17th and 18th centuries destroyed Seefeld’s population and economy. The community suffered as much from the religious strife and reforms of the day. In 1805 Napoleon turned over Tyrol to Bavaria; the Seefeld Monastery, established in 1516, was sold to private proprietors. The monastery is now the “Klosterbräu” hotel.

Once a health resort and summer vacation for the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, Seefeld recovered some of its previous grandeur in the eighteenth century. Artists and writers such Arthur Schnitzler, Ludwig Ganghofer, and Hugo von Hofmannsthal also came to Seefeld attracted by the picturesque landscape and local legends.

Thanks to its sunny location and the building of the Karwendel railway in 1912, which linked Seefeld to Innsbruck and Munich, the winter sports resort grew to be a destination in twentieth century. Apart from the Youth Olympic Winter Games, the town hosted Nordic events of the Winter Olympic Games in 1964, 1976, and 2012. It is also the hometown of skier Anton Seelos, who developed the parallel turn.

Present Day

With its extensive array of sports and facilities—skiing, hiking, golfing, spa treatments, a casino, and retail possibilities—Seefeld draws visitors all year long. Tyrolean homes, a baroque church, and yearly celebrations and events help the community to preserve its historic architecture and culture. One site that masterfully combines the past with the modern is Seefeld.