Explore the Stubaital, very close to Innsbruck

La Stubaital. is a valley of the Tyrol whose entrance is about fifteen kilometers away byInnsbruckAround thirty kilometres long, it takes visitors from the hustle and bustle of the Sill Valley, the torrent that descends from the heights of the Brenner flanked by a busy motorway and railway line, to the silence of the glaciers.

Small villages follow one another in a bucolic landscape that hides ski areas that develop at altitude. Cross it in its entirety to the icy peaks of the Stubai Alps at over 3300 meters above sea level, is to take the opposite path of the glaciers that shaped it. Let's go and discover these magnificent landscapes less than twenty minutes from the center of the capital of Tyrol.

The entrance to the Stubaital

We arrive in the Stubaital. by road or by rail.

By rail, it's easy but a bit long. The convoy that looks like an urban tram leaves Innsbruck from the south, first climbs to the Natters plateau. It is absolutely necessary to take a break to admire the landscapes of the mountains that surround the city of Innsbruck, in particular the north chain, this mountain range which serves as a backdrop to the Tyrolean capital.

The railway then continues along the wooded slopes of the Nockspitze before naturally entering the Stubaital. and make a first stop at Telfes in the Stubai. Then he naturally continues on his way to the tiny station at the gates of Fulpmes, the largest town in the Stubai Valley.

By road, today, it's very simple, we take the Brenner motorway and exit at Scenic in the Stubai Valley, a small village located on the opposite side of the valley from Telfes, but with the same dominant position over the surrounding landscapes. The view of the Nordkette is impressive. Especially when it is snow-covered.

Before the construction of the motorway, the climb from Innsbruck to Schönberg was via the Brenner road. It followed the course of the Sill and gained height in the last kilometres through the forests that cover the slopes of the hill on which Schönberg lies.

It is Schoenberg which is actually the entrance to the Stubaital. and it is by this path that we will enter it. The village whose territory is well occupied by the toll of the Brenner motorway presents itself as a scattered habitat centered around the small church on which a fresco decorates the white facade and whose bell tower has an unusual lantern shape. Some houses are decorated on their facades and we begin to discover these typical decorations that frame the windows of the houses of Tyrol.

The next village is Mieders. Situated on a flat area, this village is located at an altitude of 950 metres. It offers a view across the entire Stubaital to the glaciers that dominate the landscape. It is a beautiful introduction to this valley, especially since it is also a small ski resort. A few slopes descend from the summit of the Koppeneck at an altitude of 1600 metres. It is reached by cable car, directly from the village. At the summit, you can follow the hiking trails that reach the Jöchl, a small wooded summit and allow you to go around the ridges and valleys below. You can also return by the balcony path which passes through the hamlet of Gleins, to enjoy a magnificent view of the valley of Stubai and on the Nordkette. This hamlet can also be reached by road from Schoenberg.

On both sides of the Ruetz, the torrent that flows through the centre of the Stubaital, the bell towers of Mieders and Telfes. Both rigorously extremely sharp. These two villages have kept their soul of inhabited villages, where farms rub shoulders with dwellings and houses do not touch to avoid the devastating effects of fire. Telfes has the advantage of sunshine, especially in winter, when the sun has difficulty exceeding the highest peaks and leaves part of the valley in the shade.

Fulpmes, between ironworks and skiing, a typical village in the Stubaital

Au Tyrol, which is always surprising, but in a good way, it is the mix between the normal life of the locals and the often very intense tourist activity. We feel it very strongly at Fulpmes.

This small village is spread out along the slopes between the torrent, the Reutz and the forest. In its centre, you can visit the highly decorated baroque church with its bulb-shaped bell tower, an old house with a fully decorated façade and the Forge Museum. This bears witness to the manufacturing past of the Stubaital.. Ironwork was an art here. And this art is told to you in the museum which brings together objects and tools related to this activity.

More Fulpmes is today a very well-equipped ski resort with a gondola lift that serves the Schlick 2000 ski area. Between 1000 and 2200 meters, 26 kilometers of slopes await skiers. These are oriented towards the inner valley of the Schlicker Bach, due north and guarantee good snow cover even if there is a lack of snow in the village. The views of the small massif of Kalkögel with rocky and vertical walls reminiscent of the dolomites are sublime. The slopes, mostly red, allow for sporty and fast skiing in the silence of the mountains.

The paths that run along the edge of the forest towards mountain pastures or isolated farms allow you to gain some height above the valley and give you the opportunity to admire the mountains from another perspective. In particular, the path to camp which offers a view of the wilderness Pinnistal and the jagged mountains that tower above it.

We continue on our way and come across Kampl, a quiet little village whose leisure centre attracts holidaymakers and locals around a small lake, before arriving at Neustift in Stubaital.

Neustift in Stubaital, art, mountains and skiing

Neustift in Stubaital has everything a Tyrolean village has to offer. It extends, at an altitude of 1100 meters on the flat bottom of a valley, part of which remains in the shade in the heart of winter. The small torrent flows quietly between the meadows and the forest, slowly approaching the village. In the center of it stands an immense church, compared to the size of the village. The curious visitor will discover inside it a real baroque masterpiece. The ceiling is entirely covered with frescoes, with trompe l'oeil paintings. The altar, typical of Baroque art, is loaded with symbols, statues and gilding. The surprise comes from the fact that this church is located in a small mountain village. It was Emperor Maximilian who first had a chapel built in Neustift, because he came there to hunt. Then the chapel became a church, destroyed by fire. Another one was built, and it was the work of Franz de Paula Penz, an architect priest who built many churches in Tyrol in the mid-18th century.

The very welcoming village serves as a base for tourists to visit the Glacier region at the bottom of the Stubaital or, in winter, to go skiing on these same glaciers.

However, Nose stick has its own ski area: Elfer, on the slopes of the mountain of the same name. Short but quite steep slopes on the northern slope of the mountain to make the most of the snow.

The next village, Milders (not to be confused with Mieders seen previously), spreads out on the sunny side of the Ruetz valley. The Stubai Glaciers are finally visible, as are the peaks over 3000 meters high that frame them. It is a sunny village, with beautiful decorated houses. Hikes leave from the Oberbergtal.

A quiet valley with wooded slopes, far from the tumult of civilization. The path can easily be followed to its end, Oberissalm at 1742 meters above sea level. Then, the Stubai Alps block the road, forming an imposing wall.

The Stubai Glacier, at the bottom of the Stubaital

Le Stubai Glacier This is the major attraction of the Stubaital.Close to Innsbruck, but also to the north-south axis that is the Brenner, this valley benefits from its proximity to the communication routes to attract a significant flow of tourists into its midst.

Vacationers stay in the villages mentioned in this article, but all of them will come closer to the glacier area in one way or another.

In winter, nothing could be easier, since we ski on it! We ski on glacial slopes Daunkopf, Daunkogel, Stubaier Wildspitze, Schaufelspitze and Aperer Pfaff, peaks over 3300 metres above sea level, whose ridges form the border with Italy.

The ski area is well designed. It is accessed from two entrances, at an altitude of 1700 metres, at the very end of the valley, located a few hundred metres from each other, but which arrive at the same intermediate station, Fernau.

Then you can choose to ski on the Fernau glacier side or on the glacier side below the Stubai WildspitzeIn all cases the slopes are interconnected and the highest point, at over 3200 metres, offers a breathtaking view of the chain of the Alps bordering Austria and Italy and to the south, up to the dolomites, among which we can distinguish the Marmolada and the mountains surrounding Val Gardena.

The ski slopes are marked out for all levels of difficulty.

In summer, of course the main attraction is to climb as high as possible to the Top of Tyrol at 3210 meters, to enjoy the view from a very panoramic platform.

You can have a preview on the view you will have from the top of the slopes by clicking here .

La Stubaital. is a multifaceted valley, where alpine traditions, outdoor activities, and ski areas and magnificent landscapes. From the first villages bathed in light to the glacial slopes of the Stubai, every turn offers a new perspective on this region that is both preserved and dynamic. In summer and winter, visitors will find something to satisfy their thirst for discovery, whether by exploring the panoramic trails, setting off on the snowy slopes or delving into local history through its architectural and craft heritage. Near Innsbruck, the Stubaital. is a permanent invitation to escape, a corner of the Tyrol where the mountain imposes itself majestically and where adventure is experienced to the rhythm of the seasons.

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