Jochbergthurn: Chapel and Nature

The Zimmeredt Chapel is a distinctive cultural landmark in Jochbergthurn. Its religious imagery and its historical description as “Little Maria Luggau” sit alongside a broader landscape designation extending as far as the Salzach. Historical references add a high moor and a hike that names Jochbergthurn as an intermediate stop. The chapel’s history, connection to nature and route itinerary thus come together as different travel interests.

Zimmeredt Chapel: Imagery and History

The listed Zimmeredt Chapel is located at Jochbergthurn 4 in Jochbergthurn, next to the Zimmeredt farm on the Sonnberg. The altarpiece depicts the pilgrimage church of Maria Luggau and the miraculous image of the Sorrowful Mother. It thus combines a specific connection to a church with the image of the Sorrowful Mother.

At the dedication ceremony following the renovation, the then-dean, Father Paul, described the chapel as “Little Maria Luggau.” The two references to Maria Luggau serve different purposes: in the altarpiece, it is the depicted pilgrimage church; at the ceremony, the name formed part of a tribute to the chapel. This brings together a specific image and a historical local description. The Zimmeredt farm and Sonnberg add specific local points of reference to the religious context.

Landscape, Nature and Historical Hiking References

The area from Jochbergthurn down to the Salzach includes Rettenbach and Lofererfeld, as well as the area between the pass road and the Salzach. This extends the description beyond the immediate chapel area while also naming specific sub-areas. For your geographical orientation, it helps to distinguish between them: the chapel is located at Jochbergthurn 4, by the Zimmeredt farm and on Sonnberg; the landscape description covers a larger area extending to the Salzach. Rettenbach and Lofererfeld are part of this broader area.

On April 23, 1997, a high moor was recorded in a field observation near Jochbergthurn, just north of the Sonnberghof inn, at an elevation of 900 m. The observation site was beside a road near a bridge over an unnamed stream. This reference links the natural feature to specific details about its elevation and terrain, adding an individual point of interest to the broader landscape description.

A 2018 hiking report by Naturfreunde describes a tour from Hollersbach via Jochbergthurn to Resterkogel. The sequence makes Jochbergthurn an intermediate stop on that tour: Hollersbach is the starting point and Resterkogel the destination. Unlike the field observation of the high moor, the report describes a hiking route. If you use the historical report to plan your own hike, check current trail conditions locally.

The two historical references differ in subject and purpose: the field observation identifies a specific natural feature, while the hiking report describes a route with a starting point, an intermediate stop and a destination. They offer different starting points for planning.

Discover more destinations: Weißbach bei Lofer, Maishofen, Piesendorf, Aufhausen, Wald im Pinzgau, Kaprun, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Krössenbach

View the main travel overview: Zell am See.