Nassereith: Schellerlaufen, Nativity Scene Art and Trails

Nassereith combines a distinctive carnival tradition with nativity scene art and a variety of trails. When choosing a hotel in Nassereith, you can first consider whether you want to focus on culture, hiking or climbing during your stay. The places and routes described here offer different points of reference for your plans.

Carnival, nativity scene art and historic sites

Nassereith’s Schellerlaufen takes place every three years and has been on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2021. The dates of the individual processions vary, so plan a specific trip around the relevant event date. To learn more about the tradition, visit the exhibition run by the Fasnacht Nassereith museum association, which displays more than 450 intricately carved wooden masks.

Even small details tell the story of the area’s cultural history. An inscribed date on the baptismal font in Nassereith dates it to 1507. In Dormitz, the pilgrimage church of St. Nicholas stands on a hill above the Gurgltal valley. A visit can therefore focus on different aspects: a dated piece of craftsmanship, an important religious building, or the masks and recurring tradition of the Schellerlaufen.

Nassereith’s culture also includes a historically documented Christmas nativity scene tradition. A distinctive feature is the steep nativity scene mountain, which represents the local landscape and way of life. Nativity scene art thus offers a different emphasis from the carved carnival masks: here, the design of a landscape and living environment shapes the local tradition.

Another historic landmark is the Sigmundsburg ruins. They are the remains of a former hunting lodge on a small island in Lake Fernsteinsee. Their former purpose and island location make them a distinct point of interest alongside Nassereith’s cultural traditions.

Lakes and hiking trails

Lake Nassereither See lies at the edge of the village, where you can take a short walk around the lake. The Lakes Hike offers a different landscape, passing through open meadows and shady woodland. Lake Samerangersee is a small forest lake with vivid coloring and exceptional water clarity. These details provide different options to consider: a short circuit at the edge of the village or a hike through a landscape that alternates between meadows and forest.

For planning a longer route, the sixth stage of the Starkenberger Panorama Trail offers a specific point of reference. It runs from Nassereith to Fernpass, is 8.6 kilometers long and is rated easy. Another hiking route, with stops at Fernstein, Nassereith, Tarrenz and Imst, passes through the center of Nassereith and continues to Dormitz. The routes therefore differ both in their stated length and difficulty rating, and in their course.

Climbing and other tours

The Leite Via Ferrata has 100 meters of elevation gain and 500 meters of climbing. Its sections have different grades: C/D up to Marendplatzl, and B from there to the highest point. The route also includes a rope bridge. As safety conditions can change, check the latest conditions before setting out.

The Nassereith / Götterwandl climbing area has 36 sport climbing routes graded from 5 to 9. Götterwandl itself is an overhanging rock face above Nassereith. The number of routes and their grades help you assess the climbing area; they represent a different level of challenge from the separately graded sections of the Leite Via Ferrata.

The Flitz Flow Trail is designed as an access and exit route to the forest playground and can be used in both directions by pedestrians and cyclists. This sets it apart from the hiking and climbing routes mentioned above: it is specifically designated as a route to the forest playground and can be used in either direction.

Trip-planning information

The Nassereith Tourist Information Office offers personal recommendations for hikes, bike tours, excursions and events. It also has an e-bike fast-charging station with charging cables for the most common manufacturers. If the station is important for your plans, check in advance what equipment is available.

Discover more destinations: Tarrenz, Längenfeld, Mötz, Imsterberg, Obergurgl, Karrösten, Karres, Obsteig.

Back to the main travel overview: Imst.