Pfaffenhofen between the Inn and the Hocheder

Pfaffenhofen stretches from the village centre south of the Inn to the 2,797 m-high Hocheder, its highest peak. The valley floor and alpine heights therefore provide two distinct geographical points of reference. For your stay, the floodplain and cycling routes along the Inn shape the landscape on one hand, while the scenery around the Widdersberger Alm and Hocheder shapes it on the other. The parish church of the Assumption of Mary and the ruins of Hörtenberg also offer tangible connections to the town’s history.

Cycling routes and alpine landscapes

The Innradweg Tiroler Oberland runs along the valley floor near Pfaffenhofen through areas with beautiful floodplains, which are also suitable for inline skating. The approximately 25 km-long Mieminger Radweg is a separate route: it branches off the Innradweg on the north bank of the Inn near Pfaffenhofen and continues west. So, the Innradweg is notable for its floodplains and suitability for inline skating, while the Mieminger Radweg is distinguished by its starting point, direction and approximate length.

The Widdersberger Alm, also known as the Pfaffenhofer Alm, lies at an altitude of almost 1,700 m at the head of a small hollow in the heart of the Northern Sellrain Mountains. Meadows and woodland line the hollow. The elevations allow for a clear comparison: almost 1,700 m at the alpine pasture, compared with 2,797 m at the Hocheder. The hike to the alpine pasture is linked to Pfaffenhofen, the path to Schlosshof/Schennach and the turn-off onto the forest track to the Pfaffenhofer Alm.

Churches and history in Pfaffenhofen

Archaeological excavations in 1961 and 1997 show that a church already stood on the site of the parish church of the Assumption of Mary in the 5th century. The parish church is dedicated to this patronage; the first surviving deed of consecration dates from 1310. It may have temporarily served as the seat of a travelling bishop during the Migration Period.

The present-day ruins of Hörtenberg are also connected to the area’s early settlement history. A large Iron Age settlement with a cult site had already existed near the ruins since 800 BC; the largest Iron Age settlement in North Tyrol extended along the slope below the ruins. In the Middle Ages, court proceedings were held in the ruins before the seat of the judiciary was later moved to Telfs. Another historical turning point came in 1706: a lightning strike ignited a stockpile of 1,500 Zentner of gunpowder stored at the castle. The massive explosion destroyed the castle. The ruins of Hörtenberg can only be viewed from the outside.

Several protected buildings also form part of the townscape. The Tyrol monument register of the Federal Monuments Authority, dated 28 May 2024, lists the Aue Chapel, also known as the Kranewitter Chapel, west of Pfaffenhofen; the Hörtenberg Court Chapel near Pfaffenhofen; and the monastery of the Poor School Sisters, formerly the Zechschlössl, in Pfaffenhofen as protected monuments.

Discover more destinations: Wildermieming, Hall In Tirol, Matrei Am Brenner, Mieders, Schmirn, Navis, Leutasch, Kolsass

Back to the regional travel guide: Innsbruck-Land.