Umhausen: Stuibenfall, Ötzi Village and Church Art

Umhausen combines an impressive natural experience with insights into the history of the Ötztal Valley. The Stuibenfall, the Ötzi Village, the bird of prey park and several churches of notable art-historical significance offer very different options for planning your days. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Umhausen can therefore tailor their stay to their own interests: with a hike, a visit to the open-air park, nature observation or discoveries relating to cultural history.

Waterfall and Trails for Active Days

The Stuibenfall near Umhausen in the Ötztal Valley is 159 metres high and the highest waterfall in Tyrol. The hike from Umhausen to the Stuibenfall takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes and covers approximately 2.8 kilometres. On the way to the upper section, there are several viewing platforms and around 700 steps. A suspension bridge around 80 metres long runs directly alongside the 159-metre-high waterfall.

When planning your day, you can take the stated walking time, distance and number of steps into account, especially if you are travelling with children or want to accommodate different interests within your group. If the Stuibenfall is a focus of your stay, you can consider how the hike fits into your planned holiday days when looking for accommodation in Umhausen. Travel to Umhausen is initially by train to Ötztal railway station, followed by bus route 320.

Ötzi Village and Bird of Prey Park

The Ötzi Village in Umhausen is an archaeological open-air park that provides insights into Neolithic history and invites visitors to take an active part. On display are authentically reconstructed huts, tools, weapons, historic domestic animals and a 1:1 reproduction of the site where Ötzi was found. This makes a visit an informative complement to a holiday intended to combine nature and history.

Daily flight demonstrations with eagles, buzzards, falcons and kites take place at the Umhausen Bird of Prey Park. An educational trail provides information about falcon training. The entire bird of prey park is accessible and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users. This can provide important guidance when choosing shared excursion destinations, without all travellers having to share the same interests.

Swimming Lake and Special Local History

The Umhausen swimming lake is filled with pure drinking water; there is also beach volleyball. This allows you to plan a day with a different focus than a hike to the waterfall. Historical sights range from the Gothic parish church of St Vitus to smaller churches and noteworthy façade details.

The parish church of St Vitus is mentioned as early as 1220 and is considered the oldest church in the Ötztal Valley. It contains Gothic frescoes from 1330, which were discovered during restoration work in 1964. The Church of Maria Schnee is a Baroque building with Rococo furnishings; it was built around 1796 and consecrated on 5 August 1797. Farst is also one of the oldest settlements in the valley. A Schwaighof farm was established there as early as the 13th century.

Further cultural destinations include the church of Niederthai, which is dedicated to St Anthony, was consecrated in 1698 and is a small Baroque gem, as well as the parish church of Tumpen. It was consecrated to St Martin on 17 May 1666 by Auxiliary Bishop Jesse Perkhofer; its façade features three Rococo frescoes depicting the weather saints and the Good Shepherd. A fresco depicting the Wedding at Cana can also be seen on the east side of the Krone inn; it dates from before 1627.

Choosing Umhausen as a Holiday Destination

Umhausen appeals to travellers who want to switch between nature, activity and culture during their holiday. For an active day, the Stuibenfall, the viewing platforms and the suspension bridge are the main attractions. On another day, the Ötzi Village, the bird of prey park or the churches and historical monuments can take centre stage. A holiday apartment or holiday home in Umhausen can be selected according to the desired pace of travel, without limiting the holiday to just one type of experience.

For further orientation in the area, you can also visit the pages on Mötz, Silz, Tarrenz, Mieming and Karrösten. The page on Östen also offers an additional way to compare the choice of locations within the overarching travel destination.

To the overarching travel overview: Imst.