Sankt Jakob in Defereggen: Water, Nature and History

Sankt Jakob in Defereggen combines protected nature, unusual water experiences and a multifaceted history. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house, the main question is therefore what kind of holiday days you would like to plan: with nature observation, cultural discoveries, active routes or winter cross-country skiing and freeride experiences.

Nature and water as defining themes

123 km² of the municipal area of St. Jakob in Defereggen are protected as part of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Another distinctive natural feature is the Oberhauser Swiss pine forest, considered the largest contiguous Swiss pine forest in the Eastern Alps.

You encounter water in St. Jakob in Defereggen in many different ways. On the southern edge of the village, directly on the Schwarzach, there is an extensive natural water playground. A small side arm branches off from the main river there. West of the village centre, in the district of Oberrotte, you will also find the House of Water. A programme run by the Hohe Tauern National Park includes practical water analyses and water experiments in which participants take an active part themselves.

The Wassermythos Ochsenlacke excursion destination at the Mooseralm also focuses on playful ways of teaching about nature. Along the circular trail around the reservoir, interactive water animals serve as experience stations. The destination can be reached by gondola and chairlift to the Mooseralm. For families, this focus can be a varied addition to quieter days spent in nature.

Museum, Church and Historic Traces

The “Zeitreise Defereggen” valley museum opened in 2005 in the basement of the music pavilion in St. Jakob in Defereggen. Its content focuses on archaeological finds; it is not a folklore or local heritage museum. One of the most striking exhibits is a dugout canoe made of Swiss pine, recovered in 2000 and around 1,000 years old. It was found at the Obersee or Staller Sattel at an altitude of 2,000 m and is so far considered the only known dugout canoe made of Swiss pine.

The parish church of St. Jakob in Defereggen was first mentioned in a document in 1299. As a relatively rare example of a Neoclassical church in Tyrol, it is a simple hall church with three flat domes. The Jagdhausalm provides further evidence of the past: its origins date back to the 13th century, while the stone houses there date from the 16th century.

Active Days in Every Season

For groups, the Deferegger Heilwasserwelt offers exclusive guided tours all year round by prior arrangement. The walk to the Heilwasserwelt along the Mythenweg can optionally be included or omitted. Sculptures by East Tyrolean artists stand along the route; the Heilwasserwelt also includes a Kneipp fountain.

Anyone wishing to explore the area by mountain bike will find a clearly described tour in the Hintere Alpe Stalle route no. 110: it starts and ends at Maria Hilf Church in St. Jakob im Defereggen at an altitude of 1,422 m and is 6.3 km long. The Trojer Alm route no. 151 also begins in St. Jakob in Defereggen and ends at the Trojeralm snack station; it is 4.8 km long. In winter, cross-country skiing is available throughout the entire winter season, with many kilometres of trails. The Bruggeralm route is designated as a freeride route with 10 downhill variants.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Plans?

The variety of destinations suggests choosing your accommodation according to your preferred daily rhythm. If nature, water and shared activities are the focus, the natural water playground, the House of Water and the Wassermythos Ochsenlacke can serve as important points of reference for your planning. For culturally oriented days, the museum, the parish church and the historic stone houses of the Jagdhausalm offer different themes to explore. A holiday apartment or holiday house in Sankt Jakob in Defereggen can serve as a base for a trip whose focus you can choose according to the season and your interests.

More Locality Pages

For further searches, you can also visit the locality pages for Nußdorf-Debant, Bichl, Lienz, Innergschlöß, Erlsbach, Moos, Bruggen and Niedermauern.

To the main travel overview: Lienz.