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Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol, located 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) north of Innsbruck and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. It is one of the largest municipalities and is known for its hiking and biking trails. Scharnitz is the western entry point to the Hinterau valley, where the River Isar originates. Oberammergau, on the other hand, is a village in the Bavarian Alps in Germany, situated in a scenic valley surrounded by the forested mountains of the Ammergau Alps. The village is known for its woodcarving tradition, painted buildings, and the world-famous Passion Play.
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What You'll Learn
Scharnitz, Austria is a hiking and biking town
Scharnitz, Austria, is a small municipality located in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It sits on the border with Germany, just 9 kilometres from Seefeld in Tirol, and is one of the largest municipalities in the area. Scharnitz is a popular hiking and biking destination, offering stunning natural scenery and a range of outdoor activities.
The town is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area, with its high mountains and picturesque landscapes. Scharnitz is particularly renowned for its hiking trails, which cater to various skill levels. From the town, hikers can access the Karwendel Nature Park, which offers panoramic views of the Tyrolean Karwendel Mountains, small waterfalls, imposing rock formations, and mountain huts serving traditional Tyrolean cuisine. The classic hike through the Karwendel Nature Park leads from Scharnitz to the Karwendelhaus, and is the first segment of the multi-day tour "The Classic Karwendel Tour". This route takes hikers through forests along the river Isar, with opportunities to rest on benches and explore a nature trail.
For those seeking a more challenging hike, the Pleisenspitze summit is a popular destination in both summer and winter, as it is the only peak in the Karwendel main chain easily accessible in winter. This ascent is also suitable for snowshoeing and skiing when there is sufficient snow cover. Scharnitz also offers a unique mountain hike through a wild and romantic gorge, characterised by its fascinating water and rock landscapes, where sure-footedness and good shoes are required.
In addition to hiking, Scharnitz provides biking trails that wind through the Tyrolean Gleirschtal Valley, offering varied mountain bike tours. One notable trail leads to the Pfeishütte, which requires considerable pedalling but also offers a car park for those who prefer to walk or cycle the final section. The town's proximity to both Innsbruck and Munich makes it easily accessible by train, and the hiking and biking trails are all within close reach from the town centre.
While Scharnitz may not offer a wide range of activities beyond outdoor sports, its focus on hiking and biking makes it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts seeking to explore the beautiful landscapes of the Tyrol region.
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Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol
The village of Scharnitz was founded in the early Middle Ages and was once a significant commercial route between Germany and Italy. Today, the main source of income for the village is tourism, with visitors coming for both summer and winter activities. Scharnitz is particularly popular for hiking, with numerous trails in the surrounding area. It also offers biking trails that wind through the high mountains.
Scharnitz is the western entry point to the Hinterau valley, where the River Isar has its source. The village is just a few miles from Mittenwald, its equivalent town on the German side of the border. This proximity to Germany means that Scharnitz is easily accessible for hikers coming from either Innsbruck or Munich, with frequent trains to both locations.
The Tyrol region, in which Scharnitz is located, offers summer festivals, concerts, and other attractions in addition to its natural beauty. Visitors can find accommodation in hotels, pensions, or vacation rentals in the area.
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Oberammergau, Germany is known for its woodcarving tradition
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is located 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) north of Innsbruck and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. The village was founded in the early Middle Ages and was once an important commercial route between Germany and Italy. Scharnitz is a popular destination for hiking and other outdoor sports, with biking trails around the town offering views of the surrounding high mountains.
Oberammergau, Germany, on the other hand, is known for its long-standing tradition of woodcarving, in addition to its famous Passion Play. Located in the Bavarian Alps, not far from the Austrian border, Oberammergau has been renowned for its woodcarving heritage since the 16th century. Florentine statesman Francesco Vettori visited the village in 1508 and described it as a "very healthy but poor village, where most of the inhabitants were fine woodcarvers."
The villagers of Oberammergau were historically known for their intricate carvings of crucifixes and miniature scenes inside walnut shells. This tradition continues today, with the village being home to dozens of woodcarver shops and the Bavarian State Woodcarving School. The streets of central Oberammergau showcase a diverse range of woodcarving styles, from religious subjects to toys and humorous portraits.
One notable woodcarver from Oberammergau is Hans-Joachim Seitfudem, who works in the nearby village of Bad Kohlgrub. Hans-Joachim is known for his exceptional skill and speed, creating intricate sculptures by hand using linden timber. He is one of the last master carvers in the area to have had apprentices, as the cost of training has made it challenging for young people to learn the trade from master carvers.
Oberammergau's woodcarving tradition has had a significant impact on the village's economy and cultural reputation. The local expression, "Die Passion zahlt" ("The Passion Play will pay for it"), reflects how the community has financed various civic improvements, such as a community swimming pool and centre, with the revenue generated by the Passion Play and woodcarving industry.
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Oberammergau is famous for its frescoes, or Lüftlmalerei
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is located 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) north of Innsbruck and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. The village was founded in the early Middle Ages and was once an important commercial route between Germany and Italy. Today, Scharnitz is a hiking-focused town, attracting tourists with its biking trails and views of the surrounding high mountains.
Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. It is known for its colourful frescoes, or Lüftlmalerei, that adorn the exteriors of its homes and businesses. This painting technique is not unique to Oberammergau, and can be found in many villages in Upper Bavaria. The Lüftlmalerei painting technique gained popularity in the 18th century, as a way for wealthy homeowners to demonstrate their success and wealth. The term Lüftlmalerei may be derived from the way in which frescoes must be painted quickly before the air dries the wet plaster, or it may be connected to Franz Seraph Zwinck, one of Oberammergau's most famous Lüftlmalerei painters.
Today, visitors to Oberammergau can admire the beautifully frescoed façade of Zum Kirchenbauer, just a stone's throw from the town's main church. The Mussldomahaus, believed to be Oberammergau's oldest farmhouse, also features colourful frescoes painted by Zwinck. The Pilatushaus, built in the 1770s, boasts impressive trompe-l’œil frescoes that give the illusion of a three-dimensional scene. The Hotel Alte Post, dating back to the early 17th century, is another notable example of Lüftlmalerei in Oberammergau.
In addition to its famous frescoes, Oberammergau is also known for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings, its NATO School, and its 380-year tradition of mounting Passion Plays. Every ten years, the inhabitants of Oberammergau perform the story of the Passion of Jesus, a tradition that is said to have begun in 1634 when the village was plagued by the bubonic plague.
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Oberammergau's population is around 5,000
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is located 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) north of Innsbruck and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. Scharnitz is a popular destination for hiking and other outdoor sports, with biking trails around the town. The village was founded in the early Middle Ages and was once an important commercial route between Germany and Italy.
Oberammergau is a village in the German state of Bavaria, near the Bundesstraße 23, part of the Deutsche Alpenstrasse route. Oberammergaus' population is around 5,000. The village is known for its religious art, particularly woodcarving, with the Bavarian State Woodcarving School located there. The village is also home to the parish church of St. Peter and Paul, which features religious art such as a processional church staff depicting Christ on a donkey. The streets of central Oberammergau are lined with dozens of woodcarver shops, where one can find pieces ranging from religious subjects to toys and humorous portraits.
Oberammergau is also famous for its "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes, which can be found on many homes and buildings. These frescoes depict traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales, and religious scenes, as well as architectural trompe-l'œil. The village is also the site of the Oberammergau Passion Play, a play depicting the passion of Jesus that has been performed by the inhabitants of the village every 10 years since 1634, with some exceptions. The play is based on a legend that during an outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1633, the villagers vowed that if God spared them, they would perform a play every 10 years. The play has had a significant economic impact on the village, with improvements to infrastructure and civic amenities being funded by the revenue generated from the performances.
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Frequently asked questions
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is located 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) north of Innsbruck and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. It is the western entry point to the Hinterau valley, where the source of the river Isar is located.
Scharnitz is a hiking and biking-focused town, with trails that offer views of the surrounding high mountains. It is also the gateway to the Karwendel Nature Park, Austria's largest nature park, where activities like climbing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe hiking are possible.
Oberammergau is a village in the Bavarian Alps in the German state of Bavaria. It is situated in a scenic valley surrounded by the forested mountains of the Ammergau Alps.
