Mountain legend long-distance hiking trail. Long-distance hiking in the region

Since summer 2024, a new long-distance hiking trail has been inviting hikers to set off for several days. With five moderately easy stages, it is also ideal for newcomers to long-distance hiking who want to enjoy the feeling of being out and about in the Alpine mountains to the full.

Pleasant: The "Bergsagen-Weitwanderweg" trail always remains at lofty, but not high alpine altitudes, and scores with breathtaking landscapes, charming villages as stage destinations and, above all, plenty of peace and quiet and mountain nature. Nevertheless, it gets exciting when you immerse yourself in the world of mountain legends along the way, where Alpine spirits, fairytale giants and Christian legends bring past times back to life.

The farmer's wife Magdalena Bogner regularly walked from her farm in Schlögelsbach to Terfens. She always felt drawn to a particular larch tree by the wayside, which is why she prayed there. When she informed the benefactor of St. Martin in Gnadenwald, Johann Weiß, of this in 1665, he himself made a statue of the Virgin Mary out of clay, which she was to attach to this larch tree. Her husband placed the gift in a niche by the designated larch tree.

Soon other people were also worshipping at "Maria-Lärch". Shortly afterwards, a wooden chapel was built, which was replaced by a stone one just a few years later. Joseph ll. abolished the pilgrimage and the cult object came to Terfens; in 1795, the chapel was reopened with the returned Maria.

And there is another important reason for the popularity of Maria Larch near Gnadenwald. The healing spring there, which gushes out of the baroque well house, is said to have cured the mute girl Maria Jenewein of her suffering in the 18th century. Since then, the water has been regarded as an invigorating drink in a place of power that could not be more impressive.

Tip: Fill your water bottle with the revitalizing water of Maria Larch and taste the difference!

Adapted from "Mysterious Hall - sagas, legends and strange stories" by Christine Zucchelli.

Where the Tulfein Alm is located today once stood the palace of a shepherd king who lived there with his four daughters and ruled his people benevolently. One day, a giant broke into the peace of this high valley. He lived in a cave near the Glungezer peak and often roared so terribly at night that avalanches and mudslides tumbled into the valley. One day, when the giant saw the four royal daughters, his rough heart was seized by longing - he wanted to marry one of the princesses and made his wish known to the king.

The king was shocked to the core when he heard the ugly giant's request, but replied that if the giant won the affection of one of the princesses, he would also be welcome by the king.

So the Glungezer giant presented his proposal, but the king's daughters laughed at him. The rejected suitor plotted terrible revenge. The next night, he rolled boulders as high as houses from the Glungezer towards Tulfein, pushing the royal castle and its inhabitants to the lake, into whose waters everything sank. Today, the pond that remains of that lake is called the "Black Well".

The giant was seized with bitter remorse, but even his tears did not bring the drowned princesses back to life. Later, the Glungezer giant was transformed into an icy gray little mountain man, who longingly reaches out his wrinkled hands for the bright figures of the four royal daughters, who hover over the lake as Salige. But he is unable to reach the ghostly figures and, in desperation, throws himself into the lake to cool the burning embers of his passionate heart.

Tip: Unwind and take a short break on the platform by the Zirbensee.

Adapted from Die schönsten Tiroler Sagen, Karl Paulin, Innsbruck 1972

Oral tradition reports that Romedius was born in Thaur Castle. He is therefore also referred to as the "Nobleman of Thaur". His parents gave him a Christian upbringing, which bore rich fruit. After the death of his parents, Romedius undertook a pilgrimage to Rome to visit the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul and from then on led a life consecrated to God.

Numerous legends surround St. Romedius. Probably the best known tells that one day he wanted to visit the Bishop of Trent. On his departure, he sent his companion to saddle the horse. However, the latter returned and reported that a bear was tearing the animal to pieces. Romedius then ordered him to put the bridle on the bear. Surprisingly, the wild animal complied and so he rode the bear to Trento. This is why St. Romedius is usually depicted with a pilgrim's staff, a pilgrim's shell and often also with a bear.

Tip: The Romedius pilgrimage route leads from Romedikirchl in Thaur to the pilgrimage church of San Romedio in Val di Non (ITA) over 180 kilometers and almost 10,000 meters of altitude in twelve daily stages.

Adapted from https://www.romedius-pilgerweg.at or Paul Haider: Romedius Büchlein, 1985

A long time ago, when the convent of St. Magdalena was still run by the Augustinian order, a poor salt miner knocked on the door and asked for a charitable gift for his hungry flock of children. But the disheartened nun at the door only handed him a piece of rock-hard bread. The poor man was seized with rage and shouted: "You can eat this beggar yourself, you miser!" And with a powerful throw, he hurled the bread against the rock face to the north of the monastery. The nun cursed the salt miner. She shouted: "You must pay for this! You will not find peace in the grave. Your spirit will have to wander restlessly in this valley."

And so it came to pass. The man has never been seen since. He wanders back and forth invisibly in the rock faces of the Halltal valley, kicking up avalanches of dust in winter and loosening mudflows from the crumbling rock in summer. On warm foehn days, you can hear its howling and raging from the crevices in the rocks.

But the convent lady's stinginess was also punished. An earthquake in 1670 severely damaged the monastery building and 19 years later it was completely destroyed by another earthquake. The rugged, steep rock against which the salt miner had thrown the hard bread, the "Bettel", was called the "Bettelwurf".

Tip: Pause for a moment and feel the magic at the foot of the Bettelwurf, which is also an official place of power in the Hall-Wattens region.

Adapted from "Mysterious Hall - sagas, legends and strange stories" by Christine Zucchelli.

The Walder Alm, which is a popular excursion destination today, is said to have been haunted by a rather mischievous ghost for a long time:

In 1842, the farmer Alois Speckbacher from Wald went chamois hunting and lay down to rest in the evening on the Walder Alm in a small wooden shed next to the Kaserhaus. Soon enough, a noise woke him from his first slumber, as if a dog was pawing hard behind his ears. The noise went and came again until the farmer tried to lure the dog, it sounded so real. At that moment everything remained quiet and there was no sign of a dog the next morning either.

That same year, when the farmer's brother spent a night on the mountain pasture, the ghost woke him and the shepherds. It sounded as if all the cattle were being driven into confusion with a lot of screaming and cow bellowing. The shepherds hurried to check with the lantern, but at the same moment everything was quiet again and the cows lay peacefully on their chains in the barn. However, two of the animals were inexplicably chained together and could not be separated for anything in the world. But in the morning, at the first ringing of the chapel bell, the chain broke by itself.

Tip: At the "Adlerblick 1522" viewing and wildlife observation station on the Walder Alm, you can observe wonderful native wild animals - take a look through the telescope!

Adapted from "Mysterious Hall - sagas, legends and strange stories" by Christine Zucchelli.