Holy water

At the foot of the Patscherkofel, we set off on our way up to Heiligwasser. As we make our way through the forest, we gradually gain altitude, with the view opening up from time to time over the Inn Valley and across to the Nordkette. Eventually, we come across the old Way of the Cross, which accompanies us for the final few metres to the place of pilgrimage. Our destination is the Heiligwasser pilgrimage church at around 1,230 metres. The pilgrimage site lies on the edge of the forest above the Inn Valley; the present-day church was built in the 17th century and consecrated in 1665. From here, the view stretches across Innsbruck and the Inn Valley to the Nordkette mountain range on the opposite side. The Alpengasthaus Heiligwasser is also situated right next to the church. Precisely because the walk is neither very long nor difficult, it’s a great opportunity to take a closer look along the way – at the local flora, the cultural landscape around Patsch and the history of the pilgrimage site.