Stams monastery

The Stams monastery is known beyond borders for its ski gymnasium.

The Stams monastery was founded in the 13th century by the counts of Gorizia-Tyrol, and was meant to become the grave-site of the Counts of Tyrol. Several years later, a total of twelve monchs and five co-religionists of the Kaiserheim monastery in Swabia settled the monastery. The beginnings are documented as follows… In the 19th and 20th century the monastery was dissolved and re-settled twice: 1807 by the Bavarian government, when Tyrol became part of the realm of Bavaria, and 1938/39 by the National Socialists in order to accommodate the expatriates from South Tyrol.

Today Stift Stams, as it is known in German, comprises several sights, such as a museum with precious artistic jewels, and the monastery church. This church, which in 1984 was raised to a “Basilica Minor”, represents the centre of the entire complex. Particularly impressive are the paintings in the vaults and on the murals as wel as the early Baroque high altar in the form of a Tree of Life. In the plain and simpe library 60,000 volumes, 379 incunabulas and 61 hand-writings are preserved. Probably the most important document of this comprehensive collection is the foundation document of the Stams monastery, issued by Meinhard II in 1275. Also the lushly adorned Bernardi hall is a must-see.

The Stams monastery also runs a distillery, in which since the 16th century special schnaps have been distilled. The fruits for the production are cultivated in the orchards of the monastery. Beside other home-made products such as jam, honey and freshly baked bread, also the liquores can be purchased in the monastery shop. By the way, the Stams monastery also hosts exhibitions and concerts and provides a particularly solemn athmosphere for such events!

Where: in Stams, approx. 35 km west of Innsbruck
Peculiarity: the magnificent church of the Stams monastery
Opening hours: guided visits from October - May every Wednesday at 2 pm, June - September at 9, 10 and 11 am and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 pm
Ticket adults: from Euro 4.70

Further information: phone +43 5263 6242, verwaltung@stiftstams.at