Guild Museum Bichlbach

The guild has a long tradition in Tyrol. Most of the craftsmen belonged to the Innsbruck Guild, including those from the Ausserfern region in today's Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena, who often had to work as itinerant craftsmen. In the 17th century they joined together to form their own craftsmen's brotherhood: Bricklayers, stonemasons, plasterers and carpenters were among them.

After it was dissolved, a guild brotherhood was again established in Bichlbach in 1977. Today, it offers guided tours in the Guild Church and in the Guild Museum - called Zunftmuseum Bichlbach in German - which is housed in the old rectory next to the renovated St. Laurentius Church in Bichlbach. This interesting museum in the Guild House tells the story of craftsmanship and the guild system. In five different rooms, you can admire valuable objects and materials, discover the history of the craftsmen from the Ausserfern and learn how carpenters, bricklayers, painters, plasterers and sculptors used to work. How is a fresco created, how is gilding done? Until 2024, the "Amtsgebäude", the administrative building of the village, has been rebuilt, through which new storage areas, an archive and a new communicative space are available now for the museum.

You can see the works themselves in the Guild Church of St. Joseph, the only one of its kind in Austria. The history of this church goes back to the 18th century: At that time, the local guild brotherhood supported its construction. It has a single nave, two crypt chapels and is decorated with beautiful frescoes. The showpiece is the 10 metres high, almost completely gilded high altar.