St. James way Section 3 Lermoos - Berwang

The Tyrol-Allgaeu Way of St James

This Alpine Route of St. James, which is both scenically and culturally very attractive, leads off the main roads over three Alpine passes, namely the Fernpass, the old Gaichtpass and the Jochpass. It crosses some of the most attractive hiking and holiday regions of Tyrol and southern Upper Allgäu on ancient Roman, trade and pilgrim paths.

The pilgrims to St. James can undoubtedly look forward to a particularly impressive route here. All the more so, as it mostly leads through rural, tranquil mountain regions, where people have been deeply influenced by faith and fear of the forces of nature for centuries. These regions are therefore particularly rich in churches and chapels with numerous art-historical gems, often from very different eras. In combination with the magnificent panoramic views, the constantly changing perspectives and the meditative, but now and then strenuous hiking in wind and weather through these alpine natural landscapes, this "camino" becomes an unforgettable path that demands all the senses, rich in intense experiences, encounters, experiential and perhaps also new insights about oneself.

Integration into the Jakobwegenetz of Austria and Germany

The Tyrol-Allgaeu Way of St. James connects in Stams to the German-Austrian Way of St. James from Munich along the Isar, Loisach, Leutascher Ache and Inn rivers, as well as to the two Austrian ways of St. James which unite in Innsbruck: the route from Lofer/Salzburg to Innsbruck and the route from Lienz to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, this bundled stream of St. James' Way leads on via Stams to the Arlberg or even from Stams on the Tyrol-Allgaeu route.

Pilgrim's stamp and pilgrim's identity card

In the chapels of St. James and in the churches mentioned in the text there are stamped places along the St. James' Way. These pilgrim's stamps are nice memories in your own pilgrim's diary. In the intrnat. recognised pilgrim's identity card they serve as proof of the route completed. As an official document, the pilgrim's identity card also enables the pilgrim to stay overnight in special pilgrim accommodation, of which there are still few on this route. It can be obtained from the St. James pilgrim associations for a processing fee.

About 50 m west of Lermoos station, an underpass under the tracks leads to a path that climbs briefly across the meadow to the panorama pool in Gries. There you follow the marked "Panoramaweg Tiroler Zugspitz Arena" with a wonderful view through light forest and sunny meadows over the villages Lähn and Wängle to Bichlbach. Shortly before the village, the fenced-in animal and play park is bypassed on the right and uphill, then the path leads down to the footbridge over the Grundbach with a wonderful panoramic view. Through the underpass, you can reach the parish church of St. Laurentius and the guild house opposite, which houses the tourist office and the guild museum. A visit to the impressive parish church is very worthwhile: the frescoes in the flat-vaulted hall room of St. Laurentius are by the Zeiller family of artists from Reutten. Most important in terms of art history is the late baroque pulpit (1774) by the Hindelang sculptor Johann Richard Eberhard. In addition to a plague chapel there is also the guild church of St. Joseph, built by the brotherhood of bricklayers and carpenters founded in 1694. It is the only guild church in Austria. The Jakobswegroute to Berwang begins below the guild church and finally leads along the cycle and hiking path on the left of the L21 Berwang-Namlos country road, slightly ascending towards Berwang. Following the signpost, you will reach the idyllically situated hamlet valley and up to Berwang, the highest village in the Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena. The Church of St. James (early 15th century) stands in the upper village on the road to Rinnen and Namlos. Due to the Church of St. James and the location of the village on the sunny slope with a magnificent panoramic view, Berwang is one of the highlights of the entire route as a stage destination. The large parish church has a high altar with carved relief of the Last Supper and two neo-Gothic towers - a masterpiece from 1945 by the Tyrolean sculptor Johannes Obleitner from Reith near Seefeld. James the Elder is the second figure to the left of Jesus in the middle of the relief, James the Younger the second figure to the right. The turrets frame the middle church window with the image of St. James. The pilgrim's stamp is located at the entrance. In front of the church, against a beautiful mountain backdrop, stands the octagonal Jacob's Fountain with its expressive bronze statue and the eight bronze plaques on the edge of the basin about Berwang's history. Stamped at the tourist office.