Sand in Taufers
Place of Interest
Castle Taufers
Sand in Taufers
Trade centre in the Tauferer Valley
Right in the centre of Sand in Taufers there is the natural reserve house Rieserferner-Ahrn which presents the natural reserve and the parish museum, the latter of which has an interesting exhibit of the sacred art of the churches in the 60s and 70s. There are two other landmarks worth seeing in Sand in Taufers: First, the residence Ansitz Neumelans, with its hipped roof and the side bay windows, is perched above the second noteworthy landmark, namely, the mighty castle Taufers. This combination is topped off with the magnificent scenery of the Austrian Alps in the background.
The mighty Taufers castle, with its high keep, dates from the 13th century and was the home of the Taufer family, whose power was comparable to that of the counts of Tyrol. The fortified castle, with its dining room, court room, armoury and the library, is open to visitors. The Romanesque chapel is a highlight where you can discover masterpieces by Michael Pacher.
Other destinations in the Tauferer Ahrntal Valley
The area around Sand in Taufers and the Tauferer and Ahrntal Valley offers many possibilities for excursions and sports. In Taufers the late-Gothic parish church is worth a short visit. Nature lovers can walk around in the Rieserferner-Ahrn natural reserve. In winter the Speikboden ski area attracts many skiers. Other noteworthy sights include the mineral museum in St. Johann in Ahrn and the Mining Museum in Steinhaus. If you are interested in the history of mining in the valley, there’s an informative “showmine” in the South Tyrol Museum of Mining in Prettau. There you can go down into the disused copper mine in a mine car.
Kasern is the end of the valley. The old trading route no longer exists and the road ends at this point. There is only a forest and hiking trail which leads from here to the Kehreralm. Behind this mountain pasture lies the Austrian Hohe Tauern National Park.
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