The Four Churches Trail leads through the diverse natural and cultural landscape of the Pustertal plateau of the central mountain range.
The Four Churches Trail around Pfalzen combines culture, history and nature in a particularly charming way. This varied themed walk leads through the distinctive cultural landscape of the Puster Valley and focuses on four remarkable religious buildings that reflect different eras and architectural styles.
Among the cultural highlights is St Valentine’s Church, which, with its late-Gothic architecture, ranks among the region’s special gems. In Pfalzen, the parish church of St Cyriacus and the Holy Family is particularly impressive, its interior decoration closely linked to the history of the church’s patron saint. St Nicholas’ Church in Issing surprises visitors with its fascinating interplay of a Gothic exterior and Baroque elements inside. The walk concludes on a atmospheric note at the church in Hasenried, dedicated to St John the Baptist. The village was once a much-visited place of pilgrimage, as the spring water there was believed to possess special healing powers.
As well as its artistic and cultural-historical highlights, the walk offers a wealth of scenic views. Meadows, woods and rural hamlets provide plenty of variety and constantly invite you to stop and take in the views. The Four Churches Trail is therefore ideal for anyone wishing to combine a longer walk with regional history, sacred art and the experience of nature. It impressively illustrates just how closely the landscape, faith and rural culture are intertwined in the Puster Valley.
