Völs
Place of Interest
Castle Prösels
Völs
Former seat of the lords of Völs
The charming village of Völs is primarily known for its hay baths, which summer holidaymakers from all over the world have been enjoying by the old rural traditions for over a hundred years. Similar to a sauna, in the hay bath you sweat the toxins out of your body and thereby strengthen the body’s health. The Heubad hotel in the centre of Völs recalls the history of this particular custom. There is relatively little to see in Völs itself. The parish church of the friendly village includes a Romanesque crucifix from the 13th century and a triptych of Narcissus of Bolzano from the 15th century. The parish museum houses some beautiful late-Gothic sculptures.
Castle Prösels
A mighty castle, home of the administrators of the village, has been perched since the Early Middle Ages above the farming village of Völs. They rebuilt the castle later into a magnificent Renaissance castle which features a fireplace with wood beam ceiling, Knight's Hall with a large inside staircase – all decorated with magnificent frescoes or Renaissance panelling. The connected chapel was painted by Hans Leonhard Schaufelein, a master of the Dürer School. The aim of the magnificent reconstruction was to spread the power and the glory of the family of Völs. What remains is a magnificent Renaissance palace which you should see.
The pond of Völs originally served as a carp pond for the lords of Völs. Today it is a popular swimming lake in the Seiser Alm area. Anyone who finds the water too cold can also rent a rowboat and take a little trip around the lake.
Tweet