Way of St. James, Stage 5: Haldensee – Bad Hindelang

The Tyrol-Allgäu Way of St. James
This Alpine Way of St. James route, which is highly attractive both in terms of scenery and culture, leads away from the major roads over three Alpine passes: the Fern Pass, the Old Gaicht Pass, and the Joch Pass. Along the way, it traverses some of the most attractive hiking and vacation areas in Tyrol and the southern Oberallgäu, following ancient Roman, trade, and pilgrimage routes.
Pilgrims on the Way of St. James can undoubtedly look forward to a particularly impressive route here. All the more so because the route mostly leads through tranquil, rural mountain regions where people have been deeply shaped for centuries by their faith and fear of the forces of nature. As a result, these regions are particularly rich in churches and chapels housing numerous art-historical treasures, often from very different eras. Combined with the magnificent panoramic views, the constantly changing perspectives, and the meditative—though at times strenuous—hiking through these alpine natural landscapes in all kinds of weather, this “camino” becomes an unforgettable journey that engages all the senses, rich in intense experiences, encounters, experiences—and perhaps even new insights about oneself.

Integration into the St. James’ Way network of Austria and Germany
The Tyrol-Allgäu St. James’ Way connects in Stams to the German-Austrian St. James’ Way from Munich along the Isar, Loisach, Leutascher Ache, and the Inn, as well as to the two Austrian St. James’ Ways that converge in Innsbruck: the route from Lofer/Salzburg to Innsbruck and the route from Lienz to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, this combined network of St. James’ Ways continues via Stams to the Arlberg or, from Stams, onto the Tyrol-Allgäu route.

Pilgrim Stamps and Pilgrim Passport
There are stamp stations along the Way of St. James at the St. James chapels and the churches listed in the text. These pilgrim stamps make for lovely mementos in your own pilgrim journal. In the internationally recognized pilgrim passport, they serve as proof that you have completed the route. As an official document, the pilgrim’s passport also allows you to stay overnight in special pilgrim accommodations, though there are still few of these along this route. It is available from the St. James pilgrim associations for a processing fee.

From St. James’ Chapel, keep to the right through the meadows to the parish church of St. Wendelin in Grän (1,138 m), consecrated in 1793 in honor of St. Wendelin, the patron saint of shepherds and livestock. Continue along a narrow road dotted with chapels and wayside shrines to Innergschwend, home to St. Martin’s Chapel (mentioned in 1494), and on to Berg, with its magnificently stuccoed St. Sebastian’s Chapel (1653). A visit to Tannheim is a must, both for the Baroque St. Nicholas Church—the second-largest rural parish church in the Diocese of Innsbruck—and for the charming village itself. St. Nicholas Church surprises visitors with its imposing altars and ceiling frescoes, as well as its valuable, complete set of bells—over 450 years old—from the famous Löffler bell foundry in Innsbruck. The best route for the round trip is downhill along a quiet little road to the underpass at the parking lot at the entrance to Tannheim. From there, take the enchanting panoramic trail via Untergschwend to the St. Leonhard Plague Chapel in Kienzen, then on to Zöblen, Fricken, and Kappl. Cross the Vils Bridge to reach the Schattwald department store Lutz, located on the federal highway leading to Oberjoch. Beyond that, a small road branches off to the right from the pass road toward Steig, Unterjoch/Krummenbach. Stay to the left on this road until you reach the fork with a wayside cross and a bench in front of a farm. Follow the signs for “Jakobsweg/Alte Salzstraße” and head briefly uphill on a steep path to Federal Highway 308, which you cross to reach the hiking trail to Oberjoch (1,145 m), the highest-elevation district of Bad Hindelang. Passing the old border station (with a rest area) above, the trail leads directly to Oberjoch at the Joch Pass. Along the way, at a rest area, there is a large commemorative stone marking the Roman Road (scientifically disproven), the Old Salt Road, and the Way of St. James. Below the Catholic parish church of Heilig Geist (1968/69), on the pass road, stands the Chapel of St. Jakob (stamp station) (1732), featuring a stamp station and a beautiful ceiling fresco depicting pilgrims at a well. The Way of St. James leads from the information point at the Joch Pass initially toward Untere Ochsenalpe, then branches off to the right into the forest toward the Wildbachtobel, and descends steeply through the meadows with magnificent views. On the Old Joch Pass Trail, you reach the first houses of Bad Oberdorf; from there, after crossing the main road, you arrive directly at the parish church of Bad Oberdorf, St. Jodokus. Built in 1938, the church is widely known for its art treasures, such as the Palm Sunday Donkey (c. 1470), the painting of the Virgin Mary by Hans Holbein the Elder, and the altar by Jörg Lederer.

Felixé Mina's House, Local History Museum, Vilsalpsee in Tannheim. St. Wolfgang Parish Church (stamp station) in Schattwald. Moor Bath and Inn at Alpe Kematsried in Oberjoch. Upper Mill in Bad Oberdorf.