Sautens: Toboggan Run, Culture and Outdoor Experiences

Churches, Art and Architectural History

The first Sautner Oswald Church dates back to 1517. The Sautner parish church is also associated with a historical tribute: several historians described it as one of the most beautiful village churches in the Tyrol region. This attributed assessment offers a glimpse into how the church was regarded in regional cultural history. The specific construction date of the Oswald Church and the recorded tribute to the parish church offer different ways to explore Sautens’ church history.

The biography of Matthias Bernhard Braun also connects Sautens with a broader history of art. Braun was born in Sautens in 1684 and became one of the most important Baroque sculptors of his time in Prague. His birthplace is thus a starting point for his biography, while his artistic significance is rooted in Prague. Together with the churches, this story of an individual adds a biographical perspective to architectural history—an interesting aspect for travellers who want to explore culture through more than just buildings.

The Sautner swimming pool and leisure centre adds the architectural history of the 20th century to this perspective. In an assessment published in January 2023, the Ötztal Museums count it among Austria’s few authentically preserved swimming pool buildings from the 1970s. This description draws attention to the preservation of the building and its place in the leisure architecture of that decade. Alongside church history and an artist’s biography, a more recent period of construction is also represented in the village’s architectural landscape.

The Kalkofen adventure centre was created in 2004 through the collaboration of mountain rescue, the fire brigade, the Sautens municipality and many volunteers. Its history differs from the construction date of a church: it highlights the joint efforts of the groups involved and links the centre to a specific year. Thus, both older architectural history and a community-created project are among Sautens’ cultural points of reference.

Outdoor Activities with Different Focuses

The Ötztal Outdoor Course in Sautens combines a high ropes course with a forest ropes course. Several ziplines cross the Ötztaler Ache and are up to 200 metres long. This figure indicates the maximum length, not the length of every individual zipline. The two course elements and the river crossing can therefore be understood as different parts of the same offering.

The Rammelstein climbing garden was completely renovated in 2007. While the Ötztal Outdoor Course focuses on the combination of a high ropes course, a forest ropes course and ziplines, the specific historical reference for Rammelstein is its renovation. This makes it possible to distinguish between the two climbing attractions based on the features described for each.

The Zauberwald Sautens route offers a different way to enjoy the outdoors. It leads to the “3-Kirchen-Blick” platform, from which the churches of Sautens, Oetz and Oetzerau can be seen. A little farther along the route is a forest playground. In contrast to the rope course, the focus here is on the views along a path; the playground is another landmark along the route.

Tobogganing in Winter

The toboggan run adds a winter activity to the cultural and outdoor themes described above. Since its winter operating conditions may vary, check them before your visit if you are planning to go tobogganing. The stated length helps give an idea of the run, but does not determine whether it is operating.

Discover more destinations: Rietz, Haiming, Sankt Leonhard Im Pitztal, Jerzens, Mötz, Umhausen, Ski accommodation in Längenfeld, Ski accommodation in Imsterberg.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Imst District.