For the future

No one wishes for a major construction site in the town center during peak season – neither guests, locals, nor tourism businesses. Yet this is the reality in Seefeld in the summer of 2026. The renovation of the parish church and the reconstruction of the Hotel Klosterbräu require endurance, patience, and understanding. But the solidarity in the plateau community is great, and everyone agrees: The most important thing is to preserve the cultural heritage of the place, to reopen the Klosterbräu as soon as possible, and for the Seefeld pedestrian zone to remain the jewel of the region.

The Seefeld pedestrian zone is the heart of the town and, in a way, the entire region. It is where people meet to stroll, celebrate, shop, and enjoy. Even in the summer of 2026, it will again attract many guests and delight them with its numerous events. However, this year, there will also be construction dust and noise. The reason for this: the long-planned renovation of the parish church of St. Oswald, which laid the foundation for tourism on Tyrol's high plateau with its pilgrimage, as well as the reconstruction of the adjacent Hotel Klosterbräu, which was severely damaged by a major fire in April.

The parish church of St. Oswald is the central point of Seefeld, an important cultural monument, and continues to attract pilgrims, believers, as well as art and culture enthusiasts. In the small predecessor church of today's Gothic building, the Seefeld Host Miracle occurred on Maundy Thursday in 1384, as recorded in contemporary reports. The boastful knight and lawyer Oswald Milser demanded the large host from the priest. When it touched his tongue, he sank into the church floor, and the host, which the priest quickly retrieved from his mouth, turned blood red. Milser repented his act and retreated as a penitent into a monastery. However, the sovereigns, Friedrich with the empty purse and Sigismund the Rich in Coins, and after them Emperor Maximilian I, took advantage of the spreading tale of the host miracle. The host had been preserved in a monstrance and showed bite and blood marks. In its honor, a new, larger parish church was built in two phases around the old altar, and a pilgrimage was established. This proved so successful that the church became a splendid building, a monastery and inn were created, laying the foundation for tourism. "The construction of the church (1432 – 1474) is part of the birth of Seefeld as a well-known and significant place," says Mayor Andrea Neuner. "Its preservation is a priority, not only as a pilgrimage site but also and especially as cultural heritage."

The Gothic structure is of immeasurable value. "Ancient cornice drawings by craftsmen, red chalk drawings of pilgrims, original Gothic window remnants and support iron, as well as elaborate stone craftsmanship are just a part of the special features," explain construction manager Ernst Ragg and diocesan conservator a.D. Rudi Silberberger. Erich Reichl, who has restored many significant churches in Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Tyrol as a stonemason, admits that he nearly cried at the sight of the portal: "The architecture and details resemble those of the great cathedrals and are definitely not to be expected in a Tyrolean town." The Viennese glass restorer Martin Bucher even speaks of a 'once-in-a-lifetime moment': "During the examination, we discovered previously undocumented fragments of Gothic stained glass. Such a thing is truly unique." These treasures now need to be preserved and conserved for as long as possible. The wish and necessity for renovation became apparent in 2019. For a year, Ragg, Silberberger, Stefan Graf from the Federal Monuments Office, Pastor Mateusz Kierzkowski, and Anton Mangweth from the Diocese of Innsbruck have been in concrete planning. The work began on the Tuesday after Easter.

The great challenge is to avoid making large interventions as seen in prior renovations, but rather "to stabilize the substance and harmonize all elements," explains Reichl. The pendulum in restoration has swung over the past decades from maximal, often chemical interventions in the 1980s back to a restrained, age-appropriate renovation. "The traces of centuries should remain visible," explains Graf. "The church should approach its original appearance again," adds Kierzkowski. Thus, all the crafts involved in the renovation try to remain within the system: to work on a historical building using historical techniques. "These have proven themselves over centuries," says Sebastian Öfner from Polling, who, along with his father Thomas, restores the plaster on the exterior façade, maintains it, and takes care of the "coloring of the blank areas." The two use pure natural materials and no chemicals: "Masonry sand, marsh lime, and earth color pigments – truly sustainable and proven for centuries." Even the windows are worked on only minimally invasively. "We try to do as much as possible on-site – gluing glass breaks, re-forming lead rods," explains glass restorer Bucher. Only if absolutely necessary will glass panels be removed and worked on in the Wiener Werkstätte. Nevertheless, a few modern elements are also part of the renovation of the parish church, explains Kierzkowski: "A new, secure access to the main portal will be created, as well as outdoor lighting that highlights the renovated façade." Furthermore, the roof structure will be statically secured.

In order to complete all renovation work before winter, the municipality has lifted the summer construction ban in the town center. "We understand that this is not pleasant for everyone," says Öfner. "But our plaster needs to be kept at double-digit temperatures for eight weeks after completion to hold. That will simply be difficult in the fall at 1,200 meters high." The Hotel Klosterbräu also received a special permit to continue building during the summer months. "We are very grateful for this and are trying to minimize the construction sites as much as possible, mainly working from our garden side," explains Alois Seyrling. "For us, it was not a question at all," emphasizes Mayor Neuner on the decisions made by the municipal council. "The worst thing would be if the town center falls into decay or looks bad in the long term." Additionally, one must consider that trade, the municipality, and the tourism association are experiencing significant losses due to the closure of Klosterbräu. The reconstruction of the five-star hotel and the preservation of the church are important for the entire region. "They are two of the key elements of the pedestrian zone," confirms Jürgen Armbruster, a jeweler and treasurer of the Seefeld merchants' association. "Therefore, we are happy to accept the compromise that this summer requires." Philipp Haid from the traditional shoe store Peter Schuhe admits, like other merchants, that he already misses some of his regular customers due to the current closure of the Hotel Klosterbräu: "We will definitely have losses, which is why it is so important for the hotel to reopen quickly. We are all willing to help with that."

Understanding, mutual consideration, and the anticipation of the future's brilliance make it easy to bear the disruptive factors of this summer. In addition to the two major construction sites in Seefeld, work is also ongoing in 2026 in other areas on Tyrol's high plateau to offer our guests even more in the future. The Alpine Resort Sacher is expanding its offering with the Sacher Event Chalet, an exclusive, freestanding location for events and gatherings in the hotel's own park. The Krumers Alpin Resort renewed and enlarged its spa area in the spring, and the exterior facade and all rooms are being renovated. In Leutasch, the Quellenhof is creating a new branch with the QLodge, and the Hotel Kristall has been expanded to four floors since Easter. At the Birkenlift, the Seefeld Village is being developed along with a campsite, and in Scharnitz, the facade of the parish church is also undergoing age-appropriate restoration.

And let's not forget – in front of the Seefeld Sports and Congress Center, the large playground Seekirchl has been delighting visitors since July, featuring a playground, multi-sport court, padel courts, zip line, and slackline facility.

Guests and locals can look forward to much that is new. Those who wish to contribute as well are warmly invited to support the church renovations with a donation. More about this here