Völs is a market town with 6938 inhabitants (as of January 1,
2020) in the state of Tyrol in Austria. The municipality is located
in the judicial district of Innsbruck.
Fiè lies at 574 m
above sea level in the Inn Valley and borders Innsbruck to the west.
Fiè has an area of 5.62 km².
Völs is connected to the state
capital via the S-Bahn Tirol / S-Bahn Tirol line of the S-Bahn
Tirol.
Parish Church of Fiè
The Roman Catholic parish church of Fiè is in the market town of Fiè
in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the state of Tyrol. The parish
church, which is subordinate to the patron saint of Jesus Christ in
Emmaus, belongs to the deanery of Wilten-Land in the diocese of
Innsbruck. The church is under monument protection (list entry).
History
The church was built between 1965 and 1967 according to the
plans of the architect Josef Lackner.
Architecture
The church
with a square floor plan was built in plastered concrete and wood. The
building is divided into various levels by sloping surfaces and has a
crown-like finish with pointed corners drawn upwards and a roof hanging
inwards.
Furnishings
There is a picture of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus from the end of the 18th century. The crucifix originated in the
19th century.
Cross church
The Kreuzkirche is the Evangelical Lutheran church of Völs in the
Innsbruck-Land district of Tyrol. She belongs to the Evangelical
Superintendency AB Salzburg and Tyrol.
History
The Völser
Kreuzkirche was built in 1958 as a preaching station of the Christkirche
Innsbruck for the mostly Protestant refugees from former German-speaking
areas of Eastern Europe who had settled in the Völser Friedenssiedlung.
The church building, designed by Albert Andergassen, was inaugurated on
October 11, 1959.
Architecture
The Kreuzkirche is a simple,
brick, elongated building with a raised gable wall. The asymmetrical
facade with a bell-holder on the side and the eponymous, free-standing,
ten-meter-high cross made of reinforced concrete is dominated by the
sgraffito Jesus and the sinking Peter on the Sea of Galilee by Heinz
Scheffler, created in 1959, which shows the sinking Peter and the
inscription "Do not be afraid, only believe!" (Matthew 14.31 EU). In the
east, a flat-roofed extension with a community room and a small
apartment was added in 1975. The sgraffito on the east facade of the
extension with fish was created in 2002 by Heinz Scheffler.
The
church interior of the hall church, which is lit from the side through
narrow rectangular windows, is closed off by a gently sloping concrete
rafter roof. The altar area, raised by two steps according to the
specifications of the Rummelsberger program, contains a plastic
representation of the risen Christ in front of the cross. The psalm word
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for he works miracles!" (Psalm 98 EU) is
attached above the organ standing on the side.
Prehistoric and Ancient Settlement
The area around Völs shows
evidence of human activity dating back thousands of years. Key
archaeological finds include:
A polished stone axe from the third
millennium BC (Neolithic period) — one of the oldest artifacts.
Bronze Age cremation cemetery remains.
Roman-era coins and other
items, including a notable small bust of Bacchus (the "Völser Bacchus"),
the Roman god of wine and festivity.
These discoveries indicate
continuous settlement influenced by the region's strategic location
along trade routes in the Inn Valley. The Thurnfels Museum (housed in
the town hall) displays these artifacts, providing a tangible link to
Völs' deep past.
Medieval Period and First Documentary Mention
Völs entered written records in 1188, marking its formal establishment
as a settlement. By the 13th century, it had developed a religious and
communal identity. The Parish Church of St. Blasius (or St. Blaise) was
first mentioned around 1286. It became a popular pilgrimage site in the
15th century and later received Baroque interior renovations in the 18th
century. The church remains a central landmark, restored in the 1980s.
Medieval Völs was part of the broader Tyrolean feudal landscape under
the County of Tyrol (later integrated into the Habsburg domains). St.
Blasius Hill was the site of an aristocratic residence as early as
around 500 BC, underscoring long-term elite presence.
Early
Modern Period and Infrastructure
In the 15th century, locals created
the Völser See (Völs Lake or Völser Teich/Weiher), an artificial lake
that still serves as a popular recreational area today. This engineering
effort reflects the community's management of local resources for
practical and leisure use.
Völs remained a relatively small
agricultural and village community for centuries. Its proximity to
Innsbruck influenced its development, but it retained a distinct rural
character until modern times. Historical fountains (e.g., Gänseliesl
Fountain, Frog Fountain) and chapels, such as the St. Joseph Chapel, add
to its cultural fabric.
19th–20th Century: Growth and
Modernization
Population data shows slow growth through the 19th
century, followed by rapid expansion in the 20th:
Late 1800s–early
1900s: Population hovered in the low hundreds.
Post-WWI and
especially after WWII: Significant increases (e.g., from ~1,000 in 1951
to over 5,900 by 1981), driven by suburbanization, improved connectivity
to Innsbruck, and economic opportunities.
The development of
infrastructure, including connections via the suburban railway (making
Innsbruck accessible in minutes), transformed Völs into a convenient
residential and commercial area. It serves as a shopping and storage hub
for the wider Innsbruck region, with facilities like the CYTA shopping
center.
In the 20th century, Völs expanded its recreational
offerings. The Völser Badl outdoor swimming pool became a summer
hotspot, and sports facilities (soccer fields, athletics track, beach
volleyball) host events like the historic Blasius Cup junior soccer
tournament (one of Tyrol's oldest). In winter, these areas often convert
for ice skating.
Contemporary Völs and Cultural Heritage
Today, Völs blends historical charm with modern amenities. It is
governed as a market town (with a mayor from the SPÖ as of recent
records) and emphasizes quality of life through parks, lakes, sports,
and proximity to the Alps. The parish church, archaeological museum, and
traditional Tyrolean architecture preserve its heritage amid suburban
growth.
Völs has not been a major site of large-scale historical
battles or political upheavals (unlike some Tyrolean strongholds), but
its story exemplifies the steady evolution of Inn Valley
communities—from prehistoric settlements and medieval pilgrimages to a
thriving modern suburb within Austria's dynamic Tyrolean region. Its
history is deeply intertwined with Innsbruck's, sharing in the broader
Habsburg, regional, and post-WWII Austrian narratives.
Location and Coordinates
Geographic coordinates: Approximately
47°15′N 11°20′E (or more precisely around 47.251°N, 11.329°E).
Elevation: 574 m (1,883 ft) above sea level.
Area: Small at 5.62 km²
(about 2.17 sq mi).
It borders Innsbruck to the east and lies in the
broad Inn Valley (Inntal), a major east-west Alpine valley carved by the
Inn River.
Völs occupies a strategic position in the lower Inn
Valley, where the terrain transitions from the flatter valley floor to
the rising slopes of the surrounding Alps. Its proximity to Innsbruck
(reachable quickly by suburban railway) and the Innsbruck Airport area
makes it convenient yet nestled in a greener, more open setting.
Terrain and Topography
Völs lies in the Eastern Alps, specifically
within the Northern Limestone Alps (Nördliche Kalkalpen) influence zone,
though the immediate area around the Inn Valley features a mix of valley
floor, gentle slopes, and steeper mountain flanks.
The town sits
on relatively flat to gently undulating terrain in the Inn Valley
bottom, which is part of the broader Alpine foreland and valley system.
This allows for settlement, agriculture, recreation, and infrastructure.
To the north and south, the landscape rises sharply into the Karwendel
and other Limestone Alps ranges (north) and the Stubai Alps or related
groups (south). The Inn Valley here is a classic U-shaped glacial
valley, widened by past ice ages, with steep sides and a relatively
broad floor.
Local relief includes low hills and the area around
Völser See (an artificial lake created in the 15th century, now a
recreational area west of the village).
The small size of the
municipality means much of the land is developed or used for settlement,
recreation, and some agriculture/forestry, with green spaces blending
into the urban edge of Innsbruck. Nearby features include forests,
meadows, and paths leading into higher Alpine terrain.
The
broader Tyrolean context features dramatic contrasts: high Central Alps
(with peaks over 3,000–3,700 m nearby, such as in the Stubai or Ötztal
groups), limestone massifs, and deep valleys. Völs itself is at a lower,
more habitable elevation in the valley.
Hydrology and Water
Features
The Inn River flows through the valley nearby (to the
north/east of Völs), serving as the main drainage artery of the region.
It originates in Switzerland and eventually joins the Danube.
Völser
See (Lake Völs): A key local feature, artificially created centuries ago
for practical purposes and now a popular recreational lake for swimming,
relaxation, and scenery. It adds a water element to the otherwise
valley-floor landscape.
Smaller streams and tributaries from the
surrounding mountains feed into the Inn system, contributing to the
fertile valley soils and scenic beauty.
Climate
Völs has a
typical Alpine valley climate (often classified as humid continental or
oceanic-influenced with Alpine characteristics, Dfb/Cfb). Key traits
include:
Moderate valley floor temperatures: Milder than higher
elevations, with cool winters (snow possible but less extreme than in
the high Alps) and warm summers.
Föhn wind influence: Common in the
Inn Valley — warm, dry downslope winds from the south that can cause
rapid temperature spikes and clear skies.
Precipitation: Higher than
lowland Austria due to orographic lift from the Alps; rain or snow is
frequent, supporting lush vegetation.
Sunshine and seasons: Good
exposure in the valley, but shadowed by mountains at certain times.
Winters bring snow for nearby skiing; summers are pleasant for hiking
and outdoor activities.
Cold-air pooling can occur in the valley
during calm nights, affecting local microclimates.
Surrounding
Landscape and Ecology
Immediate surroundings: Mix of settlement,
gardens, sports fields (including the Völser Badl outdoor pool),
forests, and meadows. The area transitions quickly into Alpine foothills
with hiking trails, forests, and pastures.
Broader views: From Völs
and nearby spots, one sees the towering peaks of the Tyrolean Alps,
including limestone cliffs and forested slopes. The region is part of
the dramatic Alpine landscape shaped by glaciation, tectonics, and
erosion.
Vegetation: Valley floor supports deciduous trees, meadows,
and some agriculture; higher slopes feature coniferous forests
transitioning to alpine meadows and rocky terrain.
Biodiversity:
Typical Alpine flora and fauna, with opportunities for observing
wildlife in the transition zones between valley and mountains. The area
benefits from Tyrol’s extensive nature parks and protected zones nearby.