Heinfels

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Address: Gemeindehaus 86, Austria, Sillian, 9920
Telephone: +43 50 212 300
Price range: [€€]

A Place Steeped in History in Osttirol

Heinfels has about 1,000 residents and is located at an elevation of 1,078 meters above sea level in Osttirol. Heinfels Castle towers slightly above Heinfels, immediately piquing curiosity about Heinfels itself—its history and present-day life. Heinfels Castle is certainly a striking landmark that has played a prominent role in shaping the town’s appearance since the 13th century—though, of course, not in its current form. The view from the castle—down into the valley, up the hillside, and out over the nearby Tyrolean Gailtal—can only be described as breathtaking. Anything else would be an understatement. The history of Heinfels—leading up to the way it looks and has developed as we find it today—is quite eventful. As early as the 6th and 7th centuries, the Slavs and Avars invaded. A certain “Tessenperch” was first mentioned in 1266, referring to Tessenberg, a district of Heinfels. The name Heinfels, in turn, derives—as one might expect—from Heinfels Castle.

Die Burg Heinfels thront auf ihrer Erhebung an einem herrlichen Sommertag.

In 1974, the municipality of Heinfels was established through the merger of the municipalities of Panzendorf and Tessenberg. Heinfels itself lies in a relatively narrow valley, as the Drau River has clearly had a hard time carving out a wider valley here over time. Nevertheless, one never feels cramped or even confined in Heinfels; rather, the surrounding mountains seem to offer a sense of protection. The highest peak in the municipality is the Glinzzipf in the Villgrater Mountains, standing at 2,126 meters. But the Hollbrucker Eck, at 2,573 meters, is also within easy reach.

In addition to the aforementioned, extremely impressive and historic Heinfels Castle, there are several other special sights within the municipal boundaries that tell the story of the town’s past. Various religious buildings can be found here, but a particular gem is the “Punbrugge” road bridge, which bears witness to times gone by. The bridge’s predecessor dates back to 1548; the bridge visible there today was built in 1781 by Swabian carpenters. St. John of Nepomuk adorns the center of this bridge, which, although no longer really used by vehicles today, is definitely worth crossing.

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