Heart of Mittenwald Preview

Before we start...

Don’t forget to enable notifications, so that you don’t miss any key highlights during the tour.

The Matthias Klotz Monument

Matthias Klotz was a renowned violin maker from Mittenwald, Germany, who played a pivotal role in shaping the town's violin making legacy. Born in 1653, Klotz is considered one of the founding figures of the Mittenwald violin making tradition.

Ballenhausgasse

This painting is all about market stories! This is no sacred sermon, but a lively snapshot of the old Bozener Markt, showing wagons rolling in and traders at work—just as it happened from 1487 to 1679. And it’s not centuries old fresco—it’s modern heritage. Painted in 1976 by the talented local duo Sebastian and Stephan Pfeffer, it uses the classic Lüftlmalerei method on fresh plaster, connecting past and present. It’s a celebration of commerce, community and craft—a modern homage to the days when wagons and wood shaped our town.

The Mittenwald Violin Museum

The Geigenbaumuseum, or Violin Making Museum, was established in 1930 and, since 1960, has been located in one of Mittenwald’s oldest and most charming historic buildings. Its exhibits trace over 300 years of violin-making tradition, showcasing not only the evolution of the craft but also its deep connection to the life and history of the local community.*Tickets are required separately at the museum entrance.

Flößer

Sponsor: The statue was donated by businessman Otto‑Ernst Holthaus from Wolfratshausen, in partnership with Mittenwald, as a gift to his adopted hometown. Artist: Created by sculptor Barbara Hoyer from Grünwald. Her bronze sculpture is an exact cast of her 2009 work in Wolfratshausen; the Mittenwald version was unveiled in May 2014. Inauguration: Revealed on 9 May 2014 at Fritz-Prölß-Platz, the ceremony featured both Mittenwald and Grünwald mayors, the donor and the artist.

St. Nikolaus Chapel

Violin Making School

The violin-making school in Mittenwald, known as Staatliche Berufsfachschule für Geigenbau und Zupfinstrumentenmacher, was founded in 1858. This prestigious school continues the town's rich tradition of violin-making that dates back to the 17th century.The school offers specialized training in the construction of violins, violas, cellos, and other string instruments. Students from around the world come to Mittenwald to learn the craft under experienced masters. The curriculum includes both the practical skills needed to construct string instruments and the theoretical knowledge necessary to understand acoustics, materials, and design principles.Graduates from the school often go on to become esteemed luthiers, continuing the craft in workshops around the world or returning to Mittenwald to contribute to the local tradition.

Im Gries

The Violin Sculpture

The violin tree in Mittenwald is a symbol of the masterful instrument making in the city.Only a very few trees from select regions are considered for the perfect instrument body. The spruce wood must be long-fibered and uniform. This characteristic is only found in slow-growing trunks from the high mountains, felled in winter. The secret of the exact location of suitable trees is still jealously guarded today, and smuggling instrument wood is a criminal offense.

Parish church of St. Peter and Paul

The origins of Mittenwald’s church trace back to 1315, when a predecessor stood on this site. The current late-Baroque hall church was designed and constructed between 1738 and 1740 by the Wessobrunner master builder Joseph Schmuzer; its prominent south tower, richly painted with Saints Peter and Paul, was completed in 1746 and consecrated on 23 June 1749.Today, the church remains a protected historic monument under the Diocese of Munich and Freising, and continues to serve as both a place of worship and a cultural treasure of the Werdenfels region.

Goethe in Mittenwald

On September 7, 1786, Goethe stayed overnight in this house during his “Italian Journey.” Describing the alpine town of Mittenwald as “lebendes Bilderbuch” – a living picture-book, he wrote in his diary:“Mittenwald … mein Schutzgeist sagt Amen … so schönen Tage hierher geführt” ["Mittenwald … my guardian spirit says Amen … such beautiful days brought me here"]

Pilgerhaus

Built around 1485 by Johannes Schwalb to accommodate pilgrims, the Pilgrim's House has a neo-baroque stucco decoration and a house chapel. The house has a narrow church facade, a bell tower and medallions of Saint Mary, Joseph, Peter and Paul. On the second floor of the historic building there is a baroque chapel.The first Lutheran in Mittenwald was the reformer Martin Luther himself. In 1511, Luther came from the Brenner through Mittenwald and spent the night in the local pilgrim's house. He paid for his accommodation with a prayer and a foot wash.

Obermarkt

The Obermarkt in Mittenwald was officially converted into a pedestrian zone on 20 December 1991, closing the historic street to cars between 10 AM and 10 PM. This transformation was championed by then Mayor Hans Neuner, who served from 1984 to 1996 and advocated for a traffic-calmed town centre, inspired by similar projects in neighboring communities . The redesign also included the installation of a charming central stream (Marktbach) and benches, enhancing the street’s appeal as a pedestrian meeting place.

The Angel's Axe (Part I)

Once upon a time in Mittenwald, there lived a devoted luthier.One day, angels descended—not with a harp, but with an axe.Why? That is the mystery you’re about to uncover.Watch as this wall painting comes to life through augmented reality, revealing fragments of a hidden tale. With each stop on our journey, another piece of the puzzle will fall into place—until the full story of The Angel’s Axe is yours.So keep your phone ready, your eyes open, and your curiosity sharper than the angel’s blade.