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Schwaz

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City
PlizioGo—°21812
Schwaz (Austria)
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Practical info — Schwaz

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Bring a warm jacket for the silver mine tour (Silberbergwerk), as it stays at 12°C inside year-round.
  • Take the short walk up to Castle Freundsberg for great views of the Inn Valley.
  • In the historic center, look out for the Fuggerhaus and the parish church's unique roof.
  • The VVT bus network connects Schwaz well with surrounding Tyrolean villages if you plan to hike.

🍽 Food

🍽
Tiroler Gröstl

A hearty pan dish found in traditional inns around the old town.

🍽
Tiroler Speck

Famous Tyrolean bacon available at local butchers.

🍽
Kaspressknödel

Cheese dumplings often served in soup at mountain huts and rustic taverns.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Franz-Josef-Straße

The historic street features welcoming local boutiques.

🛍
Farmers Market

Look out for fresh Tyrolean cheeses and local honey.

🧘
Mathoi-Garten

A beautiful quiet garden oasis located near the town center.

🧘
Lahnbach promenade

A pleasant path along the stream flowing through the town.

🧘
Kellerjoch

Take the cable car up for incredibly peaceful alpine views.

Highlights of 2026

2

Schwaz, also known as the 'Silver City', is located in the Tyrolean Inn Valley and was the second-largest settlement in the Habsburg Empire after Vienna during the late Middle Ages. The city owed its immense significance to silver and copper mining, which reached its zenith in the 15th and 16th centuries, establishing Schwaz as the center of the mining world at that time. The Fugger family from Augsburg controlled large portions of the trade, bringing unprecedented wealth to the city, which is still reflected in its magnificent architecture today. A standout example is the parish church of Maria Himmelfahrt, the largest hall church in Tyrol, featuring a roof covered with over 15,000 copper plates. Other notable sights include Freundsberg Castle, which overlooks the city, and the silver show mine, where visitors can learn about the arduous underground work of the miners. Despite the decline of mining in the 19th century, Schwaz remained an important administrative and cultural center. The city was granted city rights in 1899 by Emperor Franz Joseph I and is today a modern district capital.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C-4-316101415151172-3
Rain mm83658184149175172185119917074

Live webcam – Schwaz

See what it looks like near Schwaz right now.

Stadt Schwaz: Schwaz, Silberregion Karwendel - Silberstadt Schwaz, Eiblschrofen & Pfarrkirche Maria Himmelfahrt · 0.2 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com

Geography

Population
13,728
Coordinates
47.34860, 11.70890

Facts

  • Around 1500, Schwaz was the center of European silver mining.
  • The parish church is the only church in Tyrol featuring two equal main naves.
  • The roof of the parish church consists of 15,000 copper plates made from locally mined copper.
  • In the 15th century, approximately 85% of the world's silver originated from Schwaz.
  • Freundsberg Castle was built in the 12th century as the ancestral seat of the Knights of Freundsberg.
  • Schwaz was officially elevated to the status of a city on April 28, 1899.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Schwaz (18)

Rabalderhaus🏛 museum

Rabalderhaus is a local history museum in Schwaz, housed in a historic building.

Schloss Sigmundslust🏰 castle

A historic castle building in the silver city of Schwaz.

Schloss Freundsberg🏰 castle

A medieval castle and the landmark of the city of Schwaz.

Benediktinerabtei🏛 museum

A museum located within the premises of the Benedictine Abbey in Schwaz.

🆓

Gleis 4 - Theater am Zug🎭 culture

A theatre at the Schwaz railway station for modern productions.

Eiblschrofen🌿 nature

A mountain peak near Schwaz, known for a major rockfall.

Silberbergwerk Schwaz📍 landmark

A historic mine in Schwaz, now serving as a visitor mine.

Wolfsklamm📍 landmark

An impressive gorge with hiking trails and waterfalls near Schwaz.

Die "Schöne Aussicht"🌿 nature

A panoramic point with a beautiful view of the Alps and the valley.

Weihnachtshaus Vomp📍 landmark

The Christmas House Vomp is a year-round house with Christmas decorations and traditions.

Pölzbühne🏺 historical

A stage for cultural events in the town hall area of Schwaz.

Stadtgemeinde Schwaz🏺 historical

The town hall of Schwaz serves as the administrative center for the Tyrolean district capital.

🕒 Mo 08:00-12:00,14:00-17:00; Th-Fr 08:00-12:00

Edenhofkapelle⛪ religious

Edenhofkapelle is a chapel in Schwaz, part of the Edenhof estate.

Barbarakirche⛪ religious

Barbarakirche is a church in Schwaz dedicated to St. Barbara, patron of miners.

Kreuzkirchl⛪ religious

Kreuzkirchl is a small chapel in Pill near Schwaz.

Tirolland👨‍👩‍👧 family

Tirolland in Schwaz has various attractions and entertainment for the whole family.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Schwaz so significant in the Middle Ages?
Schwaz was the 'silver metropolis' of the world and the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna.
Which sight is a must-see?
The Schwaz Silver Mine gives an exciting journey into the underground world of the miners.
What is the landmark in the center?
The parish church of Maria Himmelfahrt, the largest Gothic hall church in Tyrol.
Which castle stands above Schwaz?
Freundsberg Castle with its striking tower and the city museum.
What can you do on the banks of the Inn?
Enjoy nice walks or use the Inntal cycle path for longer tours.
Schwaz: where is it located?
Schwaz is located in Tyrol, Austria.
Schwaz: what is there to see?
Highlights include Rabalderhaus, Schloss Sigmundslust, Museum der Völker.
Schwaz: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul, Sep.
Schwaz: why is it worth visiting?
Schwaz, also known as the 'Silver City', is located in the Tyrolean Inn Valley and was the second-largest settlement in the Habsburg Empire after Vienna during the late Middle Ages.
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