Little Tibet – you could not describe the area around the Saldurseen lakes more accurately. The landscape really is reminiscent of the roof of the world: rust-brown rock formations, surrounded by coarse boulders, in between small lakes whose colours vary between milky turquoise and a clear, blackish blue. There is even a mini-Mount Kailash here – the evenly-formed pyramid that is the Spizat mountain (3,038m). Far below lies the lush green Matschertal valley. It gives access to the Weisskugel (3,739m), which, as the second highest peak, is revered by many climbers as the Queen of the Ötztal Alps and no doubt also because of its beautiful snowy cap.

Strict building regulations and a sense of what looks right and elegant create a scene of pleasing unity. Even the modern buildings blend together seamlessly, forming what is, all in all, a harmonious townscape. It’s not a rare sight in the southern Alpine regions: here the parish church is clearly isolated from the rest of the village, standing atop its own little hill. Still further out, the ruins of the famous Obermatsch Castle stand guard over a rugged gorge, which the Matscher Bach stream has carved out of the Adige Valley.

General information

Height above sea level of Matsch (Mazia): 1,584m
Highest point: 3,739m (Weisskugel)
Resident population in Matsch: 451