Laas: Marble, Churches and Apricots
Accommodation in Laas
A trip to Laas brings together several themes: marble quarrying, church architecture and the connection between marble and apricots. You can explore these themes through technical history and landscape, architectural details or seasonal offerings. If you are looking for a hotel in Laas, you can start by planning your stay around your interests.
Marble, Technology, Landscape and Culture
The original Laas inclined railway dates back to 1930. It transports up to 18 tonnes of marble from the quarry down to the valley. This means that the local marble tradition encompasses not only the stone itself, but also its journey from the mining area.
The marble quarries of the Jennwand massif lie at an elevation of 1,500 to 2,250 metres and are visible from the valley floor above Laas and Göflan. At the Laas Marble World, information panels explain the history of quarrying and processing. A sculpture park adds works of art to this perspective on marble. Together, the landscape, processing and sculptures reveal different sides of the same subject.
Seasonal tours also explore the marble tradition. In the 2026 seasonal programme, a shuttle takes participants on the Marble Quarry Tour to the machine house; from there, the hike begins, climbing 365 steps to the WeiĂźwasserbruch quarry. In the 2026 seasonal programme, the Marble Experience Tour combines a visit to the Laas Marble World with a tour of the Lasa Marmo plant. Dates and availability may change. Check the details for each offering before making your plans.
Church Architecture and Different Periods
The parish church of St John was built around 1200 on the site of a predecessor church from the Carolingian period. Its altar table is decorated with an early medieval relief depicting the three holy martyrs Sisinius, Alexander and Martyrius. The building and the relief thus point to different periods within the same church: the relief is early medieval, while the church was built around 1200.
The rare Romanesque Church of St Sisinius has a different architectural form. It is a choir-tower church built on the ruins of an earlier building. In a choir-tower church, the tower stands above the choir. The portal is made of solid Laas marble, making local stone a tangible architectural detail of this building as well. Marmorplus offers guided tours of the Church of St Sisinius on request.
Marble and Apricots Throughout the Year
The “Marble & Apricots” cultural festival is held every year in August in Laas, in the Vinschgau Valley. It brings together Laas marble and apricots, offering a different focus from the history of the churches and industry. The exact festival dates vary from year to year, so include the dates that apply to your trip when planning.
The Kandlwaalhof in Laas offers a culinary perspective: visitors can see how vinegar, fruit juices, dried fruit, mustard and Weirouge are made. This puts another area of local production in the spotlight alongside marble. As seasonal packages may change, it is best to check visiting options in advance.
For seasonal tours and events, check the relevant dates; guided tours of St Sisinius are available on request. This lets you plan your search around the themes that matter to you during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Morter, Martell, Schlanders, Burgeis, Kastelbell-Tschars, Latsch, Prad am Stilfserjoch, Schnals.
For the overview of the wider region: Vinschgau Valley.
