Art in Klausen

Klausen in South Tyrol is known as an artists’ town in the Eisack Valley. Its medieval old town, narrow lanes, historic townhouses, small squares and the view up to Säben Monastery have inspired artists for centuries. To this day, this special connection between townscape, history and creativity shapes the cultural life of Klausen.

Art in Klausen is not limited to museums or traditional exhibitions. It also appears in public spaces: in shop windows, vacant buildings, lanes and squares. Throughout the year, various art projects invite visitors to experience Klausen as an artists’ town from new perspectives. A walk through the old town becomes a small journey of discovery between medieval architecture, contemporary art and a vibrant urban culture.

From Dürer to the artists’ colony

Klausen’s art history did not begin with a planned art project, but with a view. In autumn 1494, the young Albrecht Dürer stopped in Klausen on his journey to Italy. From the Tschanberg above the Eisack River, he sketched the town with its houses, towers and the hill of Säben. The original drawing has been lost, but the motif lives on: it was later used in the background of his engraving “The Great Fortune”, also known as “Nemesis”. Today, the Dürerstein commemorates this special viewpoint.

Centuries later, Klausen once again became a place that attracted artists and intellectuals. From the late 1870s onwards, the town developed into a popular meeting place for painters, sculptors, writers and scholars. Its medieval townscape, intimate atmosphere, landscape along the Eisack River and distinctive light turned Klausen into something of an open-air studio.

Between 1874 and 1914, almost 300 artists spent time in Klausen, including well-known names such as Alexander Koester, Franz von Defregger, Albin Egger-Lienz and Hans Loesch, as well as local artists like Gallmetzer, Piffrader, Rabensteiner and Telfner. Alexander Koester is especially closely linked to Klausen: he lived and worked here for many years and found important motifs for his art in the small town on the Eisack.

This is how Klausen became more than just a beautiful historic town. It became a place where art was created – and where the artists’ gaze can still be felt today.

Art at the heart of everyday life

Today, Klausen carries this story forward in a way that feels open, lively and sometimes unexpected. The town is not just a backdrop, but part of the artistic experience itself. Contemporary art meets ancient walls, vacant spaces become exhibition sites, shop windows turn into eye-catchers and narrow lanes become places of encounter.

Throughout the year, various art projects reveal new perspectives on this artists’ town. Some take art directly into public space, while others invite visitors to pause and look more closely. What always remains is the connection to Klausen: to its old town, its stories and the people who live, work or spend time here.

And that is exactly where its charm lies: in Klausen, art is not distant or detached. It is right at the heart of everyday life.

Discover Klausen with fresh eyes

Experiencing art in Klausen does not require a fixed route. Often, all it takes is to slow down, wander through the old town and let yourself be surprised.

Between historic façades, small shops, squares and quiet corners, Klausen reveals a new side of itself again and again. Whether through an exhibition, a public art project or simply a walk through its narrow lanes, this artists’ town invites you not just to look at art, but to experience it.