Fiss, municipality in Landeck District, Tyrol, Austria
Fiss is a village on a sunny high plateau in Tirol's Oberinntal valley at 1,436 meters elevation. It consists of closely packed old wooden houses with thick stone walls and narrow paths winding through the center. The village has a long history as a farm settlement, but after a major fire in 1972, new buildings for visitors were added.
The village developed as a medieval farm settlement in this high mountain region. After a devastating fire in 1972, it was partially rebuilt, which explains its present appearance of modern visitor facilities alongside historic structures.
The name Fiss may derive from Latin words meaning 'ditch' or 'hollow'. The village is defined by its old wooden houses with carved door frames and narrow streets, where craft traditions and daily local life remain visible. Residents maintain customs like the Fisser Blochziehen, a carnival event held every four years where a large log is pulled through the village to bring good fortune and fertility.
The village sits at an elevation accessible by foot from below, with walking paths throughout the settlement. Car access is restricted after 11 p.m. to maintain quiet, so visitors should plan arrivals during daytime hours.
Since 1990, cars have been banned from driving through the village after 11 p.m. This makes Fiss an unusually quiet place on a heavily used plateau, where daily life is shaped by gentle traffic restrictions.
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