Mariahilf, Mountain settlement in Sankt Jakob in Defereggen, Austria.
Mariahilf is a mountain settlement in Defereggen Valley that sits on a slope above the Schwarzach River and comprises several farms and houses. The place occupies a wider section of the valley and is framed by the surrounding mountain slopes.
The settlement developed from a farmstead called Bruggen, which fell under the control of Bruck Castle in Lienz during the Middle Ages. The place grew into one of several hamlets scattered through the valley.
The small chapel in the settlement reflects the religious importance it held for residents and is dedicated to a revered saint. This place of worship and the old wayside cross continue to shape the character of the settlement today.
The road access comes through Defereggen Valley Road, which leads directly to the settlement, and bus service makes it possible to visit without a car. The best time to visit is during the warmer months when the road is fully passable and the mountain landscape shows its greenery.
A customs house from the 1920s was converted in 2016 into an apartment building that now offers holiday rentals to visitors. This structure recalls the settlement's location near a border and its former role in cross-border trade.
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