This market town in Tyrol's Lower Inn Valley has a unique economic history from the 1930s, when it introduced its own local currency during the Great Depression.
Located in Austria's Tyrol region, Wörgl (population 13,000) lies at the junction of the Inn and Brixentaler Ache rivers. You can take a cable car up the 1,829-meter Hohe Salve mountain, walk through the halls of medieval Itter Castle, or explore the M4 shopping mall with its 55 stores. The town made economic history in the 1930s with its alternative currency experiment, which attracted international attention.
Getting to Wörgl
The main railway station in Wörgl connects Munich with Innsbruck and Salzburg. Located 20 km from the German border, you can reach the town via European routes E641, E45, and E60, which link to major Austrian cities.
Shopping at M4 Mall
The M4 Mall on Bahnhofstrasse stretches for 300 meters, making it Tyrol's second-longest shopping complex. Inside, you'll find 55 stores ranging from local cheese shops and butchers to international fashion brands. Walk along Kanzler-Biener-Straße to see 19th-century farmhouses interspersed between modern buildings.
Mountain Activities
In winter, take the direct bus connection to SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, which has 284 kilometers of ski runs. Three major cycling routes intersect in Wörgl: the Inn Cycle Route along the river, the Brixental Route through the valley, and the challenging Wilder Kaiser mountain bike trail. For hiking, follow marked trails on Möslalmkogel or climb Hohe Salve for panoramic views of the Inn Valley. The local climbing hall has 200 routes across different difficulty levels.
The Depression-Era Currency
During the Great Depression in 1932, with one-third of Wörgl's population unemployed, Mayor Michael Unterguggenberger introduced a local currency that depreciated by 1% each month. This "Wörgler Schilling" stimulated the local economy and funded new infrastructure projects. The experiment drew international observers, including the French Prime Minister, until Austria's central bank halted it in 1933.
Historical Sites
Archaeologists have found evidence of Iron Age settlements and Roman trading posts in Wörgl. The medieval Itter Castle gained fame during World War II when, on May 5, 1945, it became the site of an unusual alliance - Wehrmacht soldiers fought alongside US Army troops, Austrian Resistance members, and freed French prisoners against SS forces in one of the war's final European battles.
