The Kommende of the German Order in Longomoso dates from the 13th Century. Hostels were established all over the mountainous region from 1200 onwards, so one was also set up in Lengmoos for travellers who had to come up over the Ritten as the gorge of the Eisack river was still not passable. In the 14th Century when the main route was established in the valley the primary purpose of the hostel was lost, and it became a dependency of the German Order.
Only from around 1500 was the Brenner road in the Eisack gorge passable year-round. Before that emperor and pilgrim, soldier and merchant often had to take the laborious road over the Ritten. So before 1200 a hostel existed on the high road in Lengmoos which, together with the rectory passed into the control of the German Order in 1235. The Kommende, which was plundered and destroyed in the farmers’ unrest of 1525, was rebuilt in the baroque style in the 17th Century. On the first floor a magnificent set of state rooms were build which served as reception rooms for the higher dignatories and which can still be visited today.
The trustees of the Lengmoos Kommende, together with the German Order have worked on the reconstruction of the whole building so that it may now be used for cutlural purposes. From May to October in the large rooms on the second floor there are concerts, exhibitions, symposia and lectures.
Since 1973 there have been theatrical performances and in the height of summer these are performed in the open air.