The townscape is shaped by the large and stately Maria Himmelfahrt parish church with its attractive Romanesque tower. For the Sarntal locals, Sarnthein is generally known simply as the "Dorf", or village. No local says: “I'm going to Sarnthein”, instead they say: “I’m off to the village”. Since the last World War the main town has undergone extremely rapid development. Many new buildings, but also exemplary renovated historic buildings, plus residential areas on the outskirts of the town shape the townscape today. Sarnthein and the people of the Sarntal Valley are also proud of their hospital, the smallest in South Tyrol.