Val Gardena/Gröden

A patchwork of cultivated landscape and barren scenery harmonise especially well in the west of South Tyrol.

The trilingual, 25-kilometre-long Val Gardena has a total of 10,298 inhabitants in its three main villages of Ortisei/St. Ulrich, Santa Cristina/St. Christina and Selva/Wolkenstein and is situated at an elevation of 1,236-1,563 metres. Sasso Lungo/Langkofel Mountain, perched high above the valley at an elevation of 3,181 metres, is a potent symbol of the valley. Val Gardena is also encircled by the Dolomite Mountains, which UNESCO designated a World Natural Heritage Site, and by Puez-Odle/Puez-Geisler Nature Reserve.

Val Gardena, also known as the “Valley of the Herrgottschnitzer” (woodcarvers specialising in religious statuary), has become famous for its handicrafts: its customs and culture are still very deeply rooted there today, as is the Ladin language. The valley has spectacular mountains, a lot of sunshine, and a lovely Italian atmosphere.

Val Gardena is home to legendary mountaineer Luis Trenker. In winter, the valley offers everything that a skier’s heart desires: fast descents on the famous—and infamous—Saslong World Cup racing track or some more relaxed skiing on the Col Raiser or the legendary Sella Ronda. Legendary peaks of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Dolomites, which soar to a height of over 3,000 metres, panorama trails across vast alpine pastures leading to celebrated mountain huts and restaurants, bike tours for athletes and recreational cyclists alike, and extreme sports events with cult status: these are just some of the features and events that make this Dolomite valley so unique. It is the valley’s tradition-conscious people, thouth, that make it so charming and unforgettable.