The Leuchtenburg/Castelchiaro ruin dominates the hill above Lake Kaltern and shapes the landscape all around this wonderful village. The panoramic view from there is stunning and involves Kaltern itself, Tramin/Termeno, the South Tyrolean Unterland/Bassa Atesina and the nearby mountain peaks.
The cross country skiing centre- zënter de paslunch Alta Badia is situated in Sciaré/Armentarola, 3 km from San Cassiano. The trails stretch for about 26 km across meadows and forests at the foot of the Conturines, Lavarella and Settsass mountain range. At the starting point of the trail you will find a service centre with ski school, ski rental, toilets, changing rooms, bar and restaurant with hot food throughout.
The cross-country ski trail is suitable for both classic and skating and, in addition to the yellow marked practice trail, offers eight routes of varying difficulty: Sas Dlacia, Sciaré, Pinais, Pre de Costa, Störes and Conturines. The last two are intended as racing or training tracks.
In case of insufficient snow conditions, about 4 km of trail are artificially snowed.
During your family holiday in Gossensass/Colle Isarco, a small but fine outdoor swimming pool is available in the summer months. Here you will find two heated outdoor pools, an inviting lawn for sunbathing, a volleyball court and a children's play area. On hot summer days you can relax in the pool in the cool water and enjoy a relaxing day amidst a magical mountain landscape.
In the remote village of Prettau/Predoi, nestled at the head of South Tyrol’s Ahrntal valley, copper ore was mined for over 500 years along the Rötbach river. Today, the St. Ignaz drainage adit has been transformed into an impressive visitor mine– part of the South Tyrolean Provincial Mining Museum.
Hop aboard the mine train and travel over a kilometre into the mountain, where you’ll enter a captivating world beneath the surface. Along two circular tours, realistic installations and immersive scenes bring the hard lives of miners from centuries past vividly to life.
But this is more than just a museum: copper is still extracted here today – in a sustainable, innovative way using bacteria to produce what’s known as cement copper.
Just outside the entrance tunnel, the historic Schinerhaus– once home to local miners – welcomes visitors as a silent witness to Prettau’s rich mining legacy.
Visitor Information👉 The current opening times and prices are available on the website
Step into the depths of history – authentic, educational, and unforgettable.
Juval Castle, the summer residence of the world-famous mountaineer, Reinhold Messner and the Messner Mountain Museum.
Medieval Juval Castle is situated on a prehistoric place of worship at the entrance to the pristine Val Senales. The castle was built around 1278 by Hugo von Montalban. In 1540, Juval Castle changed ownership and reached its heyday in those years. In 1913, the Dutch Colonial William Rowland turned up at the dilapidated castle and had it professionally restored. Since 1983 Juval Castle has been the residence of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner and has turned Juval Castle into the main site of the MMM Messner Mountain Museum. The castle contains an extensive Tibetan collection as well as the Mountain Gallery and the ethnic mask collection with exhibits from five continents. Juval Castle also boasts some Renaissance-era frescoes that can be visited. Alpine fauna can sometimes be spotted wandering about in the castle grounds and there is also a farm with its own vineyards and a winery. The attached winery Unterortl, the organic farm Oberortl, and the Schlosswirt revitalize these small-scale cultural landscape in Lower Venosta Valley.
Saint Joseph Freinademetz, the saint of Alta Badia, is the first South Tyrolean Saint.
Today, the hamlet of Oies is a much-visited place of pilgrimage, especially the birthplace of the missionary Josef Freinademetz, who belonged to the Society of the Divine Word. The Steyl missionary was born in 1852 and died of typhoid fever in China on 28 January 1908.
He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in Rome on 19 October 1975 and canonised on 5 October 2003.
The cellar of the Oies farm was converted into a chapel and decorated with works by the artists Kollreider from Lienz and Lois Irsara from Badia.
Alta Badia is a true treasure trove of wonders, containing masterpieces sculpted by Nature itself—from the most majestic, shaped over millennia, to the more delicate and ephemeral ones, yet persistent due to their cyclical nature. Among these stands out the snow cave, located at the foot of Cima Dieci, inviting you to discover a nature of icy and pristine beauty, revealing the frozen heart of a cave adorned with impressive wavy walls, patiently sculpted season after season.
The cave continues to grow in size in the summer: the narrow hollow carved out by the stream is filled with cold air which is denser and therefore heavier than the summer air outside. This in turn sets off an inverted chimney effect: the heavy cold air sinks down to the bottom of the cave, giving rise to a strong draught from the top to the bottom of the snow cave. Warm summer air is now drawn into the cave from the upper openings, causing the cave to melt from within.
In the meantime, the warm is cooled by the ice and thus flows out through the lower opening as heavy air. This effect can continue for months, melting an ever larger cavity in the ice.
Access to the cave is officially prohibited. You may approach the entrance to take photos, but be cautious of the risk of falling rocks.
Mountaincarts are similar to gocarts, without engine or pedals, and they just have brakes.
It is a real adventure to rush down the 9 km long run to the bottom station of the gondola lift. Everyone who loves tobogganing in wintertime will come back in summer for the fun to ride down the Plose mountain. If you want to experience something really special and exciting that is to become the highlight of your holidays in South Tyrol, then you have to come to the Plose and try out the fantastic mountaincarts.
You can rent out the mountaincarts at the top station of the gondola lift. Together with your mountaincart you also get a helmet. Please wear good shoes (no sandals allowed).
The Knottnkino (Rock Cinema) is the work of artist Franz Messner, who hails from Renon. The Knottnkino sits atop a red porphyry rock formation, Rotstein Knott Mountain, which is located in Vöran/Verano on 1,457 metres.
The lookout point, outfitted with thirty cinema seats made of steel and chestnut wood, is a wonderful place for hikers to take a seat, unwind, and enjoy a unique experience: nature as cinema. The site overlooks the whole of the Adige Valley so visitors enjoy stunning views that encompass the Texel Group Nature Park, Mount Penegal, and even Corno Bianco/Weißhorn Mountain farther afield.
In the local German dialect spoken in South Tyrol, Knottn means ‘rock’. Millions of years ago, when lava and falling ash formed the Tschögglberg Mountain Plateau, these round, wine-red knolls also came into being. These rock formations are unparalleled in South Tyrol. In Verano, there are three: Rotstein, Beimstein and Unterstein Knott.
The Knottnkino³ circuit trail conects the three red porphyry rocks of Vöran/Verano. Starting from the Burgstall-Vöran upper cableway station, the trail leads to the three panoramic landmarks of Verano: the Rotstein, Beimstein and Timpfler Knott.
Beneath the Odle Mountains in Villnöss/Funes Valley, there is situated the high rope course. Nine courses on different heights and of different difficulty levels, with suspension bridges, balance beams and many other attractions guarantee fun for the whole family. After a detailed introduction on the training course, you are free to climb on your own. Children smaller than 140 cm must be accompanied by an adult! In addition to the nine courses, you will find a 14-m-high climbing tower with four different difficulty levels as well as barbecue areas with a beautiful view of the Odle Mountains. The high rope course is situated only 50 m from the car park Ranui in the woods.
From Easter to mid-June and from mid-September to the end of October, we ask you kindly to call beforehand.
Tyrol Castle is the most historically significant castle in South Tyrol. Its origins stretch back into the late 11th century.
Since 2003 Tyrol Castle has housed the South Tyrolean Museum of History. Its main focus is the history of the province from its beginnings to modern times.
The oldest structural elements can be found in church excavations in the outer bailey (three building phases, three-apse chamber from the 9th century). The south palace contains the two Romanesque portals. The two-storey castle chapel is dedicated to St. Pancras and is famous for its gothic frescoes. What is believed to be the wedding chamber of Countess Margarethe of Tyrol, known as Maultasch (literally “bag mouth”), is situated in the Mushaus. The keep, which was only completed after 1902, now houses an exhibition of the history of the 20th century depicted over twenty separate levels. The historic estate buildings house special exhibitions.
The Sassongher mountain, 2665 m high, located on the south-eastern border of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park, UNESCO World Heritage, is the mountain which most represents the town of Corvara. From its summit you can enjoy a 360° view of the Dolomites.
The imposing massif overlooking Corvara is particularly attractive seen from the Campolongo pass.
For some years now, a bench and a large wooden panel with the writing Corvara, have been on the first curves of the pass where there is a particularly beautiful viewpoint.
Locals and tourists love to sit here and admire this Dolomite giant. Of course, many photos and selfies are shot.
Biathletes, cross-country skiers, amateur athletes: The new biathlon training centre is situated in Rein, at 1600 metres above sea level, at the heart of a large network of cross-country skiing trails. A challenge for stamina, concentration and precision.
Make fast or steady circuits on cross-country skis, using the double-pole technique, in classical or skating styles. Or take a walk in the wintry high valley. And then onto the range - for the shooting! Breathe calmly, aim for the target, and keep a steady hand - what fun!
The team at the Rieserferner Ski School is now offering an insight into the world of biathlon in Rein in Taufers. Under the guidance of the former Italian national team biathlete and one of the most accurate shooters in the field, Barbara Ertl, the target plates will fall!
With its 65,000 square metres of space, Franzensfeste is the largest historical complex in South Tyrol. Begun in 1833 under Emperor Franz Josef, this masterpiece of Austrian fortress architecture was opened by Emperor Ferdinand in 1838 after a construction period of only five years. By this time, however, it had already lost its strategic importance and justification. The enormous effort and the horrendous costs - for nothing. From then on, the huge fortress was only of use as a depot and was frozen in the Sleeping Beauty sleep of a strictly guarded military installation for over a century and a half. Since the military left the fortress in 2003, Franzensfeste has been open to the public and was extensively renovated in the course of two major exhibitions in 2008 and 2009. As a South Tyrolean Provincial Museum, Franzensfeste Fortress is now a magnet for tourists and locals alike and a popular venue for a wide variety of exhibitions and events.
January and february: winter break
In our herb gardens - the mountain herb garden in St. Magdalena at 1400 metres above sea level and the show herb garden in St. Valentin - old and new knowledge about the recognition and use of wild aromatic and medicinal herbs is brought back to life. Around 150 different, mainly native plant species thrive in our herb garden.
In guided tours, the herb specialist teaches interested visitors the identification of wild herbs and their use in cooking and folk medicine.
Our herbs are only fertilised and treated organically; due to the altitude, the plants develop high-quality secondary ingredients.
The herbs are air-dried on wooden shelves, placed in breathable sacks and only cut, mixed and bottled when needed. The blossoms are collected individually and gently dried so that the magnificent colours are preserved. Everything is handmade!
Visits possible by appointment only.
Schwarzbach Waterfall – where nature meets art
Just above Luttach/Lutago, the Schwarzbach Waterfall plunges 15 meters through a narrow rock crevice into a stunning blue lagoon – a breathtaking natural spectacle!
Feel the cool mist on your skin, breathe in the refreshing air, and admire the colorful reflections dancing in the sunlight.
The path to the waterfall is lined with wooden sculptures created by international artists during the annual Ahrntal Sculpture Symposium. A unique fusion of nature and art – a feast for all the senses.
The romanesque church called St. Kathrein has a gothic apse and dates from the thirteenth century. It has well-preserved frescoes from the fourteenth century and a winged altar in the late-Gothic Tyrolean style (which can only be see through an opening in the portal).
The story
Like many other churches in the region, the St. Kathrein church in Hafling was built on a site that was originally a pagan place of worship. Presumably there was already a small church standing here in the twelfth century, which was destroyed by fire in 1202. The only parts of the church that survived from the period before the church fire are the regularly stratified walls of the flat-roofed nave.
Fifty years later, a Romanesque church had already come into being, which was newly consecrated in 1251. In the late Gothic period, the church was rebuilt again. Two hundred years later, in 1452, it was once again rebuilt and rededicated.
The late-Gothic winged altar is a valuable decorative element of the church. The central part of the altar cabinet contains three wooden figures: the patron saint, St. Catherine, flanked by John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene.
The Legend
According to legend, the local people wanted to build a Christian church on this site. They charged two giants to procure stones. The giants, however, had promised to build at church in Lafenn at the exact same time. Having only one hammer between them, the two giants had to share. Eventually, a conflict arose between the pair over the hammer, so the Lafenn giant picked up an enormous boulder and threw it at the St. Catherine giant. The boulder missed its target, but can still be seen in the meadow near Sulfner, just below the church.
Dates church tours 2022:
30.05. | 13.06. | 27.06. | 04.07. | 11.07. | 18.07. | 25.07. | 08.08. | 16.08.* | 22.08. | 29.08. | 05.09. | 19.09. | 03.10. | 24.10. | 31.10.2022
The castle chapel of Hocheppan with its roman frescos is one of the most important roman art monuments in South Tyrol. The centuries old frescos had been painted over and were only entirely laid open in 1926. Besides religious themes, the hunting scene on the exterior wall can be seen as one of the rarest profane depictions in Tyrol dating from this time period. The wall paintings originate from the first decade of the 13th century and show famous illustrations like the foolish virgins, the dumpling eater - the first proof for Tyrolean dumplings - and the picture of 'Maria Heimsuchung' which is well known far beyond the border of South Tyrol.
The South Tyrolean traditional costumes are renowned for their beauty. It is interesting that almost every village and town has its own costume. These pieces of clothing are worn at every festive occasion, such as religious festivities or at processions. During the time of Charles the Great, it was not permitted for farming folk to wear expensive clothing. People of the lower ranks of society were not allowed to wear more than a Loden jacket. The farmers had to wear clothes made of materials they could produce themselves. Expensive fabrics such as silk and brocade were reserved for the richer people in society. Only when Empress Maria Theresia came to power, was this law amended so that the population could wear traditional costumes of any style. This resulted in a variety of traditional costumes that are still used to this day.
Kastelruth costumes for men: Men wear a shirt, cardigan and jacket with trousers and costume shoes. Their hat is decorated with a carnation and some leaves. The top button of the cardigan and jacketremain open.
Kastelruth costumes for women: Women wear a long black skirt and a black velvet corset. During the winter, they also wear a black small cape and during the summer a white jacket. On top of these, there is a silver or coloured shawl with long fringes. With the jacket, they need to wear a blue apron and with the small cape a black, water-silk apron. In addition, they wear fashionable ribbons that look well with their shawl. Married women wear their hair up, with a silver hairpin and a type of stylish comb, which helps to keep their hair in a knot. Unmarried women wear pigtails that are arranged in a type of Gretl hair style and incorporate this with a black velvet ribbon.
A fantastic experience for the whole family!
The Mineral Museum Teis is dedicated to the famous Geodes of Teis which formed thanks to volcanic activities more than 290 million years ago. Besides Geodes of Teis, there are also exhibited other alpine minerals (rock crystals, smoky quartz, garnets etc.). The collection is Paul Fischnaller’s lifework who dedicated his life to the minerals.
A short introductory film gives insight into the formation of the Alps and the minerals. In the well-assorted museum shop you can purchase books, souvenirs, gemstones and healing stones.
Join Paul Fischnaller on his search for Geodes of Teis! Every Thursday, reservation required.
The museum in Sulden am Ortler, an underground structure at 1900 m above sea-level, is devoted to the world of ice. “At the end of the world” we call it. That is what it says on a 1771 map drawn by Peter Anich showing the glacier on the Ortler, beneath which the Ice Museum is located. At MMM Ortles Reinhold Messner tells of the Terrors of Ice and Darkness, Snow People and Snow Lions, the Whiteout and the Third Pole. The museum houses the world’s biggest collection of Ortler paintings as well as ice-climbing gear from two centuries. Skiing, ice-climbing and expeditions to the Poles are the themes. Visitors find themselves inside the mountain, where they are given a clear picture of ice mountains, the Arctic and Antarctic, the power of avalanches, and the pains taken by artists to depict the world of ice.
The late Gothic church of Colfosco, with the Sella Massif in the background, is a popular photo motif of the Dolomites.
The parish church of St. Vigil was first mentioned in 1419. In the following years it was restored and expanded several times.
Particularly interesting are the neo-Gothic lobby on the outer facade with a grooved and beveled pointed arch portal, the bulbous spire and the church altar. This dates from the late 19th century and is from the local artist Johann Valentin - Badia. In the middle niche of the altar there is an 18th century picture of the Virgin Mary and on the sides there are the statues of St. Vigilius and St. Kassian. For safety reasons, the valuable statue of St. Vigilius has been replaced with a copy.
The Maia Racecourse is one of the most beautiful in Europe. There are two seasons of steeplechasing and other horse races from April to September On the last Sunday of September there is the most important race meeting of the year: the Merano South Tyrol Grand Prix.
Visitors of all ages to Obereggen can look forward to lots of new highlights, a viewing platform a fascinating adventure trails and the high-rope adventure centre.
At an altitude of 1520m, Pietralba is the most significant place of pilgrimage in South Tyrol and among the region’s popular destinations, especially since the visit of Pope John Paul II in July 1988. Highlights include the large monastery and its collection of votive.
An unique group of holy buildings is standing on Mount Calvary, also called Kofel/Colle at Kastelruth/Castelrotto. From the village a path leads among porphyry rocks and beautiful nature. Several chapels line the pilgrimage, which ends at the Roman tower. The seven chapels show pictures of Jesus and his mother, the Mount of Olives, the scourging, crowning with thorns and the handwashing and the Entombment. (Nice walk - 20 minutes)
This wonderful panoramic point is right next to the church in Altenburg/Castelvecchio and offers a stunning view towards Lake Kaltern and the homonymous village. Northwards you can see the mountain peaks of Hirzer/Punta Cervina and Ifinger/Picco Ivigna, but also the Sarner Scharte/Forcella Sarentina and the Rittner Horn/Corno del Renon. Eastwards instead you can see the peaks of Rosengarten/Catinaccio and Latemar, while southwards the view sweeps across the Etschtal/Val d’Adige.
