Restaurants & Taverns
Algund/Lagundo, Meran/Merano and environs
The Vinschger railway is ideal for enhancing your cycling experience in South Tyrol. Due to the new Vinschger railway, the Vinschgau region can also now be discovered by a combination of train and bike. The railway connects the garden village of Lagundo aslike the spa town of Meran with the village of Mals. There are six railway stations along the line that offer a bike borrow service (mid April to beginning of November): Meran, Naturns, Latsch, Spondinig, Schlanders and Mals.
Bikes can be hired and returned at different stations. The hire service includes a cycling helmet. For our little guests, who are still too small to cycle by themselves, there are children’s seats available. In addition, there are special tandems and multi-purpose trailers (also for dogs).
Due to the incredible success of bike admittance on trains, there was not enough space on the trains for passengers and bikes. For this reason, restrictions had to be applied at that time. This restriction is still valid at the railways stations of Meran and Algund if you enter with your bike for the journey going towards the Vinschgau region. If this applies to you at some stage, you can use an alternative service: the bike shuttle. This bus runs six times daily from Meran to Mals, i.e. at 9.16 am / 9.46 a.m. / 9.46 a.m. / 10.16 a.m. / 11.16 a.m. / 4.16 p.m. and 5.16 p.m. Afterwards, your bike can be picked up at one of the bike borrow stations of your choice, which are at the following stations: Naturns, Latsch, Schlanders, Spondinig or Mals.
The price of transporting a bike & a person is the same as the price per person, which is EURO 7. A day ticket can be bought at the ticket office.
Bikemobil Card:
This combi ticket can be used for all public transport (bus, train, lift facilities) in all of South Tyrol. In addition, on one day of your choice, you can also hire a bike at one of the numerous borrow-a-bike stations with the ‘Südtirol Rad’ symbol (Bike South Tyrol). Borrowed bikes can be returned at any of the ‘Südtirol Rad’ borrow stations. A fabulous way to discover South Tyrol!
From Algund via Mitterplars to Töll - entrance to the new cycle path. Ride towards the bridge, then follow the Quadrathofstrasse, which will lead you up a steep hill. After 2.4 km turn in the direction of Aschbach (left) at the crossroads, pass two restaurants: at 3 km Gasthaus Niederhof and at 4.3 km Gasthof Bründl. The road leads you through steep forests uphill, passing the former Gasthof Mahlbach (ruins), until the roads ends at 7.3 km at a barrier. Ride on via the forest road, which soon becomes less steep, until you come to 9.2 km. At a fork at 9.8 km, you have reached the highest point (1,416 metres). Turn right, follow path # 27 to Aschbach until you come to 10.9 km, where the forest road ends. After pushing your bike for about 3 to 4 minutes along the hiking path, you come back to a forest road leading downhill to Aschbach (1,362 metres / 12.4 km / N46º 38631 E011º04.421). The Aschbacherhof is a good place to rest and eat and offers you wonderful panoramic views. Be careful on the road leading down to the valley. There are lots of unexpected cars turning corners. Drive via Mitterplars to Algund.
One reaches the Bike Highline Meran/o through various Uphills, or by utilizing either the Aschbach cableway or the shuttle service. From the Bike Highline Meran there are various single and also forest trails returning back down into the valley.
The stretch between the Tablanderalm and Mauslochalm mountain pastures is technically challenging. All other routes are generally accessible & do not present complications.
The 80 km long Val d'Adige/Etschtal Cycle Path (Etschradweg) leads along the Via Claudia Augusta, an ancient Roman road.
The trail is mainly flat or downhill. The fantastic bike trail network in the Val Venosta/Vinschgau valley makes for relaxed biking on a good surface, i.e. either asphalt or rolled gravel.
The Val d’Adige Cycle Path (Etschradroute) is especially popular with cyclists looking for a moderate challenge. It is also possible to rent bikes at various train stations and to return them elsewhere, meaning that you do not have to bring your own bike with you. The bike tour can also be shortened or simplified at any time by using the Vinschgerbahn train.
From the Adige Valley to the mountains, visitors can cycle with constant temperatures through shady forests and flowering meadows, far away from the hustle and bustle of traffic.
Start at the outdoor pool in Algund/Lagundo and turn right to take the cycle path to Naturns/Naturno. In Naturns/Naturno, cross the bridge and continue until the sports field, where the ascent to the Naturnser Nörderberg mountain begins. Passing by a few mountain farms, you continue uphill until you reach the forest road leading to the Kreuzbrünnl car park and to the Naturnser Alm mountain hut. Proceed along trail no. 9A branching off to the right directly behind the mountain hut (Please note: We recommend against taking trail no. 30!). After a short ascent, an old cart path leads along the high plateau to the junction with trail no. 9. Follow this partly steep trail until Vigiljoch/Monte San Vigilio. Take the forest road at the small church to descend towards Aschbach/Rio Lagundo and continue along the asphalt road down to Töll/Tel and back to Algund/Lagundo.
