Sehenswürdigkeiten in Obervinschgau

Meadows surround the freestanding detached family house on the outskirts of Laatsch, a stones throw away from Mals. This unusual, singular building simply needs a certain amount of empty space around it, in order to allow a full appreciation of it. The view of both of the church towers in Laatsch heightens the contrast with the village. The mainly enclosed upper floor houses the bedrooms in a square layout, which encompasses the living rooms below with glass facades. With its far-reaching white glow, the “box” made from concrete seems to sway over everything and projects upwards from the slender supports. In order to provide the glass ground floor with some privacy freestanding stone walls typical for the area were built a short distance away from the house. Such a house makes one self-conscious of one’s living conditions.

In the center of Mals there was a plot of land for a free-standing building. Block-like brick buildings with windows cut into them and often without an overhanging roof are typical for Mals. The architect adopted this structure and designed a building in three parts with different levels. The middle part acts as an opening and is covered in larch wood boards, while the other two buildings attached to this are plastered white and have uniform, regularly spaced windows. This succinct language of form takes into account the details of the entire building. The shape of the building is clearly structured with the central entrance, so that the citizens can easily find their way inside. The community hall on the upper floor has a special entrance. The interior spaces are marked by white walls, light wood and overhead lighting in the corridors.

Beneath the glowing white walls of the Marienberg Abbey lies the somewhat dingier Fürstenburg, built from regional stone in 1278. A collapse of the castle’s keep in 1996 brought about the renovation, including a restructuring and extension, which was carried out in two phases. It began by securing the historical parts of the building and extending the home wing with modern fixtures made from steel and glass in order to provide the old stonewalls with more light transparency. New schoolrooms in the mountain were then constructed outside of the curtain wall to accommodate the increasing number of pupils. It appears from the outside to be a wall one story high made from the same dark stone as the castle. On the inside, the courtyard has been modernized with structural components made of glass and steel and there is a new section of building work climbing up the mountainside, covered in earth and plants. From something old was born something new.

Waalwege is the German name for the characteristic hiking trails in the Vinschgau Valley, which run without significant inclines along the hill at the foot of the high mountains. They are the paths along which run along the narrow water channels, that were dug many centuries ago and were used to irrigate the fields until the 19th century. Today, the irrigation channel paths are among the most popular hiking trails in South Tyrol.

The paths are popular hiking trails for families, moderate hikers and everyone who wishes to enjoy the unique flora and fauna in the entire valley. There used to be 300 irrigation channels in the Upper Venosta Valley but today, only a dozen of these are still accessible. The Leitenwaal, Berkwaal und Oberwaal are navigable year round. The Turnaunawaal in Taufers i.M./ Tubre in Val Monastero also offers spectacular panorama views of the valley and the high mountain ranges.

An inscription refers to the first consecration of the church in 1199. The nave has a flat ceiling and is equipped with oylets. The choir has a semi-circular, vaulted apse with a Majestas representation and two well-preserved Evangelist symbols. There are traces of frescoes dating back to the 13th century. To the south of the triumphal arch appear the victims of Cain and the upper body of a fish-tailed siren. The head with long hair, the thoughtful expression and the gestures of the arms give the depiction a uniquely melancholic appearance, which contrasts significantly with the image of the demonic element in the other wall paintings.

The Church of S. Nicolaus is open from 03.05.2024 - 18.10.2024 every friday at 2 pm for the guided tours in german and italian language.

The mystical Hill of Tartsch towers amidst the green valley of Upper Vinschgau Valley, surrounded by the villages of Glurns/ Glorenza, Matsch/ Mazia and Mals/ Malles. Due to its position as viewing platform, the schist drumlin was already settled in prehistoric times. In the 11th century A.D. the Romanesque St. Veit Church dedicated to St. Vitus was erected upon a pagan cult site. It is one of the few churches that were never restored and displays precious medieval murals.
The Romanesque frescoes, which unfortunately have only been preserved in a few places, are of great art-historical importance. The interior of the church has a wooden ceiling from the 16th century. 
Traces of fire can still be seen in some parts of the church. These date back to the Engadine War of 1499. 

The church S. Veit is open from June to October every Thursday at 5pm for the guided tours in german and italian language (Info: +39 0473 831190).

In the industrial area of Glorenza/Glurns, the 13-meter-high cubed Puni Distillery stands out like a kasbah from an alien world − a symbolic landmark. It was the architect's ingenious idea to house all the technical equipment, as well as the sales area, and service rooms inside a brick cube, which was designed according to the system of the old, air-permeable brick walls of a rural barn. The stonework thus has a transparent effect, from the exterior and interior alike, and continues down into the basement, where the sparkling-clean fermenting vat and alembics can be found, a massive vault construction. A convincing uniformity in the choice of materials alludes to the clarity of this distillery’s products – the first to distill whisky in Italy. All the glass-and-steel details have been developed with as much as focus on quality as was the brick construction.

A trading area grew up to the south, outside the City walls, probably around the same time that the City of Glurns was established. The idea was to provide the new urban Settlement with an economic mainstay other than trade. For this purpose the mill stream was diverted directly at the old Bridge over the River Etsch: it would from now on serve (at the latest from 1330) as a power source for the city mill. The importance of the miller`s craft in those times is shown by the fact that millers had their own handicrafts ordinance (since at least 1615) an in Baroque times there existed here a fraternity of millers. Repeatedly destroyed and damaged over the course of the centuries, the City mill was always rebuilt, since a functioning mill was clearly in the public interest. The waterwheel was replaced by current owner and in 2004 the mill was completely restored.

The earliest mentions date back to 1220 and 1249. In 1499 the church was set on fire after the Battle of the Calven and was rebuilt as a Gothic church in 1570/1580. Excavations brought to light surprising results in the form of a predecessor church from the 6th/7th and 8th centuries. The patrocinium, however, points to the 9th century. Furthermore, parts of frescoes from the time before the first mentioning of the church were found, which turned out to be picture decorations of the Romanesque predecessor church and are of excellent artistic quality.


Open only for guided tours in german language on request (+39 0473 831097).

Above Schluderns in the sunny Vinschgau, towers the Churburg, one of the best preserved castles of South Tyrol. Today’s visitors find an impressive Renaissance castle, enhanced by the remarkable paintings in the arcades surrounding the courtyard. Many precious objects are to be seen in the Romanic chapel, the Matscher chamber and other splendid rooms. The world renowned armoury contains the largest collection of its kind. The harnesses, all made for members of the family, are of incomparable artistic and historic value.

Visits are only possible with a guided tour!
Guided tours in English on request: +39 0473 61 52 41

Churburg Castle is closed from the beginning of November to the end of March.

Furstenburg Castle in Burgeis/ Burgusio is a fortress erected in the 13th century on behalf of the Bishop Conrad of Chur (1272 - 1282). In the 16th and 17th centuries A.D. it was however restructured according to the style of the time. The oldest part of the castle is the tower which displays walls of a three meters thick diameter.
In 1996, the tower collapsed and was subsequently extended by the then director Georg Flora. Today, the Fürstenburg is home to a technical school for agriculture and forestry. 

Visits only possible with a guided tour between 01 July and 29 August (german or italian language).
Information: +39 0473 831190

The listed Grünen Baum Guest House lies directly on the main square of South Tyrol's smallest city. The ground-floor guest rooms are not part of the renovated hotel, which is housed on the upper floors and are the focus of this text. Here you will find the stylishly paneled rooms of the restaurant, which have preserved everything of value and consciously integrated new elements. Historical rooms are furnished in a modern style and new rooms contain some antique furniture. In the individually designed guest rooms, interaction with history is key, and is displayed through a focus on style and sensitive taste in decor. Bathtubs and showers sometimes stand alone in a room and convey an informal, friendly atmosphere in a very traditional way.

At the foot of Churburg Castle, the historical focal point of the village, an old farmhouse has been converted into a museum where the once-meager farming life of the Vinschgau Valley is documented − a lovely counterpoint to the feudal world of the castle. In the basement and on the first floor there are spaces for special exhibitions. In keeping with this use, the structure of both farm buildings has been retained and enhanced with typical regional materials. Larch wood, traditional exterior plaster, glass and steel were used so that its contemporary use is expressed through fittingly modern details. The existing load-bearing structure was combined with today's architectural components so that a homogeneous unit reflecting both tradition and modernity could arise, which shows much of the artistic potential of the Vinschgau people in a timeless way.

The St. Benedikt church of Mals was ercted in the 8th century A.D. Its Carolingian frescoes are among the earliest murals in central Europe. Originally, St. Benedict's did not have a tower; this was probably only built in the 12th century and therefore appears somewhat oversized. 
Without doubt, however, the two portraits of the founders are the most interesting. They show the Bishop of Chur and a Franconian landlord in traditional costume. This portrait is unique in Europe, as there is no comparable representation anywhere else. 

Opening hours 08.04.2024 - 31.10.2024:
Visitation: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.
Guided Tour: Monday, Wednesday and Friday (only in German at 2 p.m. and Italian 2.30 p.m.
Prices: € 1,80 per person; € 3,00 per person with guided tour
Registration not required 

Guided tours only in german or italian language (Info: +39 0473 831190)
The church is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

The ruins of the two castles Rotund and Reichenberg are clearly visible from the village of Taufers in the Münstertal. Rotund Castle is located at an altitude of 1500 metres, making it one of the highest castles in Tyrol. It was built around 900 by order of the bishops of Chur. The castle changed hands several times over the centuries before it was abandoned at the end of the 17th century and left to decay. Below Rotund is Reichenberg Castle. Originally, Reichenberg Castle was owned by the bishops of Chur, but in the middle of the 12th century it fell into the hands of the robber baron, Lord of Reichenberg, who spread fear and terror. At the end of the 17th century, this castle was also abandoned. Today, the ruins of both estates can be visited.

Marienberg Abbey above Burgeis/ Burgusio dates back to the 12th Century. The highest located Benedictine abbey in Europe is situated at an altitude of 1,340 m a.s.l., since 900 years monks live here according to the rules of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Today, the main hall displays impressions about the daily life of the monks marked by Benedict's credo ora et labora. The exhibition displays also beautiful paintings such as the Romanesque Crypt frescoe with its unique depiction of angels.

Special exhibitions:

- Marienberg in front of and behind the lens
- Maria

Guided Tours
All information about guided tours and timetables can be found at https://www.marienberg.it/en/museum/guided-tours.html.

At the S-charl ridge, also called Cruschetta pass, there is a viewing platform with carved wooden figures.

Situated opposite the station, the central culture house is easily accessible. But the busy federal road that runs between the two creates a significant problem in terms of pollution. A solution was found in true urban development style, with the four well-structured blocks of the building enclosing a courtyard and the highest, windowless side facing the street. This is helped by a high wall made from the typical stone from the area, which also incorporates the buildings of the former primary school with its historical architecture into the modern exposed-concrete complex. The inner courtyard is also the protected heart of it all. It can be used as an additional room for events, with tiered seating. The spacious glass rooms open up onto this courtyard and offer a beautiful transparency in contrast to the enclosed space.

The scheme to promote mountaineering villages in the Alpine regions supports environmentally-friendly, natural tourism. The network unites villages with a thriving natural and cultural landscape, which have been spared major technical innovations and where mountains and mountaineering are an integral part of the identity.
From leisurely “Waalweg” irrigation-channel trails through to the three-thousand metre climbs – enjoy all the authenticity of the Matsch Valley. The living traditions and customs offer you an insight into the active village community, and a stop-off to wander round the castle ruins at the entrance to the village brings the dreaded Matsch robber-barons back to fearsome life.

Burgeis had managed to maintain its village-like character up to the present day. The traditional Weisses Kreuz Hotel lies centrally on a very small piece of land. The extensions and conversions, including its spacious spa area and new suites, have been admirably incorporated as part of the hotel, they sensitively take into account the survival of historical aspects. Zum Löwen, situated opposite, also belongs to the hotel and was renovated and reconstructed. The building was skillfully extended, the new extension now being home to a bistro and shop. This transformed the square with its fountain into a real village center. The listed facades of both houses were kept, as were the beautifully paneled rooms in the Löwen: all new buildings show the fitting of a modern hotel and are designed to be the best in modern architecture by the use of sustainable materials.

Since 2011 the Schluderns Gate Tower in Glurns hosts a permanent exhibition concerning the history of this little medieval town, such as trade, customs, daily life and curiosities.

Even from far away, the bright white abbey perched on a hill above Burgeis catches the eye. Founded in 1000, it has been one of South Tyrol’s most important spiritual centers since the twelfth century. “Ora et labora” is the Benedictine motto and also the name of the museum housed within the former farm buildings. The old walls were cleaned and stabilized to this end, left largely in their original state and expanded by a second level of modern interior design. While the walls remained rough and  unplastered, new mountings of glass and dark steel were placed in front of them and at a distance − so that the changes between the late thirteenth century and today are easy to deduce. The artworks and exhibits shed light on the monastery’s development. Upstairs, guest areas and seminar spaces have been created as well.

The sunniest and most sought-after cross-country skiing trail within the Ortler Ski Arena alliance, is located between Schlinig and Schliniger Alm, and offers 15 kilometers of trails and a vertical drop of 150 meters. The village of Schlinig built a service center for it, with a ski-waxing facility, changing rooms, toilets and equipment rentals. This single-story building matches the development of the village in both size and materials used. Covered entirely with vertical wood sheathing, the wagon looks like a cog railway into which you enter sideways. The incline of the roof and shape of the building take up the slope gradient. The entrances to the five functional units open onto a covered vestibule on the valley side, while the opposite side is provided with suitably tiered horizontal windows – as a result, the entire complex is integrated into the hillside in an ideal way.

The St. Johann Benedictine convent of Müstair Valley across the border in Switzerland is a well-preserved monastery complex that dates back to the Carolingian period. Here, Benedictine everyday life, cultural cultivation, art and research meet. Legend has it that none other than Charlemagne laid the foundation stone for the monastery. Immediately after his coronation, Charlemagne was caught in a snowstorm on the Umbrail Pass. Out of gratitude for having survived this, he founded the monastery in Müstair in 775. 
St. Johann Monastery has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. 

More information, guided tours and opening hours of the monastery church at: www.muestair.ch

From the village centre (town hall) via the Church Alley ‘Kirchgasse’ to the parish church of Saint Blaise. Walk under the church, then keep left to Turnauna irrigation channel path no. 8. At the end of the irrigation channel path, follow the forest road upwards. After the second bend, the path to "Schlietplott" branches off upwards at a small gate (approx. 45 min from the town hall). 

This rock called „Schliettplott" belongs to a type of inclined megaliths known as fertility stones or slides. Women in search of fertility used it until the end of the 19th century. This custom, linked to the cult of the “Great Mother” and widespread in many countries among the Alps, provided that women in search of motherhood slipped along the rock in the nights of full moon. These numerous slips that had been practised over the centuries, have left evident signs of smoothing.

After recent renovations this dormitory offers places to 75 boys and girls, mostly students at the sports high school. The well-equipped building, with all features and a two-story house chapel building, initially met with strong local criticism because of its rigid shape and the building material – concrete, in accordance with the Swiss models of the time. Gradually, however, the insight prevailed that the architect struck upon an essential aspect of the feel of the Vinschgau Valley landscape with this design and that the cube-shaped building, which has a certain ascetic restraint, creates a dialogue with the towers of Malles/Mals. Over the course of nearly half a century, the building has proven itself functional and is also solid from a construction point of view, down to the last detail, even if much of its concrete has lost its original gray silky gloss with aging and has become darker.

In 1220, the Church of San Giovanni/ St. Johann in Taufers was built as a Romanesque church in the shape of a cross. The fully frescoed groined vault depicts its Byzantine influence. It is worth seeing the Late Romanesque frescoes. Whole sections of the walls of the predecessor church from the 9th century were used to build the church. 
Later, the church was used as a hospice church and served as a common room and sleeping place for pilgrims. 

The church S. Johann in Taufers is open every day from 9.30 a.m. until 5.00 p.m..

Ganglegg is the best-researched fortified Bronze-Age/Iron-Age Alpine settlement in the entire Alpine region.

From the village centre (town hall) via Church alley ‘Kirchgasse’ to the parish church of Saint Blaise. Walk under the church, then keep left to Turnauna irrigation channel path no. 8. After a few hundred metres along the irrigation channel path, the path to the cup stone branches off downhill (approx. 20 minutes from the town hall).

The prehistoric cup stone dates back to the Middle Neolithic period (approx. 4,500 - 3,000 BC) and is therefore one of the oldest monuments of mankind. The indentations in the stone are known as ‘ cups’. Researchers do not agree on the meaning of the cup stones. There are various assumptions:

1. The cup stone stored energy and served as a place of power. It was mainly used as a fertility symbol for ritual purposes. The cups were notched as thanks.

2. The cup stone was an astronomical calendar. At a certain distance, a wooden slat cast a shadow on the cups, indicating the right time for sowing and harvesting.

3. People or animals were killed on a lying cup stone and the blood that flowed out was soaked up in the cups and sacrificed to the gods.

The cup stone was found on 11 November 1988 during excavation work for irrigation pipes by Paul Hermann Vidal. In April 1989, Dr Lorenzo Dal Ri, then Director of the State Monuments Office, was able to prove the authenticity of the cup stone. In September 1990, Dr Sennhauser, an archaeologist from the monastery of St. Johann in Müstair, determined the age of the cup stone to be 4,500 BC (Neolithic period).

The school building forms part of the village-renewal concept, with public revolving around a new village square. The village center is consolidated onto this piazzetta, with the school, gym and the Schwarzer Adler tavern as the headquarters of the associations; the buildings are separated only by narrow passageways in the gardens and schoolyard. The scale of the new school building is oriented towards the existing volumes of the buildings in the village. It is a solid masonry construction with gabled roof, rough plaster facades, and finely smoothed window embrasures that, with their bevels, take on architectural elements of the nearby Engadine Valley. The construction avoids rigid blockiness through varying roof pitches and the soft inflection of the facade along the street space. The large window openings show interiors with fine woodwork and color accents, furnished in a way that is downright cozy.