Cyklistické trasy v jižním Tyrolsku

While pedaling in the Etsch / Adige Valley from Bozen / Bolzano to Meran / Merano, to your right you can see only cliffs and steep slopes served by two solitary cableways. But behind those mountain slopes and cliffs, there's an enormous hidden area of verdant alpine meadows dotted by hamlets and countless farmhouses. The road across this landscape is a joy for bicycle racers. This road leads from Kaltern / Caldaro over to the Burggrafenamt / Burgraviato district. This district – which includes the city of Meran – has its name from the previous historical era during which Tyrolean Burgraves reigned here. Today, this region is a center of tourism in South Tyrol: Meran and its neighboring communities are pulsing with life. One the route to this area, the only thing holding you back might be a gentle breeze blowing to the south from the Vinschgau / Venosta Valley along the Etsch / Adige River. This tour starts at the central market square in Kaltern and continues via the Bahnhofsstrasse down to the Kellereistrasse (alternative starting-point) at the end of which (at the old locomotive) the actual bike trail begins that leads down into the Etsch / Adige Valley. You will now proceed along the Etch bicycle path into the valley and later along the little valley roads until you approach the gates of Meran. The traffic will now become somewhat heavier until you have left the branch roads into the center of Meran and the streets up to Schenna / Scena behind you. At the outskirts of Meran, the ascent begins up to Hafling / Avelengo, the first village of the extensive "Wiesenbalkon" ("meadow balcony") above the Etsch Valley. (This village gave its name to the "Haflinger" breed of horse.) On the uphill stretch, the traffic will lighten once you've passed the valley station of the Meran 2000 gondola-type aerial lift (to which many visitors come by car). You can now fully enjoy the fabulous view of the Etsch / Adige Valley until the in part quite steep road disappears behind the cliffs. Not only the view into the valley is now obstructed. Suddenly, Meran has vanished from sight when you immerse yourself in this completely different world of peaceful mountain pastures and rustic farmsteads. From Hafling, the road now winds across the plateau via Vöran and over to Mölten / Meltina. Just before you reach Mölten, in Schlaneid, you can also stay on the main road. But this tour will take you over a narrow side street and past the aerial lift's mountain station that serves the Etsch / Adige Valley. And that again meets the main road in Mölten. This side-trip is an exciting option for cyclists looking for a little adventure. That's because, between Hafling and Mölten, there is one or another side street leading to hamlets and farmsteads that you might like to try out along this route. But in Mölten, you'll again be riding along wider, well-established main street and continue for a while over the plateau. But soon, while descending along this exciting road featuring a couple of curves, a warm wind will again be blowing in your face until you get to Terlan / Terlano and are standing in front of the gates of the provincial capital. You'll now see more vineyards, and viticulture will now characterize the tour. The route does not lead you directly on the main street to Kaltern. Instead, you will be taking little side streets through wine villages. You'll have to exert yourself until just after the Kaltern Höhe you have achieved the upper part of the Mitterdorf district. Only now can you glide easily into the center of town and maybe treat yourself to an espresso or maybe even a glass of wine – the perfect conclusion to this interesting tour.

Variants: You can take this tour in either direction. However, the descent from Mölten / Meltina to Terlan / Terlano is more charming that the one from Hafling to Meran. Because this route is in the shape of a figure-eight, with nodes between Terlan and Andrian, you are free to try out different variations.

Ramitzl Alpine Trail

Anyone looking for a bigger challenge, does not turn towards the Unterpulghütte mountain hut after 4.4km, but continues his route at the same gradient to the Ramitzler Schwaige Alpine pasture. As a reward and compensation for all efforts, excellent food and sensational views are also waiting here. For the sportily ambitious, there is also the opportunity to continue the route without bicycle and to climb the Rasciesa di Fuori/Außerraschötz mountain with its extraordinary summit cross and incredible 360° panoramic view (walking time of approx. 1.5 hours from the Ramitzler Schwaige).

 

 

 

 

The Andreas Trail - a hand-made trail masterpiece in the valley area which is not directly accessible by lift. It requires full concentration, riding skills and above all experience! This Trail belongs to the best what skilled freeriders can find at Kronplatz.

Length: 900 m
Difficulty: Difficult

This bicycle tour – connecting two of Kaltern's prettiest neighboring communities – offers a cornucopia of cultural impressions. This tour will first take you past Lake Caldaro to Tramin / Termeno, the home of the Gewürztraminer variety of grape. This charming wine village with its crooked lanes, historic buildings, and authentic wine cellars is nestled on the side of the Etsch / Adige Valley. The village square rises approx. 50 meters above the river flowing just three kilometers to the west, towards the Po Valley. Visitors to Tramin who want to get more than just a superficial impression of the regional culture should consider going to the Hoamet Museum at the village square, where they can embark on a mental journey backwards in time. In any event, you're sure to become a lot more familiar with South Tyrolean history in the course of this tour. Below on the Etsch River, you'll find Neumarkt / Egna, one of the most-beautiful places in South Tyrol and rich in history.

During the Renaissance Era, the market experienced an economic boom as draymen transporting their goods along the heavily-trafficked Brenner trade route needed a relay station for their horses every 30 km or so. After more and more goods were shifted to the increasingly important railroad, the village diminished in importance. Away from the rail line between the provincial capitals of Bozen / Bolzano and Trento, this commercial center no longer served that purpose. The village became impoverished, young people emigrated, and renovations slowed. But the alleged poverty of Neumarkt was simultaneously its selling point. In the 1980s, a cultural curator recognized the value of the place, with its neglected but unchanged and historically valuable center, and suggested that the center be completely restored in its original style. The restoration work was arduous and time-consuming – but done with care and attention to detail. Consequently, today's Neumarkt with its handsome houses and historic arcades is a true jewel. In some of the inner courtyards, you may still stumble upon original Renaissance frescos. All these aspects make Neumarkt an especially worthwhile destination in the beautiful "South of South Tyrol." The easy bike tour from Kaltern / Caldaro to Neumarkt will take you through the fruit orchards of the "Unterland" district of South Tyrol to the no-traffic zone of central Neumarkt. You can escape the hectic activity of the modern era and immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere, with its charming old manors, charming lanes, and ancient monuments. There is an abundance of cute little boutiques and shops, and when it comes to dining, you can choose from many different little restaurants. We recommend that you stop by the little Andreas Hofer Museum or in the Museum for Everyday Culture. Andreas Hofer was a hero of Tyrolean history; after he was sentenced to death, he was transported to Mantua and, in doing so, spent a night in Neumarkt. He was kept in a house basement and, according to the story, told his guards: "Keep a good eye on me! Because if I run away, you'll be executed in my place." With a backpack full of pleasant memories and impressions, you can now continue your journey on the Etsch Bicycle Route towards Auer / Ora and finally undertake the 180 meters of altitude differential back to Kaltern – it'll get your heart pumping and so help you develop a little appetite for dinner in one of Kaltern's many nice restaurants.

Variants: This tour can be combined with, e.g., the "Mitterberg / Monte di Mezzo" tour.

Mustn't be missed: Tramin / Termeno with the Hoamet Museum. Neumarkt / Egna with its historic center and the Andreas Hofer Museum and the Museum for Everyday Culture in Neumarkt.

This is a challenging biking tour with plenty of short, steep ramps demanding that you shift to the proper gear. Cyclists who choose this tour will be rewarded with beautiful views from high above the provincial capital of Bozen / Bolzano all the way up to Jenesien / San Genesio. Forget the hustle-and-bustle of the cities amidst verdant alpine pastures on your way to Mölten / Meltina. You will start from the market square in Kaltern / Caldaro, cross the Bahnhofsstrasse and proceed down to the Kellereistrasse (alternative starting-point). The bicycle trail begins at the end of the Kellereistrasse (at the old locomotive) and will take you all the way to the heart of the provincial capital of Bozen / Bolzano. You will proceed along the bicycle trail parallel to the Etsch / Adige River, then along the Talfer Brook – a tributary of the Etsch coming from the Sarn / Sarentino Valley. At the northern outskirts of the town, the road leading into the Sarn Valley and uphill towards Jenesien forks off from the Hauptstrasse. This represents the first highlight of this excursion. The street winds its way upward through two tunnels to the Panorama Balcony with an unobstructed view of the city and the Etsch Valley. You'll soon reach Jenesien, the main settlement of this plateau, and the streets will become gradually narrower as you pedal up to the Schermoos Saddle, the inconspicuous pass between Jenesien and Mölten. You'll be passing by farmers driving their hay wagons – and fewer city folk in their convertibles. The environment is now gradually growing quieter, and the street are adapting more and more to the wild character of the surroundings. Now it will get curvier and completely unrhythmic. You'll be frequently shifting gears – more often than you'll be changing direction. Until you surmount the Schermoos Saddle, you'll have to occasionally switch on your turbo in the appropriate gear. When descending from the saddle to Mölten / Meltina, you'll have to exercise caution, because the street at first remains narrow and treacherous. But in Mölten, you'll turn into the wider, well-established street and continue for a while over the plateau. You are now biking high above the Etsch / Adige Valley between Meran / Merano and Bozen / Bolzano – the perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with a different aspect of this region. This exciting descent features a couple of curves. A warm wind will again be blowing in your face until you get to Terlan / Terlano and are standing in front of the gates of the provincial capital. You'll now see more vineyards, and viticulture will now characterize the tour. The route does not lead you directly on the main street to Kaltern. Instead, you will be taking little side lanes through wine villages. You'll have to exert yourself until just after the Kaltern Höhe you have achieved the upper part of the Mitterdorf district. Only now can you glide easily into the center of town and maybe treat yourself to an espresso or maybe even a glass of wine – the perfect conclusion to this interesting tour.

Variant: It is also possible to take this tour in the opposite direction. However, when descending to Bozen / Bolzano, you will have to be especially attentive in the tunnels. And just before the end of the tour, you can visit the charming historical center of Bozen and its medieval promenades.

You start by taking the biking trail to Bozen. (ATTENTION: When you're at the wineries, be sure to take the biking trail past at the vintage locomotive, towards Bozen – NOT the path to Lake Caldaro!) Once you've arrived in Bozen, you should continue following this biking trail along the Etsch / Adige River until you have left the lively provincial capital behind. The contrasting landscape forms you will see over just a few kilometers as the crow flies are now enormous. The flank of the Etsch / Adige Valley rises steeply – e.g., uphill towards Kohlern / Colle or into the Eggen / Ega Valley (which derives its name from the eponymous brook which has to cut its way through a deep gorge to attain the Etsch River). In actual fact, it's only two or three kilometers – as the crow flies – from the outskirts of Bozen, from the busy autobahn, or the hustle-and-bustle of the Staatsstrasse, and you're already in another world. But you have to steadily pedal up winding roads in order to reach this peaceful oasis in the Eggen Valley. But one mustn't oversimplify the character of the Eggen Valley; rather, this region embraces not only the valley, itself, but also an extensive area including ridges, high-altitude plateaus, and side valleys. And it's on one of these ridges north of the Eggen Brook that you find the astronomical observatory. If you take this tour and pedal from the Etsch / Adige Valley via the village of Karneid / Cornedo uphill to the forest chapel at the "Kasererbild," you'll be rewarded with completely peaceful segment along a side street with only little traffic, and will also have mastered 1,000 meters of altitude differential. But you might want to wait a little bit longer before taking a rest-break – that's because you have almost reached the lookout point at the observatory, and the small road to it soon exits the forest, affording you a marvelous panoramic view. And the descent from the observatory is a highlight of this tour, when you speed down the road, negotiating hairpin curves on your way to Birchabruck / Ponte Nova on the valley floor by the Eggen Brook. The road continues with a moderate uphill grade to Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente, one of the region's main centers. This town is located on an extensive high-altitude plateau west of the mighty Latemar. The road remains at this elevation (about 1,300 meters above sea-level) for a few more kilometers when going south via Aldein / Aldino to the Staatsstrasse, which in turn leads to the neighboring Fleims / Fiemme Valley. En route to this destination, you can also take a side-trip in Petersberg to the Maria Weissenstein Place of Pilgrimage (2 km, 100 meters of altitude differential). This side-trip should be interesting not only for the devout, but also for hungry travelers – because there's also an inn next to the monastery. Behind Aldein, you can continue on the main road not to the left into the Fleims / Fiemme Valley, but rather to the right, for a quick descent into the Etsch / Adige Valley. You'll reach the valley floor in Auer / Ora. Now there's a nasty little surprise coming up for you: The Kreither Saddle – nicknamed the "Coyote Pass" – which offers an additional 170 meters of altitude differential between the Etsch River and Lake Caldaro. And then there's also the final ascent from the lake through the Lavason Valley to the wineries and on through the Bahnhofstrasse to the market square of Kaltern / Caldaro. But in comparison with the Kreither Saddle, this final ascent is relatively tame.

Variants: In the Eggen Valley, you can take a short cut and glide along the Staatsstrasse from the valley towards Bozen / Bolzano. In doing so, you'll have to navigate two tunnels (with a length of 600 and 2,800 meters, respectively) and watch out for the traffic. On the saddle, we recommend setting your light to flash.

total km:  16 km
up: 86m
down: 1088m
 S1 - light

Unterpulg Alpine Trail

 

The Unterpulghütte mountain hut is not quite 5km away at an altitude of 460m. The route runs continuously through the forest at different gradients – depending on condition, you may have to push your bike for a short stretch. It is only when reaching the hut that you can experience a unique panoramic view over to the Sciliar/Schlern mountain and across the upper Val Gardena/Grödnertal Valley. After refreshments with typical South Tyrolean delicacies in the mountain hut, one can enjoy the view and tranquillity to the full in the available loungers.

As early as the 17th century, the "smart set" of that era who resided in Bozen / Bolzano would flee the big city during the hot summer months and escape to the cooler climes of Ritten / Renon. They would "summer" there. Today, the road leading from Bozen to this cradle of fashionable summering is a popular route for bicycle racers, and boasts a terrific panoramic view of the Dolomites. Ritten, together with Oberbozen / Soprabolzano, are now both attractive recreational areas for the residents of the provincial capital. It's a great opportunity for them to take the aerial tram and float 1,000 meters up to escape the oppressive summer heat on the valley floor. But ambitious athletes won't take the lift. Instead, they'll take the road beginning at the northeastern edge of the city – there where the Eisack / Isarco River leaves Brixen / Bressanone and exits the narrow valley on its way to the Etsch River. At the beginning of this ascent, the bike path first proceeds from the Kellereistrasse in Kaltern / Caldaro down towards Bozen before running parallel to the banks of the Etsch River. Soon, it continues along the shores of the Eisack River northwards until you have practically left the city. Now you'll have to deal briefly with the motor vehicle traffic in the vicinity of the main train station, but soon you'll get onto the road winding its way up (with hairpin curves) to Klobenstein / Collalbo. At an elevation of 1,200 meters above sea-level, you'll have overcome 1,000 meters of altitude differential. You can now take the time for a little rest-stop – maybe for a meal, or for a short trip to the nearby "Earth Pyramids." In Klobenstein, a somewhat narrower road begins that proceeds over the alpine meadows – with a constant "up" and "down" and another 300 meters of altitude differential. And all the while, you can admire the fantastic panoramic view. You will now descend into the Sarn / Sarentino Valley and to a road rising from Bozen as you continue northward. You will breeze along through several tunnels towards Bozen. The lower section was expanded only a few years ago; you will now proceed over it through wide and well-illuminated tunnels where you can merge into the motor vehicle traffic. Nevertheless, we recommend that you keep your warning light flashing as you navigate the saddle. Once you've reached Bozen, the bike path will continue along the Talfer Brook (which comes from the Sarn Valley). The path soon merges again with the Eisack Valley Bicycle Trail. The route will now take you back on the same way, uphill to Kaltern – with another approx. 300 meters of altitude differential. If you have time to spare, you might consider stopping for a pleasant stay amidst the charming arcades of the provincial capital. But don't dawdle too long in Bozen! You should still plan to enjoy a glass of delicious wine once you get to the market square in Kaltern.

The Little Unterland Circuit is a pleasant and easy bicycle tour through the idyllic South Tyrolean Unterland/Bassa Atesina, suitable for touring, trekking, city, and mountain bikes. Spanning approximately 36 km with a minimal elevation change of about 79 m, this tour is ideal for a relaxed cycling trip. The route mainly follows paved, low-traffic roads and the traffic-free Adige Cycle Path, making it accessible year-round – best during the months of spring, late summer, autumn, and winter.

New in summer 2022 in the Bike Park Kronplatz is the "Dragon Trail": the trail, over 2 kilometers long, winds along the hillside from the summit to the middle station of the Olang 1+2 lift. The highlight is definitely crossing the Dragon's Head and the Dragon's Tail, where you have a beautiful panorama of the surrounding Dolomites at the same time.

This tour is like a journey through the history of the Etsch / Adige Valley. You will pass through historical villages on its sun-drenched eastern flank, though arcades and narrow lanes. And the highlight is a mystical, hilly landscape – an ancient cult site and important biotope that has lost none of its magical appeal. Castelfeder, situated in the "Unterland" district of South Tyrol between the villages of Auer / Ora and Montan / Montagna, is an ancient cult site on prominent display in the landscape. Extravagant geological formations and enormous boulders left behind by receding glaciers can be seen at various elevations. This wild and romantic hilly landscape exerts an unaccountably powerful attraction on every visitor. Castelfeder is the subject of numerous legends and stories. The so-called "Kuchelen" on the highest level are the remains of a ring wall dating back to the Early Middle Ages. The smoothly polished slide at its highest dome is believed to be associated with an ancient fertility cult. It was thought that childless women could get offspring by rubbing the stones dedicated to Mother Earth. The reasons for building the Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad at the southern edge of the magic hill had less to do with pagan rituals, and more with practical necessity: It leads up from the foot of the Etsch / Adige Valley to the San Lugano Pass and into the "Val di Fiemme." In the 1960s, the railroad was mothballed. Today, cyclists are glad that they can use this old route as a bicycle path. It's a steep ascent over the eastern flank of the Etsch / Adige Valley. The trail takes you first through the magical labyrinth of Castelfeder. This ascent begins at the Etsch Bicycle Trail between Auer and Neumarkt / Egna. To get there, follow the bicycle route from Kaltern / Caldaro and past Lake Caldaro down to Auer and along the Etsch River to the south. After ascending through the mystical biotope, you will continue uphill into the historical center of the village of Montan. After that, you'll enjoy an unobstructed view of the Etsch / Adige Valley as you continue to the small hamlet of Pinzon / Pinzano and down to Neumarkt. In earlier days, Neumarkt was an important commercial center along the Etsch Valley Route; the charming arcades from its heyday are a reminder of its earlier importance. On the route from Montan and then back down into the valley, you'll encounter another visual marvel: The viaduct near the little village of Glen, a looped bridge which the engineers used to elegantly smooth out the necessary hairpin bend of the railroad in the somewhat steeper area of the slope. This roundtrip offers numerous photo-ops, so plan some extra time to stop and take a few snapshots. From Neumarkt, the route then returns you along the bicycle trail via Lake Caldaro up to Kaltern. You can now celebrate the completion of your tour with an espresso or a glass of delicious Caldaro wine.

Variants: This roundtrip tour can be taken in either direction. If you take it in reverse order, you'll begin in Neumarkt / Egna and visit the Castelfeder last. But because the route crosses the street between Neumarkt and Montan / Montagna, you can also limit yourself to looping backwards via Pinzon / Pinzano and Montan, or you can completely forgo this loop.

Caldaro - Ora - Montagna - Aldino - Nova Ponente - Obereggen - Val d'Ega - Bolzano - Caldaro

This alternative route has it all: The exceptionally steep access trail to the Tierser Alpl Refuge gives you the chance to extend the Duron Valley tour, and leads to this breathtaking mountain hut amidst the rock formations of the Rosszahn and the Rosengarten Antermoia. 

Information about the timetables and tickets of the summer lifts: www.seiseralm.it/cablecars

The Lake Caldaro circuit rout is not especially long. With a length of 17 km and about 300 meters of altitude differential, it's the ideal training tour for your day of arrival, a great way to familiarize yourself with the "lay of the land" around the lake, and an efficient method to obtain a quick overview of the countless further possibilities this region offers. The route is chiefly over asphalt biking paths so it's especially well-suited for novice cyclists and families with children. You'll first glide away from the Infopoint in the Kellereistrasse and down into the Lavason Valley. The trail then flattens out as you continue down towards Lake Caldaro and Auer / Ora. Now comes a single, short ascent before you apply the brakes and speed through the vineyards on your way to the lake. Once you've arrived at the lake in Klughammer, you'll continue on the eastern shores of the lake towards the south. Just south of the lake, you'll take a right turn from the Bozen-Auer Bicycle Trail and proceed over level ground around the lake, past the St. Joseph Church, until you come to the large parking lot at Lake Caldaro with its many lakeside restaurants, beaches, and swimming areas. In the summertime, you'll be tempted to go for a refreshing dip or treat yourself to an ice cream. After a rest-stop, you can continue along asphalt bicycle trails up to Kaltern / Caldaro – there are limestone-white ties embedded in the ground all along the Wine Route that indicate the various different wine-growing terrains. You'll now have to shift gears and overcome 180 meters of altitude differential – which is easier in the afternoon, with the south wind to your back. Once you're back in Kaltern, the lively atmosphere there might tempt you to enjoy a refreshing ice cream or a delicious cappuccino.

Variants: South of Lake Caldaro, you can proceed straight along the bicycle trail towards Auer / Ora and undertake a multitude of longer tours – e.g., the "Mitterberg / Monte di Mezzo" tour or the "Neumarkt / Egna" tour.

Mustn't be missed: Beautiful Lake Caldaro with its biotope and bird-watching point. The famous Caldaro Wine Route.

The moderately difficult e-bike tour runs mainly on asphalt roads, but also on a forest path. The tour offers a wonderful view of the Höhlensteintal/Val di Landro  valley and the Toblach/Dobbiaco lake.

Charging stations:
Dobbiaco/Toblach center

If you've ever been to Kaltern / Caldaro or at least passed by it, then you'll already be familiar with the Mitterberg, this long, heavily forested hump of reddish rock in the middle of the Etsch / Adige Valley between the Etsch / Adige River and Lake Caldaro. But not everyone knows that there are more than 600 km of trails and paths in the vicinity of the Mitterberg – an ideal playground for bikers of every stripe. The Mitterberg circuit tour leads entirely along bike trails. It is not restricted solely to the Mitterberg. Rather, it will take you around it – a tour that is extremely suitable for beginners and families – but also a great trail to get a little practice. From Kaltern, you'll first glide along the bike trail on your way down to Auer / Ora. You then continue along Lake Caldaro and finally round the southern tip of the Mitterberg until you come to the Etsch Bridge. Here – just before the village of Auer – you'll now enter the Etsch Valley Bicycle Trail which continues to the south towards Trento and to the north towards Bozen / Bolzano. The tour sticks to the Etsch River – usually far enough away from the autobahn so that you won't be bothered by traffic noise. The Mitterberg circuit tour can be taken in either direction since it consists wholly of asphalt bicycle paths. But the direction indicated here is recommended especially for afternoons when the south wind – the "Ora" – will provide a pleasant tailwind as you speed along the level Etsch Bicycle Trail towards Bozen. Just behind Bozen, the bike trail winds along the old railroad line slightly uphill towards Kaltern.

Variants: To the south of Lake Caldaro, you can continue straight on the bike trail to Auer / Ora and combine this route with, e.g., the "Neumarkt / Egna" tour.

Mustn't be missed: Lake Caldaro, the provincial capital of Bozen, Sigmundskron Castle with the Messner Mountain Museum.

Another absolutely superlative tour in the vicinity of Kaltern / Caldaro: Almost 80 km in length and requiring a high level of physical fitness, this route leads – after arriving via the bicycle path from Kaltern to Neumarkt / Egna – along the old railroad tracks to Kaltenbrunn / Fontanefredde and then on to Truden / Trodena. As you proceed along the course of the former Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad line, you will climb approx. 800 meters of altitude differential with a grade of no more than 6%. This railroad line – stretching from Auer / Ora to Predazzo – was built during World War I by Russian prisoners of war to transport men and matériel from the Etsch / Adige Valley to the Fleims / Fiemme Valley and towards the front. After the conclusion of the war, this small railroad transported chiefly wood and passengers until it was finally shut down in the 1960s due to shrinking profitability. All that remained was the perfectly established route which, today, serves as a gravel road called the "former Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad line" or "ex ferrovia". Because the locomotives back then were unable to manage a grade of more than five or six percent, this route is perfect for cyclists – you will be able to gently ascend the slope. The old railway tunnels – which seem like gloomy holes when you first approach them – shouldn't startle you: motion detectors will sense your approach and automatically switch on the lights. As you approach Kaltenbrunn / Fontanefredde, you'll turn off of the railway route and proceed a short distance uphill along the road to Truden. This gravel road is not overly steep and so is easily managed, and will take you up to the Ziss Saddle; this represents the transition to Altrei / Anterivo. Continuing to pedal uphill. Shortly before your reach the Horn Alm, you'll be treated to a fantastic long-distance view eastwards. Now you can enjoy the entire Fleims / Fiemme Valley and the majestic craggy towers of the Pale di San Martino looming behind the Rolle Pass. At an elevation of about 1,700 meters above sea-level, the Horn Alm is a very popular destination for cyclists coming from Bozen / Bolzano and its vicinity. From here, you'll take a short ramp uphill before you pass by Lake Schwarz and Lake Weiss on a gravel path downhill towards Gfrill / Cauria. This charming little hamlet is situated high above the Etsch / Adige Valley and affords a breathtaking view of the magnificent Dolomiti di Brenta. You will first proceed along the old and partially paved rural paths through alpine meadows and then downhill via Trail No. 7 – a forest trail requiring a high degree of technical skill and with almost 1,000 meters of altitude differential that will take you to Laag / Laghetti. The return trip to Kaltern in the afternoon is especially pleasurable when the weather is fine because that's when there's a strong southly wind (the so-called "Ora") blowing through the Etsch / Adige Valley that will act as a tailwind, giving you a little extra "push." It's thus no problem to achieve a speed of 40 km/h on average. All in all, the Trudner Horn is a superlative tour featuring great panoramas. However, it requires a medium-good level of technical skill and relatively good physical fitness.

Variants: In Truden / Trodena, you can decide whether you'd rather opt for the somewhat shorter and easier "Cisloner Alm" or "Kanzel" tours.

Mustn't be missed: The former Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad line, Lake Weiss and Lake Schwarz, the villages of Truden / Trodena and Gfrill / Cauria.

This pleasent tour takes you from Ortisei over the passo Carezza to Passo Sella.

This route runs along the main road for the most part and links Völser Aicha with Tiers am Rosengarten, where the Wuhnleger loop-route with its numerous beauty spots begins: The wild, romantic Tschamin Valley and the Wuhnleger Weiher lake are absolute must-sees in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm.

Biking tour through the natural jewel Altfasstal Valley to the Pranterstadl hut (1.833 m) and Wieser hut (1.850 m). From the parking Altfasstal (1.600 m), slightly down to Altfassbach and then always slightly uphill through the valley with two shorter steep steps. The route is rewarded with a breathtaking view to the Fallmetzer and Gaisjoch peak. The mountain bike tour is very easy to combine with subsequent ascent to the Seefeld lakes and the Seefeldspitze peak (2.715 m) as a bike & hike Tour. The way back is the same.

The Mendel Pass is the backyard mountain for bike racers from Kaltern / Caldaro, and many just ride up and down it for training purposes. But when you descend on the far side, you'll enter into the Non Valley – also known as the "Apple Basket" of the province of Trentino. It's sun-drenched slopes are crisscrossed by numerous paths and trails through pleasant little villages on your way to Cles, the valley's economic center. It is the ideal node of a loop for different expeditions offering plenty of variety. This is a tour from the vineyards to the apple orchards, from the South Tyrolean Etsch / Adige Valley into the Non Valley of Trentino. The Mendel Pass demarcates the boundary between the two provinces, and in the course of this tour, you will climb it twice – the long, sunny ascent from Kaltern / Caldaro in the fresh early morning, the short ascent from the Non Valley in the afternoon when the forest provides refreshing shade. Even the midday summer heat won't scorch you here because you can speed downhill to Kaltern with the wind to your back while enjoying the fabulous panorama. After the Mendel Pass, your exploration of the Non Valley will take you at first quickly along the shortest path to Cles. The villages of Brèz, Clòz, Romallo, and Revò are strung like pearls on a necklace stretching along the edge of the valley until you finally reach the shores of the reservoir, the Lago di Santa Giustina, the valley's main town, with its many cafes and restaurants where you can pause for a rest and refreshment. Once in Cles, you'll probably want to "fuel up" with a hearty meal. That's because you'll be returning to the Mendel Pass along a higher level. The road will take you up into higher elevations dominated by apple orchards to the town of Rumo. Afterwards, you will exit the apple-growing area and enter a world of wonderous alpine beauty. You will now continue climbing and pass into the Ulten Valley – one of South Tyrol's most pristine and authentic valleys. But you will be passing along only its outermost stretches. That's because you'll soon be taking a hard right turn into Laurein. You will now ascend to the Brezer Joch, an inconspicuous pass at 1,398 meters above sea-level which also marks the highest point of this tour. The route will now curve through partially denser pine forests – with occasional clearings – providing pleasant shade you'll appreciate after the sun-drenched segment through the Non Valley. After a short but exciting descent requiring a degree of concentration, the Non Valley Loop is now nearing its close. You will now proceed over a moderately steep end-spurt with about 500 meters of altitude differential to the Mendel Pass. You might want to leave the main road and cross the village of Ruffrè on the parallel provincial road. You can now breeze along the downhill road and enjoy the ride. Or stop and take a breather to admire the extraordinary view over Kaltern, the lake, the Etsch / Adige Valley, and the Dolomites.

Variants: The loop through the Non Valley can be taken in either direction. If you still have enough stamina, you can take the Gampen / Palade Pass from Fondo. By the end, you'll have clocked about 130 km and approx. 3,400 meters of altitude differential. And you'll feel that in your leg muscles!

The scenery is dominated by the panorama of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage. The route follows the old railway from Toblach/Dobbiaco to Cortina d´Ampezzo, from the Hochpustertal/Alta Pusteria valley across the Höhlensteintal/Val di Landro valley, past lakes and the View of the Three Peaks.  

Charging stations:

Hotel Tre Cime/Drei Zinnen

With a length of about 23 km, this is the shortest of the three wine village tours. It will take you through some of the best-known and most-scenic historic wine villages along the South Tyrolean Wine Route, including Girlan / Cornaiano, Eppan / Appiano, and Kaltern / Caldaro – renowned for their Pinot Blanc and the local Lake Caldaro wine.

This roundtrip tour begins in Kaltern, at the square in front of the large winery cooperatives (Kellerei Kaltern and Erste + Neue). From here, the route stretches through a patch of forest to the two Montiggl lakes. It continues to Girlan / Cornaiano, an historic wine village with underground wine cellars actually occupying more area than the village itself. The following segments include St. Pauls / San Paolo as well as St. Michael /San Michele – the actual center of Eppan, renowned for its fortress. You might consider taking a side-trip to the mountain fortress of Hocheppan (managed), which dates back to the 12th century. From there, you can admire a fabulous view of the Etsch / Adige Valley and the Dolomites. The wine route will now take you back to Kaltern by the Lake – which enjoys a great reputation not only for the Lake Caldaro wine named after it. Once you've completed the tour, we recommend going to the market square and visiting the "Punkt" wine house – which has been modernized in appearance – or the South Tyrolean Wine Museum.

General information about these three wine village tours:

Cycling along the South Tyrolean Wine Route is always a unique experience. Mild temperatures and approx. 300 days of sunshine per year make this, the oldest Wine Route of Italy, an ideal place for active vacationers and pleasure-seekers wishing to explore the vicinity by bike. The three pleasure cycling routes of the low-traffic South Tyrolean Wine Route offer plenty of options to experience the vineyards, visit the wine cellars, and explore the castles. The three wine routes (North, Middle, and South) display almost no significant inclines – and they can be cycled throughout the year, both individually and in combination.

Complete service

• We pay attention to your safety: First water to quench your thirst, and then wine for enjoyment.
• When you come to us, you can rest assured that your bicycle is in good hands: Reliable onsite parking is guaranteed.
• We care about your comfort: Upon request, we will deliver your purchases from some of our member wineries to your hotel (surcharge).

This tour will take you through picturesque South Tyrolean vineyards all the way to Entiklar and is one of the most-challenging of the novice tours around Kaltern. You'll have to contend with more than 700 meters of altitude differential. But on the other hand, it does not require a high level of technical cycling skills – that's because the trail is almost entirely over asphalt paths. Especially in the springtime, when the fruit trees blossom beneath the snow-capped mountains of the Dolomites, this tour boasts a great deal of scenic beauty. From Kaltern, you'll first cycle up the low-traffic road uphill to Altenburg – just to get your blood flowing at the beginning. Then you'll glide over the small, level plateau until you come to a steep asphalt path downhill to Söll / Sella and further downhill to Tramin / Termeno. If that's enough for you, you can also cycle down into the fruit orchards on the floor of the Etsch / Adige Valley and glide back to Lake Caldaro. But we recommend that you continue along the defined route – that's because the especially appealing segment will take you through hilly terrain and through the fruit orchards and vineyards to Kurtatsch / Cortaccia and finally to the small village of Entiklar high above the Etsch / Adige Valley. On the valley floor, you'll find the little town of Margreid / Magrè. You've now already completed the difficult part of the tour – the return trip is over level side roads and through fruit orchards back to Tramin and from there to nearby Lake Caldaro. Once you've arrived there, you might want to stop for refreshments at one of the many dining establishments there – or maybe go for a dip in the lake. Afterwards, you can attack the remaining 180 meters of altitude differential on the way back to Kaltern.

Variants: At the roundabout, you can take a right turn and go on a side-trip to Neumarkt / Egna.

Mustn't be missed: The St. Vigilius Church in Kurtatsch / Cortaccia, the numerous fruit orchards and vineyards along the route, and the charming little village of Entiklar / Niclara.

 

This medium difficulty bike tour delights everyone, as it runs mostly on forest paths and paved roads with flat passages. The fantastic view of the neighbouring Dolomite mountains such as Rosengarten/Catinaccio, Schlern/Sciliar and Latemar is always fascinating.

This leisurely bike tour offers top-class views from start to finish. The gravel path, which is shared with hikers along the entire route, starts at the Plose Looping at the mountain station of the Plose cable car and leads along a simple and easy path to the Rossalm, where a stop is definitely worthwhile. The return journey is along the same route.

The Resciesa tour is a moderately difficult tour with rewarding panoramic views.
The consistently steep gravel road leads from Ortisei through the Resciesa forest to the Resciesa area. Due to its characteristic steep incline and treacherous descent, this tour is only recommended for experienced bikers with good physical condition. The effort of the 900 m of ascent is rewarded on the Resciesa alp with a breathtaking view of the Dolomites.

The Kronplatz Bike Park is anything but ordinary. Instead of sketching trails on a drawing board, we went right into the forest and used whatever we found: Steep slope? Steep trail. Plenty of space? Perfect for jumps. Roots all over the place? Well, we’re in a forest, so there will be roots. In places where dredging was allowed, we put our excavators to work. And wherever it wasn’t, well, we didn’t. The result: At Kronplatz, there’s no copy-paste – each trail tells its own story. 

And the trail names are quite unique, too: Franz and Hans are already legendary. They’ve been a household name in the community for years. But their successors are by no means inferior to them and have long been among the favourites of countless TrailTrophy and Alpine Enduro Series participants.

18 trails await you: 1 easy-moderate, 3 moderate, 10 moderate-difficult and 2 difficult.

With a total of 5 lifts and cable-cars (Kronplatz 2000 lift, Olang 1+2 lift, Ried lift, Ruis lift and Piz de Plaies lift) up and running all summer, our mountain bikers are spoilt for choice – that’s more than most places in the Alps can say for themselves. And with the exception of the Piz de Plaies lift, they all lead right to the peak at 2,272 m above sea-level, complete with jaw-dropping 360° views.

The South Wine Route then runs about 40 km in a long circuit to Salorno / Salurn, the southernmost community of South Tyrol. Along the way, you'll pass through the charming wine villages of Tramin / Termeno, Kurtatsch / Cortaccia, Margreid / Magrè, and Kurtinig / Cortina all’Adige as you glide along the Wine Route.

The South of South Tyrol: Bicycle tour

This tour begins at the square in front of the large winery cooperatives (Kellerei Kaltern and Erste + Neue). From here, the bike trail will lead you through the vineyards and down to Lake Caldaro and past its eastern shore (by Klughammer) towards Auer / Ora. You'll pass the reeds and the biotope on the southern banks of the lake before the route enters the Auer-Tramin Bicycle Trail. There, it also bends into the South Wine Route. You can ride on it in either direction. In other words: There are two paths to the southernmost point in Salurn.

If you now take the right turn, you'll first proceed on the South Tyrolean Wine Route and enter into the historic wine village Tramin / Termeno. The Gewürztraminer variety of grape – which is indigenous to this locality and is used to make some of the finest wines available – is named after this village. The route continues to the south through the historical wine village of Kurtatsch / Cortaccia and past the famous "original grapevine" grafted here in the year in Margreid / Magrè. From here, you will proceed to Kurtinig – often referred to as "Little Venice" by the locals because it is flooded so often. It's only now that the route crosses the Etsch River. Salurn is located on its eastern side. You can take the short side-trip to the Haderburg – which was established here on a rocky prominence in the 11th century as a fortress.

On the return trip back to Kaltern, you will encounter the villages of Neumarkt / Egna and Auer / Ora on this side of the valley. In Neumarkt, you ought to visit the centuries-old and impressive leafy arcades in the center (which is closed to motor traffic). It's a wonderful opportunity to exit the hustle-and-bustle of modern times and immerse yourself in the Middle Ages. You can admire the handsome old manors, enjoy the coolness of the arcades, and explore the village's shopping options.

Farther to the north, the bicycle trail will take you past the Castelfeder biotope – an ancient cult site located on a wild, romantic hilly landscape abounding with fascinating geological formations and enormous boulders left behind by receding glaciers, and that has lost none of its magical appeal. If you wish, you can now pay a visit to Auer before continuing across the Etsch River to Lake Caldaro and up to Kaltern.

A fitting conclusion would be, e.g., a visit to the wine house at the starting-point / finish line of this tour. Or at the market square. The "Punkt" wine house there carries a wide assortment of wines from the Lake Caldaro area.

Variants: At Margreid / Magrè and Neumarkt / Egna, there are two additional bridges over the Etsch River which you can use as short-cuts. There is also rail service between Salorno / Salurn, Kurtinig / Cortina, Margreid, Neumarkt, and Auer – a great way to save yourself a few kilometers (www.suedtirolmobil.info).

General information about these three wine village tours:

Biking along the South Tyrolean Wine Route is always a very special experience. Mild temperatures and about 300 days of sunshine per year make the oldest Wine Route of Italy an ideal place for active vacationers and pleasure-seekers wishing to explore the vicinity by bike. The three pleasure cycling routes of the low-traffic South Tyrolean Wine Route offer a wealth of options to experience the vineyards, visit the wine cellars, and explore the castles. The three wine routes (North, Middle, and South) display almost no significant grades – and they can be cycled throughout the year, both individually and in combination.