Energetická místa

The Gaul Canyon....craggy and beautiful

Bizarre rock formations, unique vegetation and the picturesque location at the foot of Castle Braunsberg make the Gola Canyon in Lana charming and unique.

Only a few minutes from the centre of Lana you feel like you are in a different world: the Gola Canyon directly at the foot of the hill on which Castle Braunsberg is towering.

Steep rocky slopes rise above the pebbly riverbed of the Falschauer. Between the cool rock walls the temperature stays fresh even at the height of summer. A number of different rock types come together here.

Between the quartz porphyry and the primary gneiss rocks there is also a thin layer of granite. Between the massive rocks the mountain stream runs untamed and only a slim strip of land passes over the river.

Already for some decades the easily accessible meadow at the centre of the Gola Canyon has been used as a venue for numerous events. The glade is used for summer feasts as well as an atmospheric backdrop for the Lana open-air theatre.

From the Gola Meadow the well secured path continues over a number of suspension bridges deeper into the rocky canyon passing by a roaring waterfall.

You can follow it either into the narrowing,wild and romantic canyon or up to Castle Braunsberg, where a lovely view over Lana awaits you.

The Witches’ Benches The resting place of the Sciliar/Schlern witches on the Bullaccia/Puflatsch mountain is a truly mythical location. Starting point: Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm

The Renon earth pyramids are the highest and the most aesthetically pleasing in Europe. Earth pyramids are a phenomenon of erosion. They originate where ice-age glaciers have deposited moraine clay in valleys. When it is dry, it is rock-hard. If it comes into contact with water, it turns into a clayey pulp that flows down into the valley. However, when protected from the rain by large stones, the clay remains dry and hard. Only the part around the stone erodes. This is how earth columns are formed and become higher each time it rains. If the top stone falls off the peak, the column is certainly doomed to a quick decline because the clay is exposed to the rain and then carried away by it. The earth pyramids on the Renon can be marvelled at in three ravines: in the Rio Fosco valley between Longomoso and S. Maria, in the Rio Rivellone valley below Soprabolzano and in the valley of the Rio Gasterer at Auna di Sotto.

The Peace Trail (Friedensweg) in Caldaro was created between 1995 and 2000 by an action group led by Georg Reider. It leads from the Sportzone St. Anton car park across the cultural and natural landscape through the Kardatschertal valley or the wild Rastenbachklamm gorge to St Peter’s Church in Castelvecchio/Altenburg.

Seven stations invite hikers and pilgrims to pause and reflect. Artists have interpreted the five themes of “Moderation, Wisdom, Justice, Belief and Hope,” artistically applying them to the environment. The sixth station (Courage) is the Rastenbachklamm gorge. The seventh, Love, is represented by the ruins of the early Christian St Peter’s Church in Castelvecchio, probably the oldest church ruins in Tyrol.

Sturdy footwear is recommended for the hike and sure-footedness is also essential in some places.

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.

The hill of St. Hippolyt in Naraun, a fraction of the municipality of Tisens/Tesimo, forms the highest point of the plateau. Due to its striking appearance and its breathtaking panoramic view, it is not only a popular destination for excursions, but has also radiated a special atmosphere on people since time immemorial. 

The first traces of settlement date back to the Neolithic Age, i.e. the 4th millennium BC. Since that time, the hill has been continuously settled or at least visited. In addition to small finds such as arrowheads, knives, garment clasps and various tools, numerous house foundations and an Iron Age fire sacrifice site from the 4th-2nd century BC have been found, giving us insight into the life and cults of the former inhabitants.

The numerous circular shells cut into the rock, so-called shell stones, still pose a mystery to us, and their function has not yet been clarified. Also puzzling is the scoring of a beautiful spiral that is hardly visible today. It is located on a rock slab ground smooth by the glacier near the pond at the foot of the hill (Narauner Weiher), directly on the path to the hill of St. Hippolyt. 

Today, the little church of St. Hippolyt, first mentioned in 1288 but certainly older, dominates the hilltop. It shows how much this place retained its mystical attraction for people even in Christian times, although other rituals took hold. 
One of these important rituals was certainly the weather ringing, the task of which the sacristan of St. Hippolyt had to fulfil. During heavy summer thunderstorms, however, the exposed nature of the hill repeatedly led to accidents, which is why the church of St. Hippolyt was nicknamed "Zum bösen Segen" ("To the evil blessing"). As late as 1925, a sacristan couple was killed by lightning, which is commemorated by a memorial plaque inside the church. 

Whether due to the lonely location of the sparsely overgrown hill, its long history or the vastness that can be seen here, there is no doubt that the hill of St. Hippolyt in Naraun with its church possesses a special aura that invites people to inner contemplation and makes it a place of spiritual energy. 
It is also for this reason that the path of reflection to the Luminous Rosary and in memory of Pope John Paul II was built in 2010, leading from the car park at the foot of the hill to the church.

From the pilgrimage church in Santa Maria, via several stations of the Cross, a meditation road (built in 1996) leads you to the oldest religious sanctum of the Alta Pusteria Valley: St. Peter am Kofl. It is said that the chapel was used as a refuge for some priests during the turmoil of the mass migrations from Aguntum (near Lienz in Eastern Tyrol). St. Peter am Kofl was first mentined in 1329 and later renovated in 1987.

A winery has existed in Novacella since 1142, and thus the monastery winery is one of the oldest active wineries in the world. In addition, it is one of the most important in the Valle Isarco and the representative of an outstanding white wine area.

Within that context, the assortment on offer by the monastery winery is in fact primarily white but not exclusively so.

“Some 70 percent of our production is white wines: Sylvaner, Müller Thurgau, Kerner, and Riesling that grow from the Bressanone valley basin up to 900 meters,” says winemaker Celestino Lucin. The care and prudence that he practices hold true not just in the winery, but through a large number of additional circles. Thus the winegrowers work their vineyards in a sustainable manner, and the entire winery works in a CO2-neutral way.

Even if the Novacella Monastery Winery is renowned above all else for its white wines, the red varieties do indeed also play a role. They make up 30 percent of the production, whereby the grapes do indeed grow in vineyards belonging to the monastery, but not in and around Bressanone. “The climate would be too harsh for them,” Lucin is convinced. His Schiava, Pinot Noir, and Red Muscat thus have their origins in Bolzano and Cornaiano.

But it doesn’t matter whether it is red or white: the calling card of the monastery winery has been and remains the Praepositus line. And because that is the case, it is at the same time also an homage to the leader. Praepositus is the Latin word for the provost, and thus the abbot of the monastery.

The Beimstein Knott knoll is particularly impressive for its stunning view overlooking the village of Vöran/Verano.
The new “Attimo” installation on the red rock here is comprised of five chairlift seats placed in a row, representing an imaginary chairlift.
The artists: architects Verena and David Messner

This "Knott" is one of the three "tuff knolls" (Rotstein, Beimstein and Unterstein Knott), they are of volcanic origin and are unparalleled in South Tyrol.

The Beimstein Knott is part of the new circular hike Knottnkino³.

The “Places of Power and Forest Therapy - Balance” themed trail connects people with nature and its healing powers. Meditations are offered at various stations, allowing the energy of nature to have an effect on body and mind. Geomancy, an ancient knowledge of the interactions between cosmic, earthly and human energies, helps to recognize places of special energy. Places of power, zones with increased earth radiation, promote well-being. Forest bathing establishes a deep connection to nature through mindfulness, which strengthens the immune system and brings inner peace.

Now this meditation trail will bring psychic and therapeutic enrichment to everyone who experiences it as an alternative to the consumerism of our times.

The Stone Men (Stoanernen Mandlen) - Moonlight and Satan’s milk - the true story of the Val Sarentino witch ‘Pachlerzottl’

Barb (Barbara) Stöckele married Kunz Pachler and moved to the Bachlerhof from her home on the opposite side of the valley. The cheerful young farmer’s wife brought new prosperity to the farmstead, though Katl Hiller, the former housekeeper at the Bachlerhof grew suspicious of her. Several years later, after no heir to the farm had been born, Katl took Kunz aside, asking if he hadn’t noticed that Barb was involved in black magic and saying that God would never entrust her with a child. Kunz became increasingly estranged from Barb, who grew lonely and depressed realising she had been abandoned. One day Katl observed her as she splashed around in a water trough, deep in thought. Straight afterwards a devastating thunder storm broke out over the Sarntal valley and all Windlahn blamed it on Barb, saying she had brought it about by magic. Barb soon realised that she had been branded a witch, and that every kind of misfortune was attributed to her: the death of a child, just as much as a cornfield flattened by hail. Barb became a recluse and hid at her mother’s for weeks on end. After her mother’s death she went to ruin, wandering from place to place, homeless, in rags, ‘zottelig’ (unkempt, with matted hair). The accusations of witchcraft accumulated and she, the ‘Pachlerzottl’ was imprisoned in Schloss Reineck castle. Under torture she admitted to making mice out of coal, to putting a spell on milk, to riding on a broomstick to the Steinernen Mandlen at Auen, to masticating children and to copulating with the devil. She was tried in the Kellerburg in 1540 and the trial records are still preserved complete. ‘Pachlerzottl’ was condemned to death for witchcraft and burnt alive at the ‘Galgenangerle’ (gallows corner) at the northern end of Sarnthein where the Öttenbach stream runs into the Talfer.

The Pachlerzottl tragedy is re-enacted as a play on the first three Thursday evenings in July, with the original Steinernen Mandeln as a backdrop.

Hiking up to see the Stoanernen Mandln, which translates roughly to ‘Men of Stone’, is quite a popular excursion.

The stone men are located atop a remarkable knoll on Alpine pasture and tower at an elevation of 2,000 metres above the municipality of Tschögglberg mountain plateau, looking out over the Sarentino Alps. Human figures made of stone such as these can also be found in other parts of South Tyrol: they served as a landmark frequently or were simply built by shepherds to pass the time.

Prehistoric flint tools and stone carvings have been found at the Stoanernen Mandln, however, demonstrating that this stone knoll has served as a passage from the Adige Valley into the Sarentino Valley for millennia.

Mythology and Witchcraft:
Myriad tales are linked to this place. In early modern times, people believed witches met with the devil up there, celebrating wild festivals, changing the weather, and sending strong thunderstorms down into the valley.

Tip: Sunrise and sunset hikes.

Resciesa is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Puez - Odle Nature Park and is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Val Gardena. This loop hike takes you from the top station of the Resciesa funicular to the summit cross. Passing then by the S. Croce Chapel you return to the starting point. Suitable for hikers of all ages, this easily hiked route guarantees spectacular panoramic views, extending from the Valle Isarco to the Sciliar area and to the Passo Sella.

In front of the Lagundo Tourist Office near Merano (Meran) there are exact replicas of Menhirs (tall, upright stones) discovered during excavations of the area in the 1990s. The stones form part of the remnants of a cult originating from the Illyrian and Ligurian settlement 3,000 years ago. The petroglyphs found on the stele are similar to the design of the tattoos found on the skin of Ötzi the Iceman. The originals are preserved at the Civic Museum in Bolzano (Bozen).

This hike leads through forest and meadows to the most famous pilgrimage site in South Tyrol, the Maria Weißenstein monastery, which is well worth a visit. Numerous votive tablets demonstrate how, for centuries, the devout sought refuge and mercy from the mother of god in times of worry or distress.

The new footpath in the Nature Park Fanes-Senes-Braies, where you can find one of the most beautiful source of the country. The “way of sources” is also a part of the footpath nr. 37 and easy to go. On the way you can find some wooden information-points, where the flora and the fauna are described, as well as the of drinking water. It’s werth to visit the Maite, the name of the sources.

From St. Andrä/S. Andrea near Brixen/Bressanone to the Freienbühel Pilgrimage Church following the Kreuzweg (Way of the Cross). 

Kaschlin - A special place near the mountain village Stelvio in Venosta Valley at over 1.400 m.

Views of the big mountains of the Ortles area in the Stelvio National Parc and the old village of Stelvio.

Cutting through pure white marble, which used to be coveted by stonemasons from all over the world and which shimmers here in every conceivable shade of green, the otherwise peaceful Ratschinger Bach stream becomes a raging torrent. By going down steep steps and over narrow bridges, you can get right down to the heart of the gorge, where a breathtaking natural scene awaits. The lower entrance to the Gilfenklamm gorge is in Stange/Stanghe, from where you walk along a level hiking trail to the entrance to the gorge, where the trail begins to climb gradually over bridges and along well-secured trails. Storming and raging, the wild waters of the Ratschinger stream tumble over numerous waterfalls, forcing themselves through narrow chasms between the steep cliff walls, which ensure that at the lowest, most impressive point - the so-called "church" - even the most dazzling sunshine is dimmed. Going from one bridge to another and up and down steps, you finally reach the end of the gorge. If you take your time, have good shoes and a camera, this hike is a memorable experience for all the family.

Open daily from 09.00 -17.00 (July and August 09.00-18.00)

Open from May 17, 2024 to November 03, 2024

Another important attraction was not created by builders but by nature: the Barbian waterfalls. The Ganderbach (stream), which is near Kollmann and flows into the Eisack river, which has a length of almost 6 kilometres. At the point of 1,510 metres above sea level, the stream falls over several rock cliffs down into the valley. The lower part of the waterfall with his 85 metres is the highest of the waterfalls at Barbian. From here, you can reach the upper part of the waterfall on a marked, wild and romantic path.

Every day, you can climb another summit. You will definitely have to hike up the legendary Alpine rage on the "Hohen Reisch" if you want to be called a friend of South Tyrol. It is one of the most beautiful views of the Sarntal Alps, from where you can see the entire Dolomite group, as well as the Marmolata and the Ortler mountains. Even if the weather should not turn out good, a hiking trip to the "Stanernen Mandln" (stone men) is extrenely fascinating. There are more than one hundred, which have been built over time, and most of them are of an impressive height. They are like a group of soldiers.

Here, at an altitude of 2,000 meters, they say that more than 500 years ago, witches have performed their dances and celebrations with the Devil. There are terrible stories around, which talk about what happened during a thunderstorm and also about the eating of children etc. A legal document from 1540 states that Barbara Pachler was accused of meeting with devils and witches and the document is used to support the old stories. Ancient signs seem to prove that the outlook was used as a Celtic place about thousands of years ago.

The Hill of the Holy Sepulchre is the most beautiful viewpoint of Tiso. The Holy Grave Chapel was built as a baroque building at the end of the 17th century. In it, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was worshiped. After the entry of Italy into the First World War in May 1915, fortifications were built here on the order of the Austrian Empire army. They should serve as a defense against a possible invasion of Italian troops in the Isarco Valley, if the Dolomite front should fall. The trenches and a bunker were built by Russian prisoners. However, the defenses were not used during the First World War. However, during the final months of World War II, the bunker was used by the village population as protection against air raids and bombing.

This about 3 km long round trail is a child-friendly, creative and near-naturally designed contemplation trail!

The visitors, especially children, receive in this wonderfull calming landscape the opportunity, to experience the nature and his creator understanding the God's message to us with all senses…

The famous St. Martin is the patron of Glaning. The design of the round trail is based on his life and model.

With the helpful elements like footprints, stone bench, labyrinth, „Our-Father“ rock or splendid viewpoints, can both children and adults comprehend the life of the Saint Martin learning also more about themselves…

The Wasserbühel Rundweg circuit trail in the wonderfully located village of Laion at the entrance to Val Gardena valley is a short walk to archeological findings at the ancient settelments at the Wasserbühel hill. Wasserbühel lies to the north-west of the village and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy its magnificent views.

The unusual phenomenon of the ice caves between the two villages of Kaltern (Oberplanitzing/Pianizza di Sopra) and Eppan/Appiano can be explained with a simple physical principle: air streams down through cracks in the porphyry stone, creating a system of windpipes that becomes cooler as it descends. This heavier, cold air mass collects in a 5 meter high pool in the depression. This climate is ideal for plants that would normally thrive in higher alpine regions. We do recommend to make this excursion during warm summer months.

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

These three larch trees, to be found near St. Gertraud in Ulten Valley, are considered to be the oldest conifers in Europe. Legend has it that these ancient larch trees are more than 2,000 years old.

The Via Monachorum, also referred to as “Silentium“ (Path of tranquillity) connects the villages of Madonna di Senales/Unser Frau and Monte S. Caterina/Katharinaberg with Certosa/Karthaus. There was a historic monastery there, founded by the Carthusian monks in the 14th century.  Dressed in their white robes, the monks lived in silence. Some large parts of the monastery walls have been preserved, as are the Gothic cloister and the former monastery kitchen. There are a number of plaques along this themed trail with philosophical quotations relating to tranquillity and silence. The trail is signposted using life-sized figures of monks.

Approaching the Rastenbach gorge, on your way down from Altenburg/Castelvecchio to Lake Kaltern, it suddenly gets really cool and dark. Your steps become more cautious, as if you’re being careful not to disturb the peace. Silently, you look around and enjoy the wonderfully refreshing ambiance. How reassuring to know that the wooden stairs and bridges are reinforced and properly secured. When you get to the bottom of the trail, you are welcomed by a sunny field and Lake Kaltern.

Not far from Seis, there is a hushed spot with a view beyond compare: The Karlotten Kofel hill. At the highest point of the volcanic rock and at the foot of the shimmering red porphyry of the mountain face, the incredible view opens out onto the mighty massif of the Schlern - and no less than seven chruch towers! Through the heat of the lava and the exceptionally sunny location, the vegetation here is surprisingly Mediterranean.