Family hikes in South Tyrol

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.

Toward the sun: easy route with start at the railway station of Marling/Marlengo.

The Dolomiten Panoramaweg Trail on the Plose offers magnificent views of the western Dolomites.

A leisurely, only somewhat steep, excursion across woods and chestnut groves.

This spectacular 4-stage hike crosses through the Eisacktal Valley from the Rodenecker and Lüsner Alm mountain pastures, over the Plose mountain near Brixen/Bressanone to Lajen/Laion at the entrance to the Grödnertal Valley.

Start to Finish: 

Start: Zumis parking lot, at Rodeneck/Rodengo above Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria.

Finish: Lajen at the entrance to the Grödnertal Valley.

Total Distance: 61 km Ascent: 2,356 metres in height Descent: 3,004 metres in height

Stages: 4

• Stage #1: from Zumis parking area on the Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm to Maurerberghütte hut (± 6.30 hrs. on foot)

• Stage #2: from Maurerberghütte to Schlüterhütte hut (± 4.45 hrs.)

• Stage #3: from Schlüterhütte to Schutzhütte Raschötz refuge (± 5.00 hrs.)

• Stage #4: from Raschötz to Lajen (± 3.00 hrs.)

From the village square in Laas the promenade no. 16 westwards through the village, past the "Johannes Steinhäuser" school for stonecarving to the sports zone and the hill with the church - here offers a 360° panorama: Monte Sole mountain, Sesvenna group, Stelvio National Park, Lasa Valley with the Croda Jenne.

Easy Hike on Marling Waalweg Trail with start in the centre of Marling/Marlengo.

This contemplative cultural/historical hiking circuit on the Pfeffersberg mountain spans the seven churches above Brixen/Bressanone, testifying to the deep Christian beliefs of the local population. On the third Sunday of September, the annual pilgrimage is held in the church district of Brixen, known as the “Seven Church Procession”.

This easy hike leads through the sunny vineyards on the steep slopes of Leitach, north of Klausen/Chiusa. Along the way, a series of info boards illustrate the history of winemaking in South Tyrol, describing the different grape varietals and wines of Klausen.

This circular hike on the Pinàzweg Trail crosses over the sunny slopes of Brixen/Bressanone to Elvas. Although the trail remains open all year round, it is especially popular in springtime, when the fruit trees are in bloom, as well as in autumn.

Family hike on the sunny slopes of the north side in Laion with a steady view of the Sassolungo and the Sella

The Höfeweg above Schenna provides insights into the rural cultural and natural landscape. The combination of historic farmsteads and fabulous views of Merano and its environs make this hike a genuine delight.

Trail of Legends in Val Sarentino/Sarntal | A hike with a theme: Legends of South Tyrol | Trail of Legends in Val Sarentino/Sarntal | Directions | Starting point: Wippingerhof

A wooded area on the meadow track between Thurnerhof and Schenna Castle is home to scarily super legendary figures from Schenna. Kids’ imaginations will really run riot on this cross-country walk where they’ll encounter the carved figures. Mellow light suffuses the mixed woodland with chestnut trees, branches crack and rustling sounds emanate from the undergrowth... if you follow the path from Thurnerhof, where a hollow, ancient Keschtbam (South Tyrolean for chestnut tree) makes you want to play hide and seek, then that is the start of your mythical adventure. Perhaps timid forest fairies live here, or even a mischievous Nörggele. Stefan Kröll created the sculptures and - everyone who hears this is amazed - he did it with a chainsaw. All winter long he worked on the figures for his final high school graduation project at Fürstenburg Agriculture and Forestry Technical College in Burgeis, releasing giants and devils, Nörggele and a small church from pine wood. He selected six legends from the Schenna almanac, including “St. Oswald below the Ifinger”, “the Thaller Nörggele”, and “the Devil carries off a Perjuror”. The stories are told in German, Italian and English on the appealingly designed display boards. Admittedly some of the tales are rather spooky and macabre, and their content is more suitable for older children, but the figures are a delight for children of all ages, who can see what they want in them and even make up their own stories.

This hike passes over the most spectacular alpine pastures on the slopes of the Hirzer and is a real scenic highlight. Especially in summer, when the alpenrose blossom paints the mountain meadows a brilliant red.

From Feldthurns, take trail 18, which brings you to Schnauders. From there, follow trails no. 17 and 16 to Garn, where trail no. 10 leads on to Verdings and then no. 3 down to Moar zu Viersch. From there, the Chestnut Trail leads you back to Feldthurns.

Unforgettable hike through the remote Peder Valley to the Schildhütte and Dosso di Peder.

A nice hike through the Spring Valley to the town of Monticolo/Montiggl.
Change of path along the hike: 13, 20

Along the way you can find information panels about the history and culture of qine, as well as giant-size items used in winegrowing: a "Reber" (vine knife), a "Moster" (pounder) and a "Pazeide", an ancient wine and measuring vessel on the village square.

The tour leads through the village of Naz and then turns right onto the Villages round trip [Dörferrunde] through the Fruhnwald forest up to the Waldertor viewpoint. Past Fiumes/Viums and the Viummer crossing, the route leads mainly through forest paths up to Sciaves. Continue through the village and then go left along the Villages round trip through forest and later through orchards, up to the Flötscher pond. At the Seehof Hotel, cross the road and continue through meadows and woods, always along the signposted road to Rasa/Raas. Continue through the cultural grounds passing the water reservoir back to the street towards Naz. Follow the street to the right, at the Laugen sports field following the sign Dörferrunde. From here, the Villages round trip leads back to the starting point.

From the top station in Ladurns to a biotope and on the Dolomieu-Trail to the village Wastenegg. Descend to the "Teissljöchl" and to the moutain hut Edelweißhütte.

The last big irrigation path of Val Venosta dates back to 1873, using the waters of the Adige River near Coldrano at an altitude of 660 metres and ending after 6 kilometres in Galsaun, municipality of Castelbello.

A very beautiful, somewhat strenuous hike from Laives/Leifers, through the Brantental valley, to Nova Ponente/Deutschnofen.

This, a little bit challenging, itinerary starts at the bridge next to the bar Verena on the road direction Würzjoch. We hike upwards on the path through the meadows along the brook Putzerbach, we pass the "Balbein Platzl" with a little pond, picnic-table and panorama lounger. Following the path through the woods, crossing the road to Flitt, we walk uphill to Flitt (1337 m). Here we can take a break and visit the idyllic chapel. The meadows of Flitt offer a beautiful view of the valley with the Peitlerkofel in the background. The path downwards, which is initially steep and its starting point is located at the farm Wurzerhof, leads us to the start of the toboggan run and then to the farm Örtlhof. From here we follow the path through the woods until we arrive at the farm Pekulerhof. Finally we walk on the street until the starting point at the Bar Verena.

The hike along Wiesenweg is a pleasant circular route that takes in Schenna’s castles and farms and offers some lovely scenic viewing points where you can stop along the way. Absolutely recommended when the apple blossom is in flower in spring.

This hike starts at Prato and continues slightly above the wide valley floor, to the idyllically situated village of Montechiaro.

The three-mountain hut hike to Malga di Marzon, Malga Zirmtal and Malga di Montefontana/Malga Alt at Castelbello's Monte Tramontana is a very special mountain hut experience.

At the cabin-railway mountain terminal called Valcroce - Kreuztal (2,050 metres), take the high road (path # 30) in a northerly direction, along the tree-growing limit to the Ochsenalm (2,085 metres, snack bar). Then ascend on foot path # 6 to the Plosescharte and along the ridge to the Leonhard Cross. Walk along a small path on the ridge to the telegraph Plose summit (2,486 metres, panoramic views) and from there in a southerly direction to the Plose Hut (2,446 metres, snack bar). Descend on path # 7 to Kreuztal.

The spectacular Adolf-Munkelweg Trail in the Puez-Geisler Nature Park runs beneath the north face of the majestic Geisler Group at the closed end of the Villnösstal Valley. Passing through a stone pine forest and crossing Alpine rose fields, the trail leads to welcoming mountain huts ideal for a rest stop.