This is one of the oldest irrigation canals (Waalweg) of Merano and environs!
It was built in the XV century by the Counts of Stachelburg and is, therefore, more than five hundred years old. The canal is lined by birch-tree groves and rich, varied vegetation and is still used to irrigate the Parcines orchards, meadows and fields.
An ancient “Wohnstein”, a free-standing, curved rock in whose shadow ancient people lived, and a pre-historic “Schalenstein” – a stone with strange round-shaped indentations on it, dating back to the Copper Age, can be seen at the eastern end of the Waal path.
This particular walk is especially interesting for those interested in local history.
Tour Start
Partschins/Parcines, village center
Tour End
Partschins/Parcines, village center
From Partschins/Parcines village centre you follow the Sonnenbergstraße direction west then you pass the suspension bridge until you arrive the Winklerhof. From there you follow the trail No. 1 near the river Zielbach until you arrive to the entry of the ancient Waalweg (irrigation canal) of Partschins/Parcines. You follow the irrigation canal direction east. At the end of the Waalweg you follow the footpath n° 7A to Vertigen and then to Partschins/Partschins village center.
Variants
- Variant with legend trail and prehistoric cult and settlement sites (extension of the hike by approx. 1 hour)
- Variant with bus n° 265 in the direction of the waterfall / get off at the Salten bus stop (time saving approx. 30 minutes)
Highlights
- Sights in the centre of Parcines with Peter Mitterhofer typewriter museum, Stachlburg manor house
- Prehistoric settlement and cultural sites on the Waalweg (or with the legend trail variant - see above)
Timetable search: https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/