South Tyrol is particularly rich in stories that weave round secret locations and unusual natural formations. Places to see, like the witches’ benches at Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm Alpine pasture, recount stories of witches and kings, while places of power, like the “Stoanerne Mandln” with over one hundred cairns or the old ruins on the hill of Castelfeder, invite visitors to relax and take a deep breath. Unique natural formations like the earth pyramids are places worth a hike and exploring.
Marvel the impressive spectacle of the Lappach Klamm above Lappach/Lappago. Feel the cooling freshness on your skin, breathe in the pleasant fresh air and admire the colorful light reflections when the sun shines.
Andreas Hofer hid for one and a half months with his family at the Pfandler Alm mountain hut, above St. Martin/S. Martino. On January 28, 1810, he was captured and taken to Bozen/Bolzano and Mantova.
The Pfandler Alm is only accessible on foot.
Telescope on the trail no. 38 near the Waldbichl Inn in Vöran/Verano with view on the Church St. Jacob in Mölten/Meltina.
The Romanesque church of St. Jakob is visible from quite a distance and is located at the highest point of the Salto Plateau at an elevation of 1,525 metres.The church was first referenced in 1300. In 1900, Pastor Johann Luggin tackled a restoration and the church was inaugurated a year later. In 1970, frescoes dating from the seventeenth century were discovered and partially excavated in the church, which was originally Romanesque but Gothicised in 1510. On the altar, we find St. Jacob, who is the protector of the wayfarer, and two patron saints of plague sufferers, Roch and Sebastian.
The Telescopes cannot rotate: it is meant to focus solely on a single building.
The Rotstein Knott vantage point was where the South Tyrolean artist Franz Messner first installed his now-famous Knottnkino open-air cinema, with handmade folding theater chairs. Positioned somewhere between heaven and earth, visitors can marvel at the endless spectacle of nature both below and above.
Cut out of porphyry stone in the shape of an amphitheatre and set on the east face of the rock, the new Rotstein rest area designed by architects Verena and David Messner also offers a spectacular mountain view. The barely perceptible “wind rose”, a network of thin lines on the rock conceived by the designer Antoinette Bader, contemplates the interplay between art and nature.
The artists: Verena and David Messner, Antoinette Bader
The Rotstein 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 hunter’s monument was erected in 1968 on the Mesnerbühel by the hunters of Natz.The column was carved out of an old chestnut tree trunk. The inscription reads: „It is the hunter’s honour to protect and tend the game.“
The beautiful waterfall called Passeirer Wasserfall is 48 m high and is located at the beginning of the romantic Kalmtal/Valclava. You can reach the waterfall by walking from the village St. Leonhard/S. Leonardo, St. Martin/S. Martino or Riffian/Rifiano.
From the tourist office St. Martin/S. Martino follow the main street in direction St. Leonhard/S. Leonardo. After the tennis court across the bridge and take the hiking trail along the river for about 2 km in direction Meran/Merano. Next to the sawmill across the bridge and then take on the left side the hiking trail up to the main street. Cross the street and take the Trifterweg to the waterfall.
At the far end of the valley, just before reaching Mühlwald/Selva dei Molino, is the beautiful Mühlwald lake, a small dam lake at around 1,220 m above sea level that can be easily circumnavigated in half an hour on a barrier-free circular trail. Numerous rest areas with shady seating invite you to linger along the way.
Another telescope is installed on the hiking trail n. 2 (from Hafling/Avelengo in direction to the Wurzer Alm Mountain Hut) and provides a good view on the new summit station of the Meran 2000 funicular.
The Telescopes cannot rotate: it is meant to focus solely on a single building.
Telescope on the trail no. 12 (trail leads from Hafling/Avelengo village to the Alpenrose Inn in Vöran/Verano) with view on the St. Kathrein Church in Hafling.
The St. Kathrein Church was built on a site that was originally a pagan place of worship.The romanesque church with its Gothic apse, 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 Telescopes cannot rotate: it is meant to focus solely on a single building.
An impressive drama of nature is offered by the three Rio di Riva waterfalls which can be reached starting out from the hamlet of Bad Winkel. The Rio di Riva waterfalls are located in the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park and offer an impressive view of nature above all else in the summer. Fed by melted snow, the Rio di Riva plunges in three cascades over the rock cliffs into the depths, making it possible for visitors to experience the power of water with all of their senses.
The St. Francis'Path with the 10 meditational spots lines the path of the Reinbach waterfalls up to the Franziskus and Klara chapel.
Walking time from the starting point "car park Cantuccio/Winkel; Wasserfallbar":
- until the 1st waterfall approx. 20 minutes - 40 m altitude difference -
up to the 1st waterfall suitable for baby stroller
- o until the 2nd waterfall approx. 40 minutes - 140 m altitude difference
- o until the 3st waterfall approx. 55 minutes - 170 m altitude difference -
from here you can return with the Fly-Line possible www.fly-line-wasserfall.eu
- o until the Franziskus and Klara chapel approx. 75 minutes - 300 m altitude difference
Way back:
For the way back you can use the same trail or from Gasthof Tobelhof (near 3rd waterfall) on the hiking trail 2A in the direction of Sand in Taufers back to the starting
From Moos/Moso walk up the first road bridge. At 50 meters, turn left on the walkway up to the wooden observation bridges over the Stieber waterfall. From here hikers will have a breathtaking view of the gigantic Stieber waterfall, where the Pfeldererbach stream first plunges 19 meters then 18 meters deep in the Passer river.
A 1.4 m wide and almost 3.6 m deep glacier mill, which was eroded by glacier water, by rotating circles of co-moving stones of local rock.
From the village of Plata the path n° 6 proceeds towards “Pianlargo” until a chapel, where the path n° 5 leads down to the glacial mill. Time to walk ca. 30min.
A hidden natural spectacle reveals itself to hikers at the head of the Ridnauntal valley: the waterfalls of the Burkhard Gorge, which can be reached by following a panoramic trail. Starting from the mining museum in Maiern/Masseria, a marked hiking track leads through shady coniferous forests alongside the Fernerbach, a babbling glacial stream. The romantic, approximately one metre wide hiking trail winds through meadows and forests, past lush mossy expanses.
In 1940-41 by the fascist regime was built this bunker for reasons of defence. It is an impressive underground structure made on several storeys with a tight net of tunnels, that joins shooting ranges and inner rooms. In the front area there is an exhibition of photographs (Gampen Gallery), whereas the central part hosts an exclusive collection of minerals.
The Burgstall is a settlement from the late Iron Age, inhabited from approximately 400 B C over several centuries. It got distroyed after the middle of the 1st century B C due to fire, and was never rebuilt. The central building has been excavated and is in good condition. Next to this building is another residence and quarters for servants, storage areas and stables.
Accessible from Riffian/Rifiano on the Kirchweg trail and then to Gnealersteig path. Walking time: about 40 min.
Tip: visit the permanent exhibition Vita Raetica in the Raiffeisenkasse building
Mon, Fri 8.00 am-12.30 pm + 3.30 pm-4.30 pm · Tue, Wed 8.00 am-12.30 pm · Thu 8.00 am-12.30 pm + 5.00 pm-6.30 pm
Once you are here, take a hike through the Sommersürs biotope, also called Samesirs, located in a basin between the villages of Naz and Fiumes/Viums. The small habitat of little more than 2 hectares is a biotope of diverse fauna and flora. It is an invaluable refuge for numerous aquatic insects and birds, along with amphibians and reptiles. Cattail, sedge, and marsh clover populate the shallow lake shore.
Other nature habitats in the Natz-Schabs holiday region include Raiermoos, Zussis and Laugen.
The tour leads through the village of Natz and then turns right onto the Villages round trip [Dörferrunde] through the Fruhnwald forest up to the Waldertor viewpoint. Past Viums and the Viummer Kreuz cross, the route leads mainly through forest paths up to Schabs. Continue through the village trip through forest and later through orchards and then go left along the Villages round trip, up to the Flötscher Weiher pond. At the Seehof Hotel, cross the road and continue through meadows and woods, always
along the signposted road to Raas. Continue through the cultural grounds passing the water reservoir back to the street towards Natz. 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.
Nowadays a sustainable handling towards nature and environment includes not just the protetion, but also the taking care of precious cultivated landscapes. Wetlands such as the biotope Laugen fulfill a variety of landscape- ecological functions. They mean scenic wealth and represent a useful habitat for a multitude of endangered species of plants and animals. The biotope also provides an ideal resting place for migratory birds.
Other nature habitats in the Natz-Schabs holiday region include Raiermoos, Sommersürs, Zussis and Laugen.
Located at 2,050 m a.s.l. at the end of the Antholz valley, it invites you to undertake numerous activities the whole year round: We are talking about the mountain pass called Staller Saddle. Only 4 km from the Lake Antholz, the well-known alpine pass not only connects our Blue Valley with the valley called Defereggental in East Tyrol, but it also links the Riserferner-Ahrn Nature Park with the Hohe Tauern National Park. This turns the area into a real heaven for adventurous excursions and exploratory tours! In summer you can look forward to view-rich hiking tours which allow you to cross borders, while in winter the closed pass road becomes a winter hiking trail with tobogganing opportunities leading to the Lake Antholz or lake Obersee, all of which provide unforgettable memories.
The bridge in the context of a museum is part of the concept "thema". Twelve short sections illustrate themes about the Pustertal Road like alpine wall, milestones, postal service, tourism, traffic load, train and bike. The construction of the new bridge across the Antholz stream allowed to restore the historically valuable stone bridge and to keep it as a testimony of the modern art of road building. The following three subparts document three historical epochs of the Pustertal road- and bridge-construction: The backmost, eastern part of the bridge has been left in the conditions it was since 2008: with asphalt covering and crash barriers out of steel. The middle part shows the road after its extension in 1938: with the first asphalt covering and hand rails out of concrete. The anterior part was transformed into its original state in 1847: according to the original project plans with chalk-ballast covering, hand rails out of stone as well as balustrades out of wood and granite.
Awarded with the prestigious architectural prize "Premio Architettura Città di Oderzo 2012".
Neves Lake, 1857m
The round-trip trail around the Neves artificial lake gurantees an unique experience for the whole family (doable even with a baby carriage)
For mountain lovers the Neves Lake is starting point for one of the most beautiful mountain trails in South Tyrol: the Neveser Höhenweg.
The Galgenbühel gravel bank near Windschnur, which is formed of ice and water, has regained its strategic importance of late.
Under the fascist regime which took hold in 1939, many bunkers were built into the Alpine Wall in order to secure the Italian border against the German Reich. This bunker will be transformed into an exhibition and venue. It also bears witness to a long-outdated strategic defence system.
The Kamper Weiher Pond (lake) is situated on the hiking trail n. 2 (from Hafling/Avelengo in direction to the Wurzer Alm Mountain Hut).
Located next to the parish church of the Holy Margareth. Erected by the inhabitants of the town, that survived an epidemic of plague. The Wayside shrine is supposed to be painted by Michael Pacher, a famous regional painter of the late Middle Ages. The Wayside shrine got thoroughly restored after being heavily damaged in 1882.
The cloister of the cathedral of Brixen/Bressanone is one of the most important art monuments in South Tyrol. Its origins date back to pre-Romanesque times. The complex was rebuild in the romanesque (12th century) and gothic (14th century) phases. In this last major reconstruction phase of the 14th century the sacred building was vaulted with a gothic groined vault. The well-preserved gothic frescoes, which depict themes of the religious and medieval life, are particularly breathtaking. Some of the most extraordinary frescoes of the cloister are the presentation of an elephant (3rd arcade) and the adoration of the Kings (13th arcade).
The discovery of an ancient Roman Milestone proves that the old Roman road, the via Claudia Augusta, which led up and over the Alps, ran through Töll/Tel and Rabland/Rablà.
This particular milestone is now housed in the Bolzano Civic Museum while a copy can be seen at the Hanswirt, the old coaching inn at Rabland.
An old linden tree stands near the walls of the cemetery enclosing the Church of St. Nikolaus. Standing 22 m tall with a treetop of 17 m and a trunk measuring 6.25 m in diameter, the old tree dominates this idyllic spot. Since the trunk is broken and is held together with iron rods, the age of the tree can no longer be determined although it is believed to be a few hundred years old.
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