Culture & Sights in Ahrntal/Valle Aurina

Schwarzbach Waterfall – where nature meets art

Just above Luttach/Lutago, the Schwarzbach Waterfall plunges 15 meters through a narrow rock crevice into a stunning blue lagoon – a breathtaking natural spectacle!

Feel the cool mist on your skin, breathe in the refreshing air, and admire the colorful reflections dancing in the sunlight.

The path to the waterfall is lined with wooden sculptures created by international artists during the annual Ahrntal Sculpture Symposium. A unique fusion of nature and art – a feast for all the senses.

Deep Underground – Discover the Copper Mining Heritage of Prettau/Predoi

In the remote village of Prettau/Predoi, nestled at the head of South Tyrol’s Ahrntal valley, copper ore was mined for over 500 years along the Rötbach river. Today, the St. Ignaz drainage adit has been transformed into an impressive visitor mine– part of the South Tyrolean Provincial Mining Museum.

Hop aboard the mine train and travel over a kilometre into the mountain, where you’ll enter a captivating world beneath the surface. Along two circular tours, realistic installations and immersive scenes bring the hard lives of miners from centuries past vividly to life.

But this is more than just a museum: copper is still extracted here today – in a sustainable, innovative way using bacteria to produce what’s known as cement copper.

Just outside the entrance tunnel, the historic Schinerhaus– once home to local miners – welcomes visitors as a silent witness to Prettau’s rich mining legacy.

Visitor Information

• Visits by advance booking only
• Last entry at 3:00 PM
• For groups of 15 or more: guided tours available after 3:00 PM upon request
• Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
• Closed in winter (until Easter)

👉 The current opening times and prices are available on the website

Step into the depths of history – authentic, educational, and unforgettable.

A hidden gem in the heart of the Ahrntal valley

Copper was mined in Prettau for over half a millennium. The administrative centre of this mining operation was located in Steinhaus/Cadipietra– and today, the historic grain store (Kornkasten) houses the South Tyrolean Mining Museum – Steinhaus site.

This museum is more than just a place of historical memory – it’s also a space for artistic expression and interpretation:

The photographic work of Walter Niedermayr connects the miners’ landscape with the themes of the exhibition.
Martin Pohl’s striking installation welcomes visitors at the entrance with a powerful representation of Prettau’s coveted copper ore.
The films and soundscapes by Carmen Tartarotti offer a sensitive portrayal of lives shaped by mining, breathing life into the objects on display.

Temporary exhibitions on art, crafts and music further enrich the museum’s varied and vibrant cultural offerings.

Visitor Information

• Last entry at 5:00 PM
• Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
• Closed in winter (until Easter)
•  

👉 Current opening times and prices available on the website

Discover a cultural treasure – surprising, emotional and full of stories.

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 church of St. James, located on a hill, was built in 1500 in late-Gothic style. The furnishings are predominately neo-Gothic.

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.

The parish church Riva-Rein was built 1908-1911. You can see the typical characteristics of the new gothic style.

The churchin S. Maurizio/St. Moritzen was builtin 1512.

The Parish church of St. Sebastian is situated on a hill in Luttach/Lutago with a beautiful panoramic view. The chapel was constructed in the 13th century and then enlarged and on 21 September 1496 consecrated by Bishop Konrad Reichard. A external restoration has been taken in 1995.

The church in Ahornach/Acereto is a wonderful example of the late gothic style in the Pustertal Valley. The stonecutter Valentin Winkler from Falzes had built the church in 1512.

The church in Lapago is first-mentioned in 1426.
Already in 1480 it was re-consecrated after reconstruction.
1812-1815 the master-builder Johann Priller from Vandoies has built the new church.

The particular homey character of the feudal Taufers Castle astonishes around 70,000 visitors every year. 

As early as 1136 a noble-free family is named Taufers. In the 1220's the family built a new, generously arranged lord house, whose donjon with an attached living tower is constructed against the mountainside, as this was thought to be the possible attacking side. The powerful Taufers Castle is a dynastic seat of the Barons of Taufers with impressive and interesting fortified grounds.

Another great hall (later used as grain storage room) is located at a secured area in the western part of the castle. The naturally given construction space is delimited by a surrounding curtain wall, where there are different living complexes, attached to it.

In the 15th and 16th centuries the grounds were renovated into an expansive castle residence, most of them built in the early 16th century. The impressive weir system, although, dates back to the 15th century.

Taufers Castle has been in the possession of the Südtiroler Burgeninstitut since 1977. The entire furnished and well preserved castle numbers among the greatest and most beautiful castles of the entire Tyrolean region.

Prices:
Adults:
10€
13€ (29.03.2024 - 03.11.2024 including the exhibition)

Students/Pensioners (over 65 years old):
7€
9€/Person (29.03.2024 - 03.11.2024 including the exhibition)

Children (6-16 years old):
5€
6€ (29.03.2024 - 03.11.2024 including the exhibition)

Special exhibition: “German Peasants' War - the pursuit of freedom 500 years ago"
18.04. - 02.11.2025

Knights' festival at the castle: 29.06.2025

The church of apostle Peter is situated on the mountainside, surrounded by farms, trees and meadows.

10 meditational spots are found along the side of the path until you reach the "Franziskus and Klara" chapel, the ruin from the Toblburg Castle.

The parish church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary represents a monument to generous design.

Discover Nature – Information Point in Kasern at the End of the Ahrntal Valley

At the car park in Kasern, at the very end of the Ahrntal valley, you’ll find the information point of the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park, housed in a modern, minimalist wooden structure that blends beautifully with the alpine surroundings.

On the ground floor, a lovingly curated exhibition introduces the local craftsmanship and agriculture of the upper Ahrntal. You’ll also discover an overview of South Tyrol’s nature parks. A 3D relief map provides orientation – and the panoramic view of the valley’s end will spark your wanderlust.

The lower floor features a magical, interactive exhibition that immerses visitors in the fascinating world of the remote Prettau valley.

The film “Prettauer Leben” (Life in Prettau) gives voice to the local people and their stories.
At the heart of the exhibition are four cross-border hiking routes that showcase the region’s natural and cultural richness.
In the cinema room, a short film offers a stunning glimpse of the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park, while “Panorama Prettau” captures the majestic high-mountain landscapes in breathtaking images.

A place to marvel, explore and continue your journey – perfect for nature lovers, families and those curious about Alpine life.

The Zeilheim raised hide was built in the 17th century. Since 1977 the town hall is located in this historic building. Since 1977 the town hall of the municipality of Taufers has been located in there. The public library of Taufers “J. A. Jungmann” and the nature park house Rieserferner Ahrn are located in the modern building, built in 2001. The Zeilheim cannot be visited. 

Sacred Art of the churches and chapels of Valle Aurina - Ahrntal, archaeological finds and loans.


Entrance fee:
€ 2,50; € 1,00 per person (aged 14 and over) with GuestPass museuMobil

The majestic high building shows four corner towers (square at the bottom and round on the top) ...
... regulated rows of windows and a high roof, symmetrical room divisions and huge hallways with vaulted ceilings on the main floor, where the year 1584 can be seen. Upper floors entail flat ceilings where the walls and ceilings in the rooms are wood-panelled. The ceilings in the small oriels are arched and ridged. The wooden statue “ Mary with her sword” (XIV century) stands on the altar in the chapel, which is dated back to the year 1730. Very interesting is the extremely high roof truss, a proof of the superb knowledge of the builders themselves. The residence was begun in 1582 by Hans Fieger, Lord of the Courts of Taufers. The building was finished in 12 months. It was restored in 1864 by Johann von Ottenthal.

The castle is privately owned and is not open to the public.

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.

Fascinating water: learn more about water - about the power, the secrets and the magic.
During your visit, you bring water with your own energy to jump. Taste the gemstone water and learn how the water came to earth, etc.

The museum can be visited at any time on request for groups of 10 people or more. Also in winter.

The little church of St. Catherine & St. Florian was built in 1839.

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 

The church Maria of Loreto, a very well maintained, in 1700 accomodated in the present form of worship, was built by the owners of "Ahrner Handel". The church "The Black Madonna" is also visited by pilgrims today.

The church in Kematen in Taufers/Caminata di Tures was built on the end of the 13th century.

The church of St. Valentin is a late Gothic building and is situated in the centre of Prettau/Predoi. Inside the church there is a special highlight among other sacral artefacts, the altarpiece.

The St. Gertraud Church is documented the first time in 1383.
1831 the curate Johann Nepomuk Schiffer had built the new church. The gothic tower still exists.

For once, sleeping like the Inuit. On the Speikboden not only ski dreams come true – a night in an igloo is possible too.

And because holidays in the Tauferer Ahrntal are a culinary highlight, the overnight stay is topped with a typical cuisine. After dinner, when it is time to crawl into the sleeping bags, everyone will realize that sleeping in an igloo is not that cold after all.

Info & booking: https://www.ahrntal-aktiv.com/en/mountainigloo/

The igloos are not far from the mountain station of the Speikboden-lift facilities at an altitude of 2000 meters. This is where cold dreams heat up and where adventures are no longer a dream, but reality.

 

 

The Gothic church of St. Walburg is located at the top of a former castle hill a little above Kematen - it was consecrated in 1433.
St. Walburg was once a much-visited place of pilgrimage. The pilgrims came and fetched the Walburgis oil, which could cure diseases. Like many other churches and chapels, the chapel was closed during the time of the reform-minded Emperor Josef II.

LEGEND PATH to the St. Walburg church
Route: The path leads from Bad Winkel to Kematen up to the small St. Walburg church. The trail is mostly a forest path. The path can be walked from spring to late autumn. The start is in Bad Winkel: From the parking lot at the chapel next to Gasthof Bad Winkel (getting there either by passing through Kematen or as the case may be, passing by the Sand in Tauferer’s Sports area) we briefly stay on the road to Kematen and soon branch left onto the narrow footpath into the forest (do not take the road to Wiesemann farm!). The path then has some slight ascents and descents. Note: at the road fork you go right heading downhill not left heading uphill! The path ends at a clearing near a bench and at a carved wooden Hubertus Stöckl. Now, you go left onto the wider path heading upwards until you reach the road. Continue up this path for about 300 m. and then after a bridge you reach a wooden gate, where you take the left branching trail nr. 8 leading you to the St. Walburg church (1030 m), where a magnificent view of Taufers and the Zillertal mountains rewards you. You can return on the same path as you came on or you can take the City Bus to Sand in Taufers from Kematen.

The present parish church is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in the country, dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist and was built in the years 1783-1788.