Culture & Sights in the Dolomites Region Eggental

The impressive formations of Steinegg|Collepietra are a true natural wonder and tell a story that goes back thousands of years. Their formation dates back to the last ice age: when the glaciers melted, they left behind huge quantities of moraine material - a mixture of clay, sand and stones. Over the millennia, rain has eroded this material, but in some places it has formed clay cones with protective stones on top. These ‘hats’ protect the cones of earth underneath from erosion, giving the earth pyramids their unique shape.

Their slender formations, often crowned by imposing boulders, rise up from the valley floor and seem almost unreal - as if from another world.
A hike to the earth pyramids takes you through picturesque forests and meadows and even through a gorge. Whether you are hiking alone or with your family, this place is both fascinating and inspiring.

The best time to explore the earth pyramids is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light brings out the bizarre shapes in a particularly impressive way.

The majestic Castle of Karneid is located high above the valley basin of Bozen at the entrance to the Eggental valley. The castle, which was built in the 12th century, was once the proud home of the noble Greifenstein family. In the 14th century, the castle came into the possession of the Lords of Völs, then to the later bailiff Heinrich Gessler and finally to the Counts of Lichtenstain. Today the castle is privately owned and is one of the most beautiful examples of medieval architecture in South Tyrol.

Apart from a few minor details, the original form from the 16th century has remained unchanged to this day, and this is one of its special features. The interior of the castle offers a wealth of beautiful architectural and art-historical details of great interest.

A guided tour of the castle will immerse you in history: magnificent knights' halls, an old chapel with valuable frescoes and mysterious corners that will bring you closer to life in the Middle Ages. 

The castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour.
Guided tours are offered in April, May, June, September and October. These always take place on Fridays at 3 pm.
Registration is required: +39 0471 361313
Minimum number of participants: 10 people

Admission price:   
Normal price: 7,00 Euro
Reduced price: 5,00 Euro (pupils/students up to 25 years, senior citizens from 65 years)

The Chapel of St. Agatha stands on a wooded hill in complete seclusion and silence. It remains unknown why it exists in such a remote place. It is speculated that there was a prehistoric settlement on this site, while the legendary Kegelberg hill and old mining tunnels can be found nearby.
The building itself is of Romanesque origin, with the later extensive modifications showing ostensibly Gothic elements. The beautiful, stone-framed pointed-arch portal dates from that time, with its figurines of saints, grapevines and a zigzag band in the ogee, with a rod that ends to the left in a root and to the right in a shovel.
The church interior underwent major renovation in the 17th century: the simple sandstone pulpit and richly carved altar date back to that time. Sadly, the free-standing statues were stolen by art thieves. The altarpiece by Orazio Giovanelli, showing St. Agatha and St. Anne with Jesus and Mary, dates back to 1619. Remains of old murals can also be seen on the church. The façade probably shows St. Christopher with the infant Jesus and scenes from the life of the patron saint, while inside parts of a nativity scene are visible.
Location: Nova Ponente
Opening times: The church is closed; the key is kept at the Unterkofelhof farm and may be collected from there.

The parish church of Steinegg|Collepietra is a special place where art, history and spirituality come together in an impressive way. 
First mentioned in 1322, the church, with its walls and works of art, tells of times gone by and living tradition. Originally dedicated to St Peter and St Jakobus, later only to St Peter, and today to St Peter and St Paul - the history of the patron saints reflects the development of this sacred building.

On entering the church, the pointed arch-shaped main portal catches the eye, with its star-shaped vault dating from the first half of the 15th century. The choir, as you see it today, was built around 1664 and impresses with its three-sided apse. A special highlight can be found in the choir: a small, artistic sandstone statue of St Peter.

The 35 metre high tower from the 15th century houses six bells that carry the sound of faith far into the valley. There is much to discover inside the church: The valuable Stations of the Cross date back to 1747 and the colourful frescoes, created by Karl Joh. Henrici in 1794, tell stories from the Bible and invite you to linger.

The works of art from modern times also fit harmoniously into the story: The sculptor Friedrich Gurschler created the altar, the baptismal font and the lectern, while H. Peter Fellin painted the impressive altarpiece depicting the Most Holy Trinity - with the Virgin of Protection, embedded in the mountain landscape of the Rosengarten|Catinaccio, Schlern|Sciliar and Steinegg|Collepietra.

Another highlight are the colourful stained glass windows, designed by Prof. Widmoser and masterfully realised by the artist Ulrike Peer Huber. The Stations of the Cross were carved by Jakob Oberhollenzer and the church patrons, St Peter and St Paul, were created by Matthias Resch from Steinegg.

In the basement of the church you will find the Museum Steinegg and the Chapel of the Resurrection - a quiet place for contemplation. The cemetery, which is one of the most beautiful in South Tyrol, impresses with its artistically forged crosses and radiates a special tranquillity.

Useful information:
The church is always open during the day and is barrier-free.
Masses are always held on Saturdays at 7.30 pm and on Sundays at 7.00 am and 10.00 am. 

An extraordinary highlight awaits you in Steinegg|Collepietra: the rocket tree house. This imaginatively designed tree house, which is modelled on a rocket, makes children's hearts beat faster and also amazes adults.

While the little ones let their imaginations run wild and embark on a space mission, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the surrounding nature.

Steinegg|Collepietra, also known as the Star Village, lives up to its name with this special project. The rocket tree house is not only a great place to play, but also a symbol for looking at the stars and a fascination for the universe.

The rocket tree house is one of the stops on the Path of the stars, which connects the two Star Villages of Steinegg|Collepietra and Gummer|San Valentino.

Route description - one of several options:
The starting point of the hike is the village square in Steinegg|Collepietra. From there, path [2] leads past the Lex Market and you follow this path until you see the tree house in the forest on your left.
Take the same path for the way back.

Walking time: You will need approx. 40 to 45 minutes for the outward and return journey. 
The path is barrier-free and suitable for pushchairs.

The Joseph chapel at the 'Moartalalmwiese' (Moar Valley alpine meadow) was built in 1897 by the Association for Alpine Hotels. In the summer of the years prior to World War I, a mass was held there every day. For this reason, the management of the 'Grand Hotel Carezza' employed a hotel chaplain. In 1976, the parish of Nova Levante bought the chapel. Thereafter, the little church was renovated and extended. Today, it offers space for 200 people. The renovated chapel was consecrated on the 18th June 1983.

Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the restored grain mill in Carezza. As well as an explanation of how the mill worksand where the water comes from, guests can observe the mill in action as it grinds grain to make fl our.

On request, guided visits for groups from 6 people.

 

On the adventure trail "BeeForest", you can immerse yourself in the mysterious world of bees.

The approximately 2-kilometre-long trail takes you past meadows and through forests to various places of energy with stations and illustrated panels, right up to a beekeeper's house with honeycombs and beehives on view - from mid-May to the end of September.

At these stations, you will learn exciting facts about life in the beehive, the importance of bees for our ecosystem and the challenges that these small, industrious insects face today. For children and adults alike, the trail offers an educational and sensory experience: listen to the buzzing of the bees, see their flight paths and feel how important their work is for our environment.

It's not just about honey bees - visitors also get an insight into the exciting and very different life of wild bees.

At the beekeeper's house, everyone then has the opportunity to take a closer look at the hive's hustle and bustle on the honeycomb.

Practical information:

• Route length: approx. 2 km, ideal for a relaxed walk
• Duration: about 1 to 1.5 hours
• Accessibility: The trail is only partially accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. They cannot be used for the entire route
• Best time to visit: Spring to autumn, when nature is in full bloom and the bees are at their most active

Immerse yourself in the world of bees and discover the secrets of these little superheroes - come and see for yourself how fascinating and valuable their work is.

Here is a brief insight:
Video BeeForest

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 Mini - Star Trail is an art installation and at the same time a short themed trail that is specially illuminated at night.
On a short stretch of 105 m in the centre of Steinegg / Collepietra, we encounter 11 selected stars. Away from the sun, these are laid out in the correct scale. A light year here is 4 cm. You have to imagine that a light year is the enormous distance that light travels in one year. You have to bear in mind that light travels almost 300,000 km in one second. That is 9.46 trillion kilometres in one year.

But what is a star?
A star is a gigantic burning ball of gas. It consists of hydrogen and helium. When hydrogen burns, energy is released that we perceive as light and heat.

How big is a star anyway?
There are many stars that are significantly larger than our star, the Sun. For example, the star Antares is 820 times bigger than the Sun. In order to better understand these dimensions, we will find a comparison of the size of the star and the sun at the respective stations of the mini star trail.

Why do stars shine in different colours?
When observing the starry sky closely, we can also see with the naked eye that stars shine in different colours: reddish, bluish, white, etc. This has to do with the different surface temperatures of the stars. 

In the evening and at night, the stars on the Mini - Star Trail are also illuminated from the inside with the right mixture of light.
So it is now possible to walk along the romantically illuminated Mini - Star Trail in the centre of Steinegg / Collepietra in the evening and get to know exactly these peculiarities of the starry sky.
The Mini - Star Trail is also barrier-free accessible.

This theme trail is financed by the Interreg project Skyscape. The measures of the Interreg project "Skyscape" are supported by the European Regional Development Fund and Interreg V-A Italy-Austria 2014-2020.

Mountain cinema in the Val d’Ega

After an easy, short hike along the path [17] from the Karer Pass/Passo Costalunga, you reach the mountain cinema Latemar meadows.

Today's blockbuster is called "The wild mountain range on the horizon - the Rosengarten/Catinaccio". Visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet at the foot of the Latemar and the changing sky of a thousand colours around the Catinaccio. Don’t forget to bring your own popcorn!

The cave dwelling "Mortner Gufl" is located on the old Steinegger carriage road, which at that time connected Steinegg|Collepietra with Kardaun|Cardano and Bozen|Bolzano.  About 500 m from the farm Mortner in the direction of Kardaun, there is an extensive, flat square with a thick stone slab hanging over it, as if it wanted to provide a protective roof for the little place. It is said that a hermit, the Mortner Hias, lived here during the First World War. He even set up a farm oven in this natural dwelling and walled the place up. The hermit wove baskets here. During the Second World War, this place was used as an air-raid shelter for the inhabitants of the nearby farm Mortner. Some remains of the wall can still be discovered and admired today.
In 1951, there is also said to have been an apparition of the Virgin Mary at this special place.
A descriptive board on site tells of these extraordinary occurrences at the "Mortner Gufl".
Route description:
Starting point is the Steinegg village square. From the car park at the Cafè Christl, walk past the Lex Market grocery shop along hiking trail [2] / Rittersteig. Continue along the Rittersteig past the Ebenhof farm until you reach the turnoff to the Mortner farm. Here you walk a short distance in the direction of Mortner farm and then immediately turn left to the "Mortner Gufl".
The way back is via the same path.
Length of the route from the Steinegg village square to the "Mortner Gufl": 3km (approx. 50 minutes walking time)

The Max Valier Observatory in Gummer|San Valentino is located near the provincial capital Bozen|Bolzano and is a gateway to the stars and a place where the fascination of the universe comes to life. Named after the South Tyrolean astronomer and space pioneer Max Valier, the facility invites visitors to explore the depths of the universe. The centrepiece of the observatory is an impressive 80 cm reflector telescope, which gives you detailed views of distant galaxies, brilliant stars and the planets of our solar system.

During a guided tour with the dedicated amateur astronomers of the ‘Max Valier’ association, you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and discover the infinite vastness of the cosmos. Whether you have just discovered your passion for astronomy or are already an experienced stargazer - the observatory offers you exciting insights and an unforgettable experience under the clear skies of South Tyrol.

Important information:
A visit or tour of the observatory is only possible as part of a guided tour. Guided tours take place every Thursday and Friday.
Booking is required!
Telephone: 0039 371 6761428 (weekdays from 9am - 12pm and 3pm - 6pm)
E-mail: info@sternwarte.it

Cost of the guided tour:
Adults (aged 14 and over): €8.00
Children (from 6 to 14 years): €4.00

You can stop for a break at the neighbouring Untereggerhof Inn

Here is a brief insight into our observatory:
Observatory Max Valier

The Peter Anich Solar Observatory in Gummer|San Valentino, in the municipality of Karneid|Cornedo all' Isarco, is just over half an hour from Bozen|Bolzano and yet far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and light pollution. Together with the Max Valier Observatory, it offers fascinating insights into the secrets of the universe - from the depths of the starry sky to the spectacular details of our sun.

The view through the solar telescope, which is equipped with a special filter, is a real highlight: you can see the bubbling surface of the sun, recognise sunspots and experience the unbridled power of our star up close. 

In the summer months, guided tours take place every Friday at 2 pm, where you can learn all about the sun and practical sky observation from experienced guides. Individual appointments can also be arranged for groups - advance booking is always required.
During the usual evening tours at the ‘Max Valier’ observatory, the telescope of the solar observatory serves as an additional instrument for observing stars, the moon, galaxies and much more

Entry fees:
    Adults: €8.00
    Children: € 4.00

Every vacationer in South Tyrol has to visit Lake Carezza, the most gorgeous Alpine mountain lake!
This small mountain lake is well-known for its soft, deep green waters and the exquisite view of the Rosengarten and Latemar mountain ranges.

The lake is at its most gorgeous in the evening or early morning, when the Rosengarten-Latemar mountain ranges and the green of the Karerwald forest are reflected in its crystal clear water. This is a natural spectacle you won't want to miss!

Many South Tyrolean legends are based around the lake, such as that of the water nymph, and many writers and painters have chosen the motif for their paintings and stories.

Situated at 1,520 metres above sea level, Lake Carezza is 300 m long and 140 m wide in the Val d'Ega municipality of Nova Levante and is a protected natural monument. It is fed by underground springs from the Latemar mountain range, which is why both its size and depth are highly dependent on season and weather conditions - the greatest depth of Lake Carezza has been recorded at 22 m.

As Lake Carezza is a protected area, it is forbidden to cross the protective boundaries around the lake. Likewise, bathing and swimming in it is also strictly prohibited.  

Lake Carezza is accessible without barriers. At the car park of the lake there are a total of 4 parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. At the lake there is a visitor centre with barrier-free toilets and a barrier-free passage to the lake. The viewing platform and the circular walk around the lake are also barrier-free. 

There are refreshment facilities at the visitor centre, which include two bistros. Other places to stop are the restaurants and huts in the area.

Lake Carezza is accessible around the clock all year round. The visitor centre with its subway for pedestrians and the toilets are open daily from 9 am - 6 pm.

For more info on Lake Carezza, click here: eggental.com/lakecarezza

At the cheese dairy farm Ebenhof, the South Tyrolean cheese tradition is cultivated with passion. Since 2007, delicious raw milk cheeses have been made from the fresh grass-fed milk of the local Alpine cows. Farmer and cheesemaker Markus relies on natural ingredients and craftsmanship to create unique cheeses such as the mildly flavoured "Sternkasl", the aromatic Mountain Cheese and the versatile Farmer Cheese.

Production takes place directly on the farm - from milking the cows to maturing the cheese in the cellar. Sustainability and animal welfare play a central role here. 

You can buy the eight different types of cheese at the farmers' markets in Welschnofen|Nova Levante and Bozen|Bolzano and at the grocer's shop Despar Masoner in Steinegg|Collepietra. Farm-gate sales are only possible by prior appointment by telephone.

The Chapel of St. Helena is particularly impressive on account of its rich frescoes, a major work of the Bolzano school of painting from around 1400. Art historians state that these are closely related to the murals in the Parish Church of Terlano and the Church of St. Catherine in Aica by Fiè. The Niederthor crest on the triumphal arch strongly suggests that the painting of St. Helena – like that in Terlan – was commissioned by the noble Niederthor family. Concealed behind paint for a long time, the coat of arms was once more revealed in 1885 and fully restored in 1938.
The outer walls feature images of St. Helena, St. Christopher and a crucifixion group on the façade, while on the south wall towards the apse there are representations of Mary with the infant Jesus and the three Holy Virgins, Catherine, Barbara and Margaret.
Inside the church, vaulted frescoes in the nave show the four evangelists with their respective symbols, each with an excerpt from his gospel. In the apse Christ appears enthroned as judge, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. The series of the twelve apostles below was partially destroyed during a subsequent extension of the windows. The triumphal arch points in the direction of the nave to the story of Cain and Abel, while the intrados depicts scenes from the Creation. The side walls of the nave feature images from the life of the Mother of God and Jesus’s childhood: the Annunciation, the Visit of Mary to Elisabeth, Mary and Joseph, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation at the Temple and the Flight into Egypt. On the west wall opposite the altar are St. Helena, St. Sebastian, a proclamation and the Bishops Ulrich and Wolfgang.
The church is Romanesque in its basic features and probably goes back to the 12th century. The small, rough stone relief to the far right of the façade dates from the 14th century. In 1410 the church was re-consecrated following completion of the painting. In 1500 the tower was given its wide pointed-arch window; the deeper-lying, coupled round-arched windows were bricked up. The altar structure dates back to the first half of the 17th century; the altarpiece is signed “J. G. Plazer 1723”.
The Church of St. Helena stands, according to legend, on silver ore. An ancient tradition tells of mining activities in the immediate vicinity of the church: G. Innerebner lists the church hill below the prehistoric settlements as a probable place of worship and orientation.
A detailed description and interpretation of the frescoes appears in the colour guide “St. Helena near Nova Ponente” SB 21 (M. Frei).

Lo sapevi che il Lago di Carezza ha un fratello minore?

Seguendo il sentiero [12] attraverso la foresta del Latemar, si arriva a uno specchio d'acqua segreto: il Mittersee o Lago di Mezzo. Non appena la neve inizia a sciogliersi, dove in realtà c'è solo un prato, emerge un lago. Il lago è alimentato da sorgenti sotterranee e per un breve periodo in primavera invita i più avventurosi a fare un giro su una zattera e i più coraggiosi a immergere i piedi nell'acqua fresca a 8 gradi.

 

Everything a gardener's heart desires!

Visit us and see for yourself the selection and quality of our plants. Our plants are constantly freshly ordered and controlled, so we can guarantee the best quality.

In our shop you will find not only the right plants and gift ideas, but also the right accessories for your home, gardening and forestry. On our shelves we present only quality products, carefully selected by us.

Come by and see us. We will be happy to advise you on every purchase.

The Rosengarten/Catinaccio massif in the Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site – is known for the many legends and mystery that surround its peaks. Indeed, even today the Catinaccio mountain seems to bloom at sunset, as if by magic: it is said in the legend that many years ago, there was a garden full of roses (rose garden = Rosengarten) of the dwarf King Laurin. One day, while fighting knights, King Laurin used his magic cap which made him invisible. However, the knights could tell from the movement of the roses where the dwarf king was hiding. Very angry about this, King Laurin put a curse on the rose garden that had betrayed him. He decided that neither by day nor by night anyone should ever see his rose garden again. However, he forgot the twilight and so today you can still admire the magical alpenglow (Enrosadira) at sunrise and sunset which colours the mountain in and red.

At the Catinaccio there are countless hiking trails of different levels to be explored: the Masarè path to the Christomannos Monument, the Rosengarten circular route and much more. The Catinaccio massif also invites adventurous climbers to explore the via ferrata and the climbing routes.

You will come across the ruins of the castle ruins Steinegg at a picturesque vantage point. As you explore, you will experience a journey back in time.
The lords of Völs|Fiè created a unique double castle complex here around 1200, of which there are only a few left in South Tyrol. The residential castle with a view to the south has almost completely disappeared today, but the remains of the fortified castle still sit proudly on an imposing rock above the Valley Eisack|Isarco.

The well-preserved castle gate and parts of the south side of the defence walls tell of the castle's former strength. Here you can feel the history in every crack of stone - even if the battlements and tower have long since fallen victim to time.

Just a 20-minute walk from the village centre of Steinegg, this special place awaits you with a wonderful view and the castle ruins of Steinegg. Another special feature is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the legend of ‘Die Sängerin vom Schloß Karneid’. The unique book in german languague was illustrated by the artist Lena Pichler from Steinegg and gives the ruins a special magic. 
A place where the past, legends and nature merge together.

Info:
 The Steinegg castle ruins are not accessible without barriers.

The votive pillar "Peststöcklein" stands picturesquely on the old road from Steinegg|Collepietra to Bozen|Bolzano, around 2 kilometres from the village. You can reach this historic tabernacle wayside shrine from the second quarter of the 15th century in just 25 minutes on foot. The small construction with its shingle roof has four arched niches decorated with artistic frescoes: On the front you will find the crucifixion group, while the other niches show the Annunciation of Mary, a holy bishop and St Christopher.

The frescoes were extensively restored a few years ago and now shine again in their original colours. The votive pillar is a reminder of a time when people sought solace and protection in their faith - a place of contemplation that to this day makes the history and piety of the region tangible.

Route description:
The starting point is the Steinegg village square. From the car park at Cafè Christl, walk past the Lex Market grocery shop along the hiking trail [2] / Rittersteig. Continue along the Rittersteig until you reach the Peststöcklein just before the farm Ebenhof.
Return via the same route.
Length of the route from Steinegg village square to ‘Peststöcklein’: 2 km (approx. 30 minutes walking time)

This mountain hut, located at 2.096m next to the cable station Oberholz in Obereggen, Dolomites, contains a restaurant and is located with direct connection to the ski slope. The cantilevering structure grows out of the hill like a fallen tree with three main branches creating a symbiosis with the landscape. Each of them is facing towards the three most important surrounding mountains: Mendola, Corno Nero and Corno Bianco. At the end of the branches a large glass facade frames the surrounding mountains from the interior of the hut. The sloped roof shape of the glasses takes his inspiration from typical huts in the area, while the branching roof and complex structural interior expresses a new and contemporary interpretation of the classic mountain hut. The interior is defined by a complex curvilinear and visible wood structure that gradually fades into walls and creates so called “pockets” for intimacy. The entire hut is constructed with wood: structural elements and interior in spruce, the facade in larch, furniture in oak - all typical woods from the area.

The cluster of wooden buildings of the forestry school lies within viewing distance of the former Grand Hotel Karersee, appearing modest in contrast. An extension was added onto two existing buildings. The elongated building with a pitched roof is linked to the older buildings via a wooden walkway with a pergola. Despite the traditional style of the building, clear contemporary architecture has been created here. Well-proportioned window frames and entrances are paired with the horizontal wooden slats of the facade. On the interior the walls are plastered white and add even more brightness to the room underneath the transparent roof construction. The silver colored construction of the steel stairs that connect both floors to the foyer is particularly elegant.

 

The "Kaserer Bild" chapel, named after the nearby farm "Kaserer Hof", is a traditional place of pilgrimage in Steinegg|Collepietra. The chapel is located directly on the street Riedl on the ridge of the mountain Riedl, an area that is one of the oldest settlements in South Tyrol. In its current form, the neo-Romanesque chapel dates back to 1871, with the small ridge turret added in 1874.

Inside the chapel you will find a lovingly designed, neo-Gothic altar with the image of the Madonna, called "Kaserer-Mutter". According to legend, this image of the Virgin Mary originally hung on a mighty larch tree that once stood exactly where the chapel is now built. The stories and legends surrounding the image and the building of the chapel tell of the deep faith and conviction of the people in the miraculous power of the ‘’Kaserer-Mutter‘’.

The chapel was recently renovated and is now in excellent condition. Holy masses are celebrated regularly in the summer months, bringing this special place back to life. 
The little church is only opened on such special occasions. Otherwise, it can only be viewed from the outside.
However, it is definitely worth a visit - not only because of its religious significance, but also because of the idyllic location and the fascinating history that surrounds this chapel.

The long aisle in the monastery is impressive, with its many votive plaques. Maria Weissenstein / Pietralba (1,520 meters above sea-level) is South Tyrol's most-important place of pilgrimage. It is among the most highly venerated religious sites in the entire province. This place of pilgrimage has been served by good roads from two directions for a couple of decades, now. The one road comes from the Eggen Valley, via Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente and Petersberg / Monte S. Pietro to Weissenstein/Pietralba. The other road ascends from the Etsch/Adige Valley, touches Aldein/Aldino, and ends in Weissenstein/Pietralba. The stream of pilgrims has increased markedly since the visit here by Pope John Paul II in July of 1988. This place of pilgrimage – including the church, the Pilgrims' House (built in 1897), the souvenir store, the inn (built in 1708), and the parking lot – is well-equipped not only for devout pilgrims, but also for the many hikers who stop by here. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.

St. Nicholas, the Patron Saint of miners, was held to be the protector of those in danger from water. In Eggen, it was believed that he protected the village against the raging waters of the Sam Brook and of the Gerold Brook. Until the curacy was built in 1681, Eggen was served by the parish of Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente. While St. Nicholas had the right to bury its dead parishioners as well as to read the Mass, since 1435, Eggen was ministered by a priest from Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente. With the establishment of the first curacy, this stopped, and in 1919, the curacy was elevated to the status of an independent parish. The church is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.

Sacred art is here surrounded by old stone walls: ancient altarpieces and consecrated panels from the 16th century, early Baroque statues of saints and religious paintings delve deep into the history of the Val d'Ega. The local museum in Castle Thurn is attached to the present-day town hall in a Romanesque tower dating from the 13th century, which was once used as a residence and, around 1341, for court sittings. In 1911 the residence of Thurn Castle was transferred to the municipality of Nova Ponente, which meticulously renovated the building and opened it to the historically minded.

Look very closely and you may be able to spot eye-catching rock formations – the Latemar Dolls frozen into stone according to the ancient legend. Walkers can explore the Labyrinth Trail leading directly up to the Latemar Towers into the Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage.

The small village of Gummer | San valentino in Campo is home to the only planetarium in South Tyrol. This special place in Europe's first Star Village is a must for anyone fascinated by the starry sky and the secrets of the universe.
Here you can immerse yourself in the magic of the universe - without a telescope!
Sit in comfortable armchairs and gaze into the dome of the Star Room to experience realistic simulations of the starry sky and virtually fly through distant galaxies.
Most shows and performances are accompanied by guides and experts who bring you closer to the universe in a unique way. Whether day or night, summer or winter - a visit to the planetarium is always an experience you will remember for a long time.

The planetarium's Star Room has 53 seats and 2 spaces for wheelchairs. The entire structure is barrier-free.

The planetarium is only open during the presentations. These will be held in German or Italian.
Please book your tickets in advance - either directly via the website, by e-mail(info@planetarium.bz.it) or by telephone on +39 0471 610 020.

Click here for the current weekly programme