Culture & Sights in South Tyrol's Retreats

Walther von der Vogelweide is the most successful and most quoted singer of the Middle Ages and, according to historical research, almost certainly Lajen's most famous citizen from a past century. About 500 stanzas have been preserved by the master of „Minnesang“ and have been preserved for posterity in various manuscripts. On the basis of his song texts, it is possible to reconstruct his eventful life, his values and his role in medieval society. Walther was an admirer of women, a mouthpiece of his time and sometimes a strenuous contemporary due to his sharp tongue.

The interactive exhibition in the Minnehus is dedicated to the life and work of the medieval star in more than 40 interactive, creative, acoustic and visual stations. Visitors soon realize that although Walther lived in the 12th and 13th centuries, his echo still resonates today.

 

The Holy Cross Chapel is a mountain chapel on Resciesa near Laion/Lajen. The little church was built in 1755 and has been preserved until today. The last restoration took place in 2012 by the rifle company Laion and since then the chapel has been protected as an architectural monument. Inside the church there is a large crucifix that dates back to the first half of the 18th century. In summer, the chapel is always open to visitors during the day.

The delightfully landscaped Weiher Bruggen Pond on trail no. 16 below Leadner Alm Mountain Hut in Vöran affords weary travellers a refreshing footbath and some peace and quiet.

In the summertime, little fish dash about in the water. The pond also makes an ideal habitat for frogs, toads and dragonflies. Benches around the pond invite hikers to linger and enjoy a lovely backdrop: spectacular views of the Ifinger Peak.

In Laion village, next to the Maria Einsiedel chapel, there is a wayside shrine that dates back to the 17th century. In the niches of the wayside shrine are representations such as a crucifixion group, two holy warriors, St. John and St. Margaret and the visit of Mary to Elizabeth.

Old parish church St. Genesius.                                                         

The observation platform is situated on the European footpath on 2,086m and offers a fantastic panoramic view at the surrounding mountains: from the Dolomites, to the Ortles and the mountains around Meran/Merano.

Over time, the stream Gaiderbach has cut deeply into the porphyry rock and formed a narrow, distinctive gorge with waterfalls. The gorge presents itself simply fascinating and breathtaking: the mossy rock faces, the power of the water, the species-rich vegetation (including ferns and various species of orchids) form an undisturbed interplay of nature.

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 Rasciesa is part of the Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the nature park Puez-Odle. During summer, as well as in winter, the Rasciesa is a famous destination for numerous guests. In early summer, you can admire the beautiful flower that transforms the plateau into a sea of color. Even during the winter months you can enjoy numerous activities, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

The ice holes, also called ice cellars, are generally found in the Otradige, but also in Pontives/Laion three such ice cellars have been found. This is a rare natural phenomenon that can be explained by the physical principle of the wind tube. The warm summer air flows in the scree from the top to the bottom and is cooled down very much. The heavy cold air flows out of the "cellars" again and thus the surrounding area is also cooled very strongly. Ice forms on the rock surfaces. In the winter months, this system collapses as the conditions are reversed. The cellars were built over gaps in the ground and insulated from the outside. They look like small bunkers. 
The three ice cellars of Lajen are located in the Val Gardena valley at the turnoff to San Pietro in Valle. The largest one is located right next to the road and consists of two chambers. The two smaller ones are located in the forest.

Barns and other farm outbuildings covered with thatched roofs have always been a distinctive characteristic of the villages of Hafling/Avelengo and Vöran/Verano.

A few examples of this archaic architectural construction can still be seen while hiking, including at the Spitzegger Farmstead in Vöran and at Gfrar in Aschl/Eschio.

Mounting thatched roofs such as these requires a lot of work and skill on the part of the Strohdecker, or roofer. The Strohdecker must bind the straw—usually rye but wheat is also used—on mild winter days into bundles about the diameter of an arm, called Dachschab. A piece of the roof is repaired every year; in this way, the whole layer of straw is completely replaced every twenty years or so.

As Richard Furggler wrote in his compendium entitled Tschögglberg: "The most striking feature of the folkloristic peculiarities of high plateau is—actually, one must almost say ‘was’—the majestic thatched roofs on the farm buildings."

The old Romanesque parish church, of which only very little remains today, got up at the same place as today's building, but it was much smaller and was across the present church building, facing east. In 1714 the tower was placed a Baroque onion. 1842-1845 was built on the site of the old, the new, classicist parish church. The parish church belongs to the biggest columnless church buildings in South Tyrol: She is 40 m long and 15,6 m wide in the ship. For her great she's also called the "cathedral on the mountain". Josef Arnold and his sons painted the blanket areas in 1844. The frescos show conditions of Stephanus and Laurentius' lifes. The altarpiece of the high altar shows Maria with the Jesus and the two deacons Stephanus and Laurentius. On the blanket are four smaller paintings with scenes from the Gospel and the four evangelists.

The origin of the church surely reaches back much further than the consecration in 1465. In the inside are shown the consecrating document, translated into German, and a detailed list of the restaoration work of 1989.The capstones of the soft net ribbed vaulting represent saint figures and different coats of arms. The painting of the baroque high altar (1733) shows Saint Mary with the child and Saint Jakobus Senior and Saint Jakobus Junior. These two saints are represented, together with Saint Silvester and a Bishop, on both sides of the church one more time. Moreover, a Pieta from the 18th century and a figure of Saint Valentin with a cattle are remarkable (at 1800).

The anticque Ansitz Lusenegg was built in the 13th century. The noble family, who lived there, was well-to-do. Impressionable are the stone curtain wall, the crenellated gable wall and the wood-paneled room.

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.

In Andriano there is a beautiful wooded area characterized by a strong presence of yew trees, which has been designated as a landscape protection zone.
Yew trees are found in communities with pines, hornbeams and black hornbeams, but also in pure, dark and dense stands, and offer an optimal habitat for many species of animals.
The yew forest with its numerous paths invites you to walk and relax.

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The Knottnkino (Rock Cinema) is the work of artist Franz Messner, who hails from Renon. The Knottnkino sits atop a red porphyry rock formation, Rotstein Knott Mountain, which is located in Vöran/Verano on 1,457 metres.

The lookout point, outfitted with thirty cinema seats made of steel and chestnut wood, is a wonderful place for hikers to take a seat, unwind, and enjoy a unique experience: nature as cinema. The site overlooks the whole of the Adige Valley so visitors enjoy stunning views that encompass the Texel Group Nature Park, Mount Penegal, and even Corno Bianco/Weißhorn Mountain farther afield.

In the local German dialect spoken in South Tyrol, Knottn means ‘rock’. Millions of years ago, when lava and falling ash formed the Tschögglberg Mountain Plateau, these round, wine-red knolls also came into being. These rock formations are unparalleled in South Tyrol. In Verano, there are three: Rotstein, Beimstein and Unterstein Knott.

The Knottnkino³ circuit trail conects the three red porphyry rocks of Vöran/Verano. Starting from the Burgstall-Vöran upper cableway station, the trail leads to the three panoramic landmarks of Verano: the Rotstein, Beimstein and Timpfler Knott.

The limekiln in Andriano is a kind of kiln where in the past people used to produce quicklime from limestone.

The late Gothic church was mentioned already in 1147 for the first time. According to the legend the church stands on the foundations of a heathen victim place. Today's building was built in the 15th century. Gothic elements of the church are the ogival portals, the rosette window above the main entrance with the Gothic three passports and the dainty net ribbed vaulting inside. The high altar (at 1620) shows Jesus' birth, statues of Peter and Paulus as well as figures from the Life of the Virgin Mary. The painted windows on the left and on the right side of the high altar were donated from Lajen's nobility families in 1905. The remaining fittings are in the neo-Gothic style. The tower of Our Lady's Church is adorned on the northern side and has impressing frescos.

Parish church St. Genesius.                                            

The church reaches back to the year 1437, but it might be fundamentally older. According to the legend the Church of Saint Bartholomäus is the oldest place of worship on Lajener area. The entrance, the stout tower with the shingle pyramid and the sound windows show obviously Romanesque features. The inside shows fresco remains in different places, in the past, the church was probably colored completely. The altar is kept in the late baroque style and represents Holy Mary with saints. There are the statues of holy Josef and holy Johannes between the columns. The sculptures at the left long house wall (Katharina and Barbara, Bartholomäus and a Bishop) are valuable, too. In addition, are worth mentioning the old baptismal font and the bell from 1580 (next to the altar). Between the church and the Mesnerhaus is a walnut tree, which is a splendid natural monument.

Andrian's parish church is dedicated to Saint Valentine. The patrocinium of St. Valentine suggests that it was a place of worship here very early on. The first documented mention of a church dates back to 1231. The oldest part of the present church consists of the lower part of the tower with the three-part ogival spire windows. Unfortunately, the nave of that time has not been preserved, but it is part of the building erected in the early 16th century, which today forms the choir of the church and has preserved its late Gothic elements with its ogival windows and star-ribbed vaulting. Some frescoes from that period can still be seen in the present-day sacristy, as well as the statues of Mary with Christ Child, St. Sebastian, St. Anne, St. Barbara and St. Catherine (late 15th/early 16th century) in the neo-Gothic winged altar, which was only made in 1904. All the rest of the church, including the nave and the upper part of the tower, was not built until the 19th century (nave 1852-1854, tower 1883) and in 1864 the side altarpieces were painted by Anton Psenner.

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The Beimstein Knott knoll is particularly impressive for its stunning view overlooking the village of Vöran/Verano.
The new “Attimo” installation on the red rock here is comprised of five chairlift seats placed in a row, representing an imaginary chairlift.
The artists: architects Verena and David Messner

This "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 Beimstein Knott is part of the new circular hike Knottnkino³.

The Parish Church of Vöran/Verano, which is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, is one of the oldest churches on the Tschögglberg high plateau. The church was first documented as far back as 1330.

The walls of the nave date from that time as well. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the apse was redone in the Gothic style, the nave fitted with two pointed arched doors, and the tower built. During the baroque period, the nave was supplemented with flat-arched windows and a barrel vault; a side chapel was also added. Frescoes depicting the Coronation of the Virgin are interesting from a historical and art-historical perspective, but are not preserved in their entirety.

The Timpfler Knott is one of the three "tuff knolls" (Rotstein, Beimstein and Timpfler Knott), they are of volcanic origin and are unparalleled in South Tyrol.

Set in a quiet location near Vöran, the Timpfler Knott is an ideal rest stop for passing hikers. The seating arrangement was dug out of the porphyry stone directly, and serves as a viewing platform. This peaceful place is complemented by an enigmatic sculpture by artist Michael Fliri, which never fails to surprise observers: two gloved hands intertwined on a stick project a shadow resembling a wolf on the ground, which moves with the changing position of the sun.
The artists: Verena and David Messner, Michael Fliri

The Timpfler Knott is part of the new circular hike Knottnkino³.
From Vöran village follow the signs to Timpfler Knott.

North of Wolfsthurn Castle, on the hiking trail from Andriano to the Bittner farm, on a flat slope called Schlosspichl you will find a magnificent chestnut grove.
Chestnut trees of different ages stand on the green meadow and have a special aura due to their fresh, light green foliage. One large oak tree dominates the chestnut grove majestically, which thanks to its position is much warmer than the surrounding forest and radiates vitality through its radiant colours.

A place to fall in love! A place that allows hikers to rest and that is a natural playground for children.   From the chestnut grove a short path leads to a small hill with a cross and several benches, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Andriano and the Adige valley.

The Church of St. Anna in Aschl/Eschio, near Vöran/Verano, is a Romanesque Revival building that was dedicated on July 26th, 1905: St. Anne’s Day.

A merchant, who hailed from Mölten/Meltina and had found prosperity in Bolzano/Bozen, founded the church. The curate of Vöran, Anton Locher, helped with the construction financially, buying a forest and a meadow for the small house of worship.

St. Peter forms an independent parish, Lajen's parish priest, however, looks after the spiritual welfare. Churches, which are dedicated to Saint Petrus usually point to a high age. The parish church in St. Peter documentarily reaches back to 1241. The church was already rebuilt in the 15th century, so nothing more reminds of the originally Romanesque building today. Today's baroque making is even younger, it was consecrated in 1767. In the inside are great ceiling frescos, which were painted from Josef Arnold,who also painted the blanket frescos of the parish church in Lajen. Three paintings are attached to the parapet of the gallery: Peter cures the lame (on the left), Saint Cäcilia (in the middle) and the conversion of Saint Paulus (on the right). The high altar dates from the building time of the church. The painting represents the farewell of Peter and Paulus. The side altars have different saint figures which have been made in the 18th century. The figures at the outside of the pulpit show figures which symbolize the three cardinal virtues (faith, hope and love).

Already in 1239 was mentioned the consecration of the church. Today's making should have been made, however, in the context of a baroque change in the 18th century. The stout tower with the four-sided pyramid roof is impressive. A broad canopy is located in the main entrance at the west façade. The frescos at this façade show the Saints Johannes, Laurentius, Stephanus and Christophorus and were donated, according to an inscription, from Hans von Freising to Aichach and Dorothea von Freising in 1727. The altar is in a neo-Gothic style. A sculpture , called the "Johannesschüssel", is a copy of a very valuable sculpture from the 14th century. A sculpture of Saint Mary with her child from the master Leonhard of Brixen's school is also deposited in this church.

Today's church was built toward the middle of the 15th century after a village fire. The walls of the nave and the shaft of the tower should be considerably older. A gigantic Christophorus fresco which might have arisen at 1500, is on the right next to the portal of the church. On the left and on the right on the lower side of the fresco are Saint Nicholas with the three golden balls and Saint George with a dragon. Saint George is the second patron saint of the church. The church inside surprises with a pointed arch portal, the lancet windows and an impressive net vault. The baroque high altar (1720) shows Saint Silvester, Saint George, Saint Margareth, Saint Valentin and Saint Nicholas, who looks to the Mother of God with the child. The masterpiece of the church is the gothic winged altar (called the "Georgsaltar", 1520) from Artist Andre Haller from Brixen. In the middle of the winged altar is Saint George on the horse, who fights against the Dragon. On the right side Margareth knees in front of a lamp and prays for a good ending of the fight. In the background are represented Saint George's parents and his execution. The wings of the altar show Saint Joachim with a book and Saint Anna together with the Mother of God and the child.