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Holidays in the Dolomite Villnöss valley

Relaxation and sustainable nature experiences around the famous Geislerspitzen peaks

This is not a place of expansive wellness areas or spas, nor of bustling village centres and hectic. Those who visit the home of mountaineering legends Günther and Reinhold Messner can instead look forward to enjoying pristine nature, tranquillity, low traffic and people for whom sustainability comes naturally.

Here are some things you should not miss

Discover the Teis spheres. Visit a tiny church with a big reputation. Follow in the footsteps of mountaineering legends. Learn many interesting facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

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Enjoy a naturally sustainable holiday with Slow Food and Alpine Pearls

Find your accommodation

How about a charming room in the village inn? A sustainably built hotel with excellent award-winning cuisine? A spacious apartment on the farm? Or a cosy place to sleep in a mountain refuge?

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South Tyrol's first Slow Food Travel Destination

Minimal traffic, no large hotels, just a group of people who are united and committed to their mission of caring for the natural landscape of the Villnösstal valley. Using the Slow Food label they made their vision public. Established in 1986 by Italian Carlo Petrini as a way of preserving local products, cuisine and recipes, Slow Food is now known worldwide as a sustainable movement.

Today, the Villnösstal valley in the Dolomites has become the first Slow Food Travel Destination in South Tyrol. Surrounded by meadows and Alpine pastures at the foot of the mighty Geislerspitzen peaks, people here still live maintain close ties with nature, and farming is still part of everyday culture. Huts, restaurants and hotels favour local products, and promote local producers. For instance, the Villnösstal valley is home to two Presidi Slow Food projects designed to preserve local and artisanal foods while supporting their producers. These include the Villnöss sheep and  grey cattle. In addition, the strategy of sustainable tourism, which was adopted many years ago, continues to pave the way for a sustainable future. 

Slow Food Travel Experiences

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Experience nature in every season

A picturesque hamlet with a little church in the foreground, behind it the striking rock pinnacles of the Geisler peaks: This view from the Villnösstal valley is probably one of the most famous photo motifs in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. This quiet valley is also famous because extreme mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner was born here. This special region is committed to sustainable tourism and is a member of the "Alpine Pearls,“ a network of the most beautiful and environmentally conscious holiday destinations in the Alpine region. With its fascinating Dolomite backdrop, the valley has been hardly developed with the exception of the occasional mountain farm or church, like the St. Peter/St. Paul parish church. Explore the authentic natural landscape of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park on foot, on a climbing rope or during a snowshoe hike in winter. Toboggan fans won’t want to miss the thrilling descent from a mountain hut on a natural toboggan track. At the architecturally unique Puez-Geisler Nature Park visitor centre, learn all there is to know about the formation and flora & fauna of the Dolomites. The Teis/Tiso Mineral Museum, on the other hand, is devoted to the area’s agates, amethysts and rock crystals.

The Geislerspitzen peaks

Visit the striking rocky peaks where extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner learned to climb, and which gave the nature park its name.

This particular string of slender towers made of fissured Dolomite rock lies between the head of the Villnösstal valley and the Val Gardena region. The Villnösser Geisler range is often referred to as differing from the Aferer Geisler range, which are located on the opposite, northern side of the valley. The peaks of the the Villnösser Geisler range are called "Odles" (needles) in Ladin. The highest of all is the  Sass Rigais at 3,025 m. In the home valley of Reinhold Messner, these striking rock formation can be conquered via numerous climbing routes and via ferrata . At the foot of this idyllic postcard motif, hiking trails  lead to Alpine pastures and Alpine inns, allowing hikers to admire the  Geislerspitzen peaks from all angles  on a circular trail. 

Dolorama: Dolomites Panorama trail

Comprising four stages, the Dolorama long-distance hiking trail leads on Alpine pastures and rocky terrain along the way from the Rodenecker Lüsner Alm Alpine pasture to Lajen/Laion. This 60-kilometre route features around 2,365 vertical metres. It is also famed for its view of the Dolomites, including the Peitlerkofel, the Geislerspitzen, the Schlern, the Langkofel and Plattkofel massifs.

A couple walking through the fields in the Puez-Geisler Nature Park with a mountain-panorama in the background
Two people hike in the mountains with a majestic panoramic-view in the background in the Nature Park Puez-Geisler
Two people hike in front of the Geisler mountains in Villnösstal with the sun shining from behind them

Actively experience the Dolomites Region Villnösstal

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Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site

Where today the "Pale Mountains" tower over everything else, fish, corals and shells once lived. Did you know that 270 million years ago, the Dolomites were formed in a tropical sea from reefs and atolls?

Panoramic view over the Dolomites during the sunset
Panoramic view over the Langkofelgruppe during a sunny sommer day
A man hikes in the Puez-Geisler Nature Park

Are you looking for something special?

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All the top events in South Tyrol

The most scenic viewing points

For a phenomenal view into the distance, we have selected the most rewarding destinations: From a panoramic platform to a famous postcard motif or historic buildings that can only be reached on foot.

Where can you eat well in the Dolomites Region Villnösstal?

From rustic farmhouse parlours to the cosy Alpine inns and excellent Slow Food Restaurants: find out what makes South Tyrolean cuisine food so compelling. Traditional down-to-earthness, innovative lightness, the best raw materials.

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Local, unique and of the highest quality

Would you like a slice of spicy mountain cheese? What about a tender cut ofgrey cattle beef? Honey with the South Tyrolean seal of quality? Or a cosy blanket made of Villnöss natural wool? In the Dolomites Region Villnösstal and in the rest of South Tyrol, you will find a wide selection of local high-quality foods and hand-crafted everyday and art objects. Lots of producers sell straight from the farm where you can sample the treats and get to know the producers. In this way, you will experience moments of delicious flavour as well as gaining exciting insider knowledge about the cultivation and processing. With a bit of luck, you can even look over the shoulders of craftsmen at work as they create jewellery, wooden sculptures and baskets while strolling through the village. Hand craftsmanship has a long-standing tradition in South Tyrol. High quality and durability are the primary factors, which are achieved through the use of proprietary manufacturing techniques and high-quality raw materials. This allows us to create products that are only available here.

Slow-Food-Region South Tyrol

Regional and sustainable cuisine: many businesses in South Tyrol focus on fairness, top quality and traditional food production. This is what makes our Slow Food region special.

cheese with a history, a breed of sheep that would have gone extinct long ago, a breed of grey cattle that by living with us for millennia has adapted to our mountain environment, and a type of bread that is part of our culture. These are examples of small producers and agricultural models, rooted in artisanal and traditional knowledge and the core of our four Slow Food circles.

Shopping as an experience

Fresh from the farm or carved from the best wood. You can purchase products with a clear conscience from our farmers or artisans - an enriching experience in itself.

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Travel in an environmentally friendly manner

Are you keen to do your part for the environment and keep your carbon footprint as low as possible even on holiday? We recommend travelling to our region by public transport. The bus and train will transport you here directly, with no detours.

Whether you use the cable cars to ascend from the valley to the mountain or take the train or bus to explore the area, your local transport is guaranteed.

If you are travelling to South Tyrol without a car, you can rest assured that you will be transported in comfort direct to your destination by bus, train or cable car. All timetables are carefully coordinated so that there is always a connection from the train stations in the province to the surrounding towns and villages. Simply hop on board and enjoy the journey through the vineyards, villages and idyllic countryside.

You can take the train to Klausen/Chiusa and Brixen/Bressanone. From there, buses or transfer services will take you to your accommodation in the Dolomites Region Villnösstal.

5 tips for poor weather in the Villnösstal valley

While rare, it does rain or snow from time to time here. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for activities on a wet day. Inside and out.

Ideas for the whole year

What about a refreshing spring walk in nature? A climbing tour to the Geislerspitzen peaks? An adventure trail for all ages? Or a snowshoe hike to the Villnösser Alm Alpine pastures?

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Weather in South Tyrol

Weather in the mountains