Vinschgau/Val Venosta

The Vinschgau/Val Venosta heralds the start of the bike season in March. On the early snow-free (e-)MTB trails on the Vinschger Sonnenberg between Kastelbell/Castelbello, Latsch/Laces, Schlanders/Silandro and Prad am Stilfserjoch/Prato allo Stelvio, a dense network of well-marked, unspoilt routes and tours awaits you. In the valley, the Etschradroute Via Claudia Augusta reveals springtime views of picturesque villages and white and pink apple orchards in bloom. Bike hire and service offers make tour planning easier, as do the lifts, such as the St. Martin im Kofel cable car, which takes you directly to the starting point of your tours. The forest trails in the Vinschgau/Val Venosta promise a more leisurely pace, guiding leisure cyclists to the sunny Venosta Valley mountain pastures. 

In the culturally rich Vinschgau/Val Venosta, a new chapter awaits you around every bend. In the Stelvio National Park, the five visitor centres invite you on a vivid journey into the extreme habitat of Alpine animals and plants. Works of art from the Middle Ages pave the "Alpine Road of Romanesque Art", which takes you to Romanesque castles,  monasteries and chapels. Culture is on the programme at Castelbello Castle, while at archeoParc Schnalstal/Val Senales  you can gain a deep insight into the past of Ötzi, the glacier mummy. You can also travel back in time at the Allerengelberg Monastery in Karthaus, while the Messner Mountain Museums MMM Juval and MMM Ortles will inspire you to interact with mountains and glaciers. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the transhumance in June, that sheep drive in Schnals, is one of the traditions handed down in the Vinschgau/Val Venosta. 

Ski, enjoy the mountain huts and spring sunshine for as long as you want: In the two ski areas of Sulden am Ortler and the glacier ski area Alpin Arena Schnals, the lifts are open until the beginning of May. The longest ski season in South Tyrol awaits you here. While the apple trees blossom in the valley below, you can carve your turns on perfectly groomed pistes above. The perfect snow conditions attract international ski teams as well as the cross-country and biathlon elite, who train here at an ideal altitude - whether on the slopes or at the Martell Biathlon Centre. At the mountain station on the Schnals Glacier, the viewing platform Iceman Ötzi Peak (3,251 m) offers a view of 126 three-thousand metre peaks. In Sulden, the panorama of the "triumvirate" with the Königsspitze, Zebru and Ortler/Ortles (3,905 m), the highest mountain in South Tyrol, is impressive. 

From enjoyable ascents to real challenges at over 3,000 metres: the majestic mountain landscape makes the Vinschgau/Val Venosta one of the most beautiful ski touring areas in South Tyrol and the entire Alps. Whether in the Ortler/Ortles region with South Tyrol's highest peak, in the Stelvio National Park or in the Texel Group Nature Park - firn and powder snow, the silence of unspoilt nature and spectacular views inspire ski tourers of all abilities. The snow-covered slopes beckon you up into the spring for a fantastic descent. Summit classics such as the Köllkuppe (3,300 m), the Suldenspitze (3,375 m) and the Piz Sesvenna (3,205 m) top the booklist of ski tours. Important: Always keep an eye on the current weather and avalanche situation!