Sentiers thématiques dans le Sud-Tyrol

According to a legend recorded by Ignaz Vinzenz Zingerle, two children once found a sword made of pure gold here. This sword was stuck in the earth, and couldn’t be completely pulled out. When they returned the next day, a man dressed in old-fashioned attire led them to the grotto behind the waterfall where there were magnificent chambers. That’s where the man revealed to them that he was waiting to be released from a curse: Only he who was able to completely draw the sword from the ground would be able to save him. The sword and the man in the old-fashioned clothing were never seen again.

From the Jochgrimm parking lot, you proceed through the idyllic natural landscape of Jochgrimm. During this roundtrip tour, you will pass by several hosted alpine inns where you obtain refreshments and rest before continuing your hike.

The Pinot Noir walkway leads through the Pinot Nor growing area along the Trudner Horn/Monte Corno Nature Park and the characteristic villages of Auer/Ora, Montan/Montagna and Neumarkt/Egna. The Pinot Noir growing area in Montan and Mazon/Mazzon is one of the most famous in Italy. Furthermore you walk through several monuments and historical places. The walkway is family-friendly and not dangerous.

When you take this extra segment, you will begin from Gfrill, which is located at approx. 1,300 meters above sea-level, and continue to Buchholz at 560 meters above sea-level. At first, you'll have a pleasant, relaxing stroll downhill until you come to Unterstein. You can then continue along the old aerial lift trail until you reach the vestiges of an old cableway. The trail then goes downhill until you come to the brook where the Truden Faultline is especially noticeable. This boundary is distinctly visible not only on the basis of the different geological strata (dolomites and porphyry), but also due to the abrupt change in vegetation. You can then continue to the small village of Buchholz.

On this segment, you will proceed from the famed Pinot Noir village of Montan uphill to Aldein – from 500 meters up to 1,200 meters above sea-level. At the beginning of the segment, you will take the "Wine Forest Water" Trail and pass by the Enn Castle and the Elsenhof farmstead which belongs to it. You will then proceed along the old tracks and through the spruce forests (common here on the southwest flank of the Cislon) and farther to the Aldein Bridge (known as the "Little European Bridge" when first built in the 1960s). This is a good opportunity for hikers to make a rest-stop and/or get some refreshments. You will then proceed to the hamlet of Holen and on to Aldein.

This challenging hike begins from the Jochgrimm. You then have to master approx. 500 meters of altitude-differential until you come to the Schwarzhorn (2,439 meters above sea-level). The trail then leads you around and down the other side of the Schwarzhorn until you come to the Kugeljoch; from this pass, you have a magnificent panoramic view of the Fleims Valley. You can now proceed down the "Leitensteig" staircase until you reach the Kaltenbrunn "Ice Holes," where it's pleasantly cool even in the summertime. From Kaltenbrunn (where hikers will find a number of refreshment options and also access to public transportation), there is still a short segment slightly uphill to Truden. This is a uniquely beautiful hike and is – in spite of the level of difficulty – an absolute "must" for ambitious hikers.

The Pinot Noir walkway leads through the Pinot Nor growing area along the Trudner Horn/Monte Corno Nature Park and the characteristic villages of Auer/Ora, Montan/Montagna and Neumarkt/Egna. The Pinot Noir growing area in Montan and Mazon/Mazzon is one of the most famous in Italy. Furthermore you walk through several monuments and historical places. The walkway is family-friendly and not dangerous.

The Pichl is the starting-point for the Gfrill Village Route. From here, you continue to Unterstein and then along the cableway trail until you come to the remains of an abandoned cableway. From here, the Berger Trail will take you to the Old Gfrill Road. Continue along it until your get back to your starting-point at the Pichl.

From the small village of Buchholz, you will then continue on to Gfrill. Right after Buchholz, the Truden Faultline becomes especially noticeable. This boundary is visible not only on the basis of the different geological strata (dolomites and porphyry), but also due to the change in vegetation. The trail is steadily uphill until you come to the ruins of the walls of an old cableway. You continue along the old cableway trail, steadily uphill, until arriving in Gfrill, an alpine village surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

An enticing guide!
Take a step back in time while hiking along the GEOPARC.

At the foot of the Weißhorn / Corno Bianco, a small streamlet dug a deep valley in the mountain over the course of millions of years, thus creating a unique natural monument: the Bletterbach gorge. Regardless of the seasonh or hour of the day, the steep rocky walls, roaring waterfalls and beautiful colours shimmering across the surfaces always show themselves under a new light, enchanting not only hikers with a penchant for geology but also nature lovers, amateur photographers and people simply looking for peace and quiet.

In 1494, the famous German artist Albrecht Dürer travelled for the first time to Italy. His final destination was Venice. Because of the flooded Adige valley, he had to bypass from the cloister St. Florian in Egna/Neumarkt to Buchholz/Pochi. During his stay in the Segonzano Castle, he created a few of his most important watercolors.

A Part of the path is accessible today.
Starting from the pilgrims hospice “Klösterle” in St. Florian, the hiking path number 8 leads to Laag/Laghetti. From here to Buchholz/ Pochi we pass the famous “roman” bridge. To Garbe and Laag and back to Klösterle, you have to leave the Dürerweg just before the village of Buchholz and follow trail no. 3.

 

From the hiking starting point in Truden  (visit center Nature parc) you hike up through the village towards the village entrance. From there, follow trail no.5, then Sagenweg (no.8) to the picturesque Rungganöhof, continue there, always following trail 5. You will pass the Pinterschupfe, Peraschupf and Riegenschupfe (all not managed) to the Langes Moos biotope . From here via path No. 9 you arrive to the Krabes Alm (1,540 m, managed during summer). From there follow path no. 6 and then 5 directly to the hiking starting point in Altrei. It's possible return from this point to Truden with the pubblic transport.

This challenging segment leads from the alpine village of Altrei to the famed Pinot Noir village of Montan – from 1,200 meters down to 500 meters above sea-level. From Altrei, the route continues uphill via the Ziss Saddle all the way to the Horn-Alm (managed) with a wonderful view, at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters above sea-level – the highest point of this segment. From here, the trail is almost totally downhill. The next segment will take you to the Hackelboden forest hut (not managed!) and on to the hamlet of Gsteig (option for food/drink and overnight lodgings). You will then pass by the roaring Glen Waterfall via the former Fleims Valley railroad and on to Montan.

Helpful hint for this route: Take the little side-trip from Gsteig to the impressive "Kanzel" looming high above the Unterland district. You'll be rewarded with a fantastic view!

Beginning from the parking lot at the church, you should start off through forests and meadows until you come to the Knappen Holes. You will then proceed a short stretch along the Geo Trail – if you want, you could now turn off and visit the Bletterbach Gorge (admission fee). Otherwise, you can continue along the Zirmersteig back to the starting-point.

The Spring Promenadeis a beautiful circular walk in Salurn. Several information boards raise awareness of the gold of the 21st century. The waterfall is the highlight of this walk.

You can proceed along this very easy segment from Altrei uphill via the Ziss Saddle – not far from there, you can admire the stunning "huckete Stoan," a free-standing erratic boulder made of porphyry the size of a house – until you come to the Horn-Alm (which is managed). From here, you will proceed slightly downhill until you come to the bogland "Schwarz" and "Weiss" lakes. It's now only a short stretch to Gfrill, the goal of this segment.

This challenging segment leads from the famed Pinot Noir village of Montan all the way to Altrei. This alpine village is situated at an elevation of almost 1,200 meters above sea-level. From Montan, the route leads via the old railroad route of the former Fleims Valley railroad, on past the Glen Waterfall, up to the hamlet of Gsteig (option for food/drink and overnight lodgings). Then, from the Kalkofen parking lot, you will take the steep uphill route to the Hackelboden forest hut (not managed!) and on to the Horn-Alm (which is managed), the highest point of this segment. After a short pause (option for food/drink and overnight lodgings), you continue downhill along an easy path via the Ziss Saddle. You might want to stop at the Kneipp hydro-therapeutic station on your way to Altrei.

Helpful hint for this route: Take the little side-trip from Gsteig to the impressive "Kanzel" looming high above the Unterland district. You'll be rewarded with a fantastic view!

The Castelfeder hill is an ancient cultural landscape with settlement remains dating back to the Stone Age and Bronze Age. The remains of the castle complex, the legendary “slide of fertility” and the Santa Barbara chapel walls are testament to its mystical past. The area is of particular importance not only from an archaeological and historical perspective but also from an ecological point of view as for years it has enjoyed the status of being a protected natural habitat (biotope).

From the village center, proceed to the sculpture garden where you can view various fascinating sculptures made of different materials. You can then continue through the splendid natural landscape until you come to the Niedere-Höfe Trail. You will pass by the Perkeo Restaurant and then through the village back to the starting-point. This is an easy stroll through the romantic natural surroundings and culture of Buchholz.

On this segment, you will proceed through the Truden Horn Nature Park from the picturesque little village of Altrei to the multi-faceted alpine village of Truden. You will begin on an old cobblestone trail to the high-altitude bog of "Langes Moos." The trail continues upwards via the forest trail until you come to the Krabes-Alm at an elevation of 1,540 meters above sea-level. This is a good opportunity to stop for a rest. The trail continues through the Truden Horn Nature Park and then downhill to the village of Truden.

7, 14, or 31: When the first Ways of the Cross were built, there was a varying number of stations. In some places there were seven; in other places, 31 stations. Later, there was an agreement to always have 14.

The Altrei tour will take you through extensive larch meadows - the result of clearing land of all the other species of trees while still preserving the larches, thus leading to a low-density population of trees which are then tended and cared for. You continue along the Legend and Breathing Trail to the Fraul-Alm and then to the "Kugelets Mösl." The tour then continues through the Guggal neighborhood and back to the starting-point in the village square. There are several convenient rest-stops with refreshment options along the way – plus the magnificent scenery always at your side.

This challenging segment leads from Aldein via the Cislon to Gschnon and on to Gfrill. You will proceed along pleasant trails and come first to Holen, then past it to the Aldein Bridge (known as the "Little European Bridge" when first built in the 1960s). Here there are various refreshment options. And provided that you have the necessary physical fitness, you can then continue on upwards to the Cisloner Alm. A quite challenging part of the trail is over the Reiterböden. Later, you will proceed to Mühlen (option for rest-stop, refreshments, and overnight lodgings). You can then continue over a short stretch over an asphalt road and uphill to the hamlet of Gschnon (option for rest-stop, food/drink, and overnight lodgings). After that, there's a somewhat more-comfortable segment over pleasant forest paths and the Gfrill Saddle until you come to Gfrill.

This walking trail passes through sites of historical interest which narrate the story of Tiers am Rosengarten. In addition to the parish church, notable historic sites en-route include the schoolhouse, the ‘Galgenwiesl’ (Eng: “Gallows Meadows”) field and the St. Sebastian chapel, to name but three of the eleven stations. Each site is indicated by stone tablets and marker stones.

In 1494, the famous German artist Albrecht Dürer travelled for the first time to Italy. His final destination was Venice. Because of the flooded Adige valley, he had to bypass from the cloister St. Florian in Egna/Neumarkt to Buchholz/Pochi. He came across the gill of the river Lakus and passed the Roman's bridge ("Römerbrücke"). After Buchholz/Pochi, he arrived at the Sauch pass. This road brought him to the Lago Santo Lake, where he descended to Cembra, Faver and the Segonzano Castle. During his stay in this castle, he created a few of his most important watercolors.

A Part of the path is accessible today.

 

This pleasant segment leads from idyllic village of Oberradein all the way to Truden – from 1,500 meters to 1,100 meters above sea-level. At the start, you proceed downhill by way of Unterradein until you come to the famed "Ice Holes" of Kaltenbrunn; because of the cool air that streams out of the openings in the ground, it's pleasant here even in the summer. Kaltenbrunn offers refreshment options and connection to public transportation. From here, the route goes slightly uphill and then levels off as you continue to Truden.

When you take the so-called Solder Hiking Trail, you will start in the village center of Truden to the "Leger" outlook platform. You will pass by the Jäger Cross, and then proceed along the staircase. Suddenly, you will find yourself amidst spectacular alpine scenery where dwarf pines, alpine rhododendrons, the dryas, and other plant species dominate the landscape. From the "Hochwand," you can admire a vast and beautiful panorama. Continue on your way until you come to the Cisloner Alm (managed). From there, you proceed along the trail – similar to a balcony ("Solder" is Tyrolean for "balcony"). You will pass by several great outlook points as you return to the village center.

The road starts from the centre of Aldein next to the Church. We follow the instructions of the road nr. 10 and after 1 1/2 we reach the main street, which has to be crossed. The instructions show the way to farms and meadows. Soon we reach the first station of the cross, this one as well as the others are made by the Schützenkompanie Aldein. At the "Bacherhof" farm starts the "Long way", called by the inhabitants of Aldein, which goes into the woods with a slight raising. Walking from one station of the cross to the next we reach the "Woller"-shed in the middle of alp meadows with beautiful flowers. The forest road (Nr. 2-8-10) leads us to the largest place of pilgrimage of South Tyrol: Maria Weißenstein. Behind the Curch we find the restaurant and the bus parking place, where a bus drives to the Centre of Aldein too.

This challenging segment leads from Gfrill / Cauria (1,330 meters above sea-level) via the hamlet of Gschnon / Casignano and the Cisloner Alm and to Aldein (1,200 meters above sea-level). At the beginning, the route is uphill via the Gfrill Saddle until you reach Gschnon (option for rest-stop, food/drink, and overnight lodgings). From there, you will continue over the asphalt road uphill until you come to Mühlen / Molini (again: option for food/drink and overnight lodgings). After that, it's a rather steep path up to the Cisloner Alm. From here, you will proceed downhill until you reach the Aldein Bridge (known as the "Little European Bridge" when built back in the 1960s). This is a good spot to make a rest-stop (lodgings also available). You can then continue via Holen / Olmi until your come to Aldein / Aldino.

 

This alpine path leads along the north - south route through the eastern Dolomites. During the course of the hike you will get to know interesting areas of the eastern Dolomites. The main route leads along an average height of 2.000m - so you have to expect high - alpine conditions. With the exception of the last sections, which can be bypassed on an easier path, experienced hikers will have no difficulties.

Stages: 8 -12 days