Culture & curiosités dans les Dolomites

The Franziskus Church. The modern church of Franziskus, designed in the shape of a dove, on the Seiser Alm invites visitors to contemplate and reflect. St. Francis of Assisi, who loved nature and God’s creation above everything, is the patron saint of the church. The plan of the church building shows the dove as a contour drawing. The body forms the sanctuary of the church and the wings the side additions. The towering bell tower represents the head in the upright projection. This rises smoothly out of the church sanctuary through a laminated timber construction. The interior of the church impresses with its brightly designed space and an interesting interplay of light and shadow. The slightly raised chancel faces east in accordance with ancient tradition. As it was very important to use simple, local building materials, larch wood and porphyry were used. The subtle fragrance of the wood is particularly pleasant. This conveys feelings of security and warmth to churchgoers.

The unique tabernacle is particularly interesting: the Cross is made from a grapevine. The key can be collected at the nearby Gasthof Lamm.

The Nature Park Visitor Center of Villnöss brings visitors closer to nature and is the perfect place to dwell on. A walkable aerial photo gives visitors a bird‘s eye perspective of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. The exhibition area “Touch the mountains” focuses on the key topic - the geology of the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park has been designated the “Dolomites site office” because it is home to all of the rock types, deposits and weathering that are typically found in the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park in the Dolomites is estendet on a area of the 3 valleys: Gadertal valley, Gröden valley and Villnöss valley.  The “Nature’s treasure trove” on the second floor contains plenty to discover: animal fur, bird’s eggs, feathers, footprints, droppings, teeth, antlers, medicinal herbs … all of which - and much more - is on display and can be touched! The “Conquering Mountains” room is primarily dedicated to alpinism. The world’s probably most famous alpinist, Reinhold Messner, comes from Villnöss. He talks about his experiences in the mountains in a short film. The “Puez-Geisler Nature Park film” is also shown daily in the mountain cinema. Leave your stress at home, discover the world of the mountains, and feel like a hunter in the woods.

The Lutheran church is a lime block northeastern of St. Magdalena, accessible from the church of St. Magdalena. The supporters of the lutheran teaching shall have met in secret to celebrate The Liturgy of the Word.

The parish church of St. Peter was built according to the plans by Matthäus Wachter in the 18th century and was dedicated to the saints Peter and Paul. The late baroque frescoes were painted by Joseph Schöpf, one of the most eminent painters of Tyrol. The bell tower dates back to the year 1897.

A fantastic experience for the whole family!

The Mineral Museum Teis is dedicated to the famous Geodes of Teis which formed thanks to volcanic activities more than 290 million years ago. Besides Geodes of Teis, there are also exhibited other alpine minerals (rock crystals, smoky quartz, garnets etc.). The collection is Paul Fischnaller’s lifework who dedicated his life to the minerals.

A short introductory film gives insight into the formation of the Alps and the minerals. In the well-assorted museum shop you can purchase books, souvenirs, gemstones and healing stones.

Join Paul Fischnaller on his search for Geodes of Teis! Every Thursday, reservation required.

Around the village of Teis, from the bottom of the Villnöss valley to the Haube mountain at 1260 m above sea level, you can find a line of partly uncovered and partly hidden trenches, shelters and caverns. These are the remains of the extensive fortifications built as part of the “Barricade of Klausen/Chiusa” at the beginning of the First World War. Over the course of the last century, the trenches have been partly destroyed by human activities and partly reclaimed by nature. A group of locals has taken on the task of investigating the history of these fortifications more closely, preserving them and making them accessible to the public.

The tiny church founded in 1744 by the mine owner, Michael von Jenner, is nestled in extraordinary countryside. The altar paintings by Franz Sebald Unterberger from the Fleim Valley are particullary noteworthy. The church is privately owned and the access is subject to a fee.
However, the church remains closed. 

Please do not enter the meadows surrounded by fence.

At the entrance of the Tschamin Valley, you’ll find the visitor centre of the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, located in the historic Steger Sawmill – a rare, water-powered Venetian sawmill.

Until 2021, the building served as the Nature Park House Schlern-Rosengarten, making it the oldest nature park centre in South Tyrol. In recent years, it has been carefully restored, and the sawmill has been brought back into working condition.

Inside, visitors can explore authentic traces of traditional alpine craftsmanship and living culture – with the original saw and a reconstructed living area offering a glimpse into the past.

Free admission!

The church St. Valentine dates back to 1303 and the nave as well as the bell tower are built in Romanesque style. Probably there was already a previous church at this position around 1090. While the majority of the frescoes inside the church date back to the 15th century, the oldest ones were painted in the 14th century. Exceptional is the Gothic winged altarpiece, an oeuvre by Hans Klocker from 1500.

The South Tyrolean traditional costumes are renowned for their beauty. It is interesting that almost every village and town has its own costume. These pieces of clothing are worn at every festive occasion, such as religious festivities or at processions. During the time of Charles the Great, it was not permitted for farming folk to wear expensive clothing. People of the lower ranks of society were not allowed to wear more than a Loden jacket. The farmers had to wear clothes made of materials they could produce themselves. Expensive fabrics such as silk and brocade were reserved for the richer people in society. Only when Empress Maria Theresia came to power, was this law amended so that the population could wear traditional costumes of any style. This resulted in a variety of traditional costumes that are still used to this day.
Kastelruth costumes for men: Men wear a shirt, cardigan and jacket with trousers and costume shoes. Their hat is decorated with a carnation and some leaves. The top button of the cardigan and jacketremain open.

Kastelruth costumes for women: Women wear a long black skirt and a black velvet corset. During the winter, they also wear a black small cape and during the summer a white jacket. On top of these, there is a silver or coloured shawl with long fringes. With the jacket, they need to wear a blue apron and with the small cape a black, water-silk apron. In addition, they wear fashionable ribbons that look well with their shawl. Married women wear their hair up, with a silver hairpin and a type of stylish comb, which helps to keep their hair in a knot. Unmarried women wear pigtails that are arranged in a type of Gretl hair style and incorporate this with a black velvet ribbon.

The St. James Church is located near the pre-Christian burnt offering site of Tschaufis. The walls of the nave date back to the 12th century and the bell tower was built in Gothic style. The gothic winged altarpiece from 1517 is the most precious piece of the church.

The legend of the King Laurin

A long time ago at the Catinaccio was the King Laurin.

The hard-working dwarfs lived there. One day the King esposed his daughter Similde with another King of the Adige. All the noble people were invited but he does not. So he decided to go on this competition with a magic hood as a invisible guest to see his beautiful Similde. He saw her and fell in love with Similde.

The King took her on his horse and rode away. Similde's husband and his cavaliers was searching her. King Laurin knew that they are coming so he took the miracle belt to got more power. They fight each other and the King saw that he has no chance. So he decide to take his magic hood again and to jump throw the Catinaccio. The cavaliers saw the movement of the roses and captured him.

He was so angry that the Catinaccio betrayed him, so he cursed them: Neither day nor night should anyone ever see him. Laurin forgot the dusk and so it comes that today we can see it with his blooming roses for a short time...

The Power of the milk.
That’s right, we make the best cheese! Thanks to our considerable expertise, knowledge and partners: our good cows.

The fresh mountain air is playing its part; our cheese farm on the Gostner Schwaige is located at 1900 meters above the sea level beneath Mt. Schlern in the Dolomites.  Here are our tasty products crafted from fresh alpine milk:

• Various yogurts
• Mountain cheese
• Tyrolean grey cheese
• Petal cheese
• Mountain saffron cream cheese
• Edelweiss Camembert
• GOLDI our yellow Muscat cream cheese
• First Summer – soft cream cheese from the first weeks of grazing

To the west of the village center lies the historically significant hill of Peterbühl. This is where the beginnings of Völs am Schlern and the entire Schlern region can be found. People settled here thousands of years before Christ. Today, a theme trail commemorates these long-past times and the exciting excavation sites around the small chapel on the Peterbühl. The chapel rises directly on the crest of the hill and stands out with its 13th-century tower. Above the doors, you can see the crossed keys of St. Peter and next to them the coats of arms of the Thun and Firmian families. The coats of arms belong to Regina von Thun and Katharina von Firmian, the two wives of Leonhard the Elder von Völs. The Renaissance-style paintings date back to around 1600. The 16th-century winged altarpiece is now on display in the Völs Parish Museum.

The Peterbühl is an ideal destination for a leisurely stroll or for those seeking a place of peace and reflection. Several benches offer a relaxed atmosphere and invite you to linger.

A new theme trail describes the fascinating beginnings of Völs am Schlern and the entire Schlern region, as well as the period of excavations and findings on the Peterbühl.

Not far from Seis, there is a hushed spot with a view beyond compare: The Karlotten Kofel hill. At the highest point of the volcanic rock and at the foot of the shimmering red porphyry of the mountain face, the incredible view opens out onto the mighty massif of the Schlern - and no less than seven chruch towers! Through the heat of the lava and the exceptionally sunny location, the vegetation here is surprisingly Mediterranean.

Chapel of St. Michael. The Chapel of St. Michael, also known as “cemetery chapel”, is situated next to the parish church of Völs and dates back to the Romanesque period. Today, the chapel houses an archaeological collection and the Völs Parish Museum .

The Hill of the Holy Sepulchre is the most beautiful viewpoint of Tiso. The Holy Grave Chapel was built as a baroque building at the end of the 17th century. In it, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was worshiped. After the entry of Italy into the First World War in May 1915, fortifications were built here on the order of the Austrian Empire army. They should serve as a defense against a possible invasion of Italian troops in the Isarco Valley, if the Dolomite front should fall. The trenches and a bunker were built by Russian prisoners. However, the defenses were not used during the First World War. However, during the final months of World War II, the bunker was used by the village population as protection against air raids and bombing.

The museum houses old skiing apparel and ski equipment from different eras. It is located in Kastelruth and is open upon request at the Tourist Office. The museum provides an insight into the evolution of ski equipment, presenting objects from different times. Historical items are displayed, including skis, poles, shoes, ski gloves, helmets, etc.

Already in the 13th century, there was a St. Mary’s church at Teis which, however, was destroyed by the heavy earthquake in 1471. The present-day neo-Gothic nave was completed in 1890 and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The bell tower dates back to around 1500 and the great bell was cast at Innsbruck in 1734.

The St. Bartholomew Church of Nafen was mentioned in 1307 for the first time and the building in late Gothic style was built in 1489. The frescoes inside the church date back to the 15th to 17th century. The winged altarpiece from the 16th century is exceptional. Because of the illustration of the “Holy Face” at the back of the altar, the church was a pilgrimage site for dental patients for a long time.

An unique group of holy buildings is standing on Mount Calvary, also called Kofel/Colle at Kastelruth/Castelrotto. From the village a path leads among porphyry rocks and beautiful nature. Several chapels line the pilgrimage, which ends at the Roman tower. The seven chapels show pictures of Jesus and his mother, the Mount of Olives, the scourging, crowning with thorns and the handwashing and the Entombment. (Nice walk - 20 minutes)

You will soon find more information about the St. Catherine’s Chapel and the manor house Gurten here.

Witches'spring: adventure path with the witch Curadina to the sulfur springs

In the Infopoint Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Zans is shown the long history of the unique Dolomites in a time lapse.

The rocks, once in the seabed, are now building peaks and are sloping, bent or folded. This is reflected in the architectural concept of the Infopoint.

The church of St. Magdalene was first mentioned in 1394. The present-day late Gothic building dates back to 1492 and the interior is characterised by baroque elements. The paintings by the Ladin artist Johann M. Pescoller in the choir vault from 1928 are well worth seeing.

Important information on arrival:
The access road to the church is closed for cars (gate) and only accessible to residents. It is best to park at the "Putzen" car park shortly after the village St. Magdalena and walk to the church (approx. 30 min.).

At the foot of the Schlern, between Völser Aicha and St. Konstantin, a path connects seven lakes: Salmseiner Weiher, Gflierer Weiher, Völser Weiher, Huber Weiher, Umser Weiher, Oachner Weiher and St. Konstantiner Weiher.

It leads through a varied, impressive nature and past an ancient and unique cultural landscape. In parts, it runs through the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The demanding hike can also be done in sections or in the opposite direction. Various connecting paths are available for entry and exit. The trail leads past farms, villages and through private properties. Some of the 7 nature ponds are privately owned. For the return there are excellent bus connections.

Duration: about 4 hours - 13.2 km. 

The 7 ponds trail is not suitable for baby carriages.

The house and workshop are located on the steep slope just outside the center of the village. The two buildings which run into each other at an angle, open out onto the mountain slope behind, forming an entrance. The workshop and the gallery are situated on the ground floor of the side of the building facing the slope. The concrete construction of this base is partially built into the slope, therefore part of the light for the workshop is provided by openings onto the ground floor which let in indirect light.

Above the basement a wooden construction rises up with interlocking supports, between which the wooden fronting of the facade is inserted; this is where the bedrooms are to be found. In contrast to this the ground floor, home to the living rooms, is predominantly constructed from glass. The shapes formed by the roof seem to evoke the dramatic Dolomite formation of the Schlern Massif, which can be seen in the background.

The ‚Pflegerhof’ farm is South Tyrol's first and most all-round herbal farm. It is an organically working farm led by the Mulser family. This paradise of colours, aromas and scents is situated in the idyllic village of St. Oswald on a sea level of 800m (council of Kastelruth).   Our farm shop is also open during the winter period. We are looking forward to welcoming
In July and August we offer guided farm tours Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In May, June, September and October these tours are offered every Friday.

Tschon Stoan One day, long ago, the wizard Hans Kachler was very angry and threw an immense stone, the Tschon Stoan, from the highest peak of the Sciliar/Schlern mountain on the Seiser Alm. That’s how the legend goes. Starting point: Seis am Schlern