Culture & curiosités dans les Dolomites

Museum Gherdëina

The heritage of an entire valley

Geology and wooden toys, artistic tradition and Luis Trenker: the Gherdëina Museum offers an overview of everything that makes Val Gardena special. The journey through time begins there 250 million years ago with unique fossils and minerals. And if you feel like it, you can experience the large ichtyosaur from the Secëda mountain in its habitat in virtual reality.

Another attraction is the wooden toy from Val Gardena that has conquered children's rooms all over the world. From December 2025, a new exhibition will show the3 evolution of toys, with pieces from the collection of the toy manufacturer Sevi, which comprises 8,000 samples from seven decades.

The museum also houses secular and sacred wood carvings from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as a pictorial Lenten cloth and sculptures from the church of San Giacomo. Late medieval red chalk drawings from a farmhouse are presented in multimedia form and are not the only insight into local rural architecture.

Finally, there ist the cult figure of the mountaineer, film and television star Luis Trenker, whose film requirements, posters, books and awards are on display in the museum.

 

Guided tours in Italian, German and English (upon request)

For current opening hours, admission prices and events visit: www.museumgherdeina.it

The Tervela waterfall is situated at the opposite of the centre of S. Cristina. The creek has its source at the Sassolungo and after crossing Monte Pana, it falls 50 m and flows into the Rio Gardena.

The Dolomites are part of the UNESCO world heritage since 2009. The UNESCO viewing platform on the Alpe Mastlé in S. Cristina has been built as one of the 7 Viewing platforms in South Tyrol at a particularly beautiful viewing point. Each position of a viewing platform has been selected due to its peculiar geological and scenic aspect of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

Ortisei is the capital of Val Gardena, famous for its picturesque pedestrian area with great shops and cafés and its ornate woodcarvings.

This idyllic part of Val Gardena offers the possibility to enjoy the magic pedestrian area during your holiday with the breath-taking view to Sassolungo.

Shopping in Val Gardena is a fun experience. From ski suits to haute couture: you have a great choice. After strolling round the shops there are plenty of restaurants and cafés where you can indulge your palate.

The 19th century Neo-Gothic nave was dismantled in 1988 and replaced by an 8-sided building. This remarkable church is decorated with several paintings, carvings, statues and images (among which a statue of St. Ulrich by Ludwig Moroder and the altar painting depicting the Adoration of the Magi by Josef Moroder-Lusenberg).

The "landmark" of the Cislesalpe is the Pieralongia, a small rock tower that broke off from the Fermeda walls at some point.A beautiful and peaceful place to rest, hike and marvel at.

In 1917, the mudslide at Insom below the Pic mountain broke loose for the first time.  Two buildings and a barn were buried under the mass of loose rock, mud and snow. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. 24 years later, in the spring of 1951, the Insom mudslide threatened the village of St. Christina for the second time. The mudslide followed in the footsteps of the 1917 mudslide and at the Insom farmstead, where it dug deep into the ground, beams, floorboards and foundation walls (remains of the buildings buried in 1917) were visible again for some time. It was only thanks to the energetic efforts of the fire brigade that a major catastrophe was prevented.

The Sëurasas below the Picberg (2,119 m) is one of the most popular vantage points in Val Gardena. The viewpoint not only offers a marvellous view, but the interesting nature of the path also makes this area a special feature. The starting point is the Cristauta car park above S. Cristina. The destination is the beautiful large hand-carved summit cross of Sëurasas.
In winter, you can reach the "Crujeta" summit cross on snowshoes.

The monument is located along the path named after him. It is dedicated to "Bera Luis", the famous local actor, director, writer and passionate mountaineer who successfully conveyed his love for the mountains to his vast audience.

Luis Trenker was born in Ortisei on October 4th 1892, and died in Bolzano on April 12th 1990, at the age of 97. He was buried in the family tomb in the cemetery of Ortisei.
During his school days he worked as a mountain guide and ski instructor. He studied architecture in Vienna and Graz and opened an architectural office in Bolzano, which he had to close shortly after because his degree was not recognized in Italy.
For this he worked as an artist and lived in Berlin from 1927 to 1940.

His first contact with film came in 1921, when he was hired as a mountain guide for the film "Berg des Schicksals" (Mountain of Destiny). When the director realized that the lead actor was unable to climb, Trenker took on the lead role. Other films followed in quick succession, initially as an actor, then also as director and screenwriter. Not only mountain films, but also adventure films, comedies, thrillers, and historical films.
In addition to his films, Luis Trenker also published a number of novels, articles and accounts of his experiences.
In the last years of his life, Trenker also fought for environmental protection and nature conservation.

The most known films:
Struggle for the Matterhorn (1928)
Mountains on fire (1931)
The Rebel (1932)
The prodigal son (1934)
The mountain calls (1938)
Monte Miracolo (1943)

St. Anna’s Chapel | A small church built at the beginning of the 15th century in the Ortisei’s graveyard. It features a noteworthy portal and several ancient gravestones and memorials.

The church will be open only for special occasions.

St. Jacob’s Church San Giacomo’s Church, dedicated to the patron saint of pilgrims and travellers, is traditionally known as the oldest church in Val Gardena: its origins date back to the 12th century. | It is located right above Ortisei, along the ancient path, “Troi Paian”. From Ortisei you can reach the idyllic , sunny hamlet comfortably by ski- or summer bus or by car. Here you are surrounded by nature and you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view. After a 15-minute walk (slightly uphill) you will arrive to the San Giacomo Church. Alternatively, you can start from Ortisei and take a slightly sloping trail (Path of Dialogue), which takes you to the San Giacomo Church in about an hour. Another beautiful circular walk connects S. Cristina (Plesdinaz) with the church. The current overall appearance is Gothic, and the inside is part Gothic and part Baroque. The church features remarkable frescoes (late 15th century) in the presbytery. Wall paintings from the 16th century, illustrating the legend of San Giacomo (St. James), decorate the area near the pulpit. The local wood-carving tradition is represented in the main altar. Around 1750 the Vinazer-Pescosta brothers decorated it with spiral columns, gilded images of ancient church leaders, apostles and angels. The current sculptures and artwork on the main altar are replicas made by local carvers. The originals are on display at the Val Gardena Museum in Ortisei.

GUIDED TOURS to the church weekly in Winter and Summer. Reservation and more details at the Tourist Office Ortisei.

On Wednesdays you can find our weekly market on the Town Hall Square in S. Cristina where they offer fresh fruits and vegetables, cloths and other. The market is smaller in winter.

A spherical equatorial sundial with a diameter of 2 metres is positioned at Monte Pana. Made of iron, brass and gold, ist is positioned on to of a 10-ton porphyry plinth. It indicates the true solar time for S. Cristina and 60 more cities around the world. It also shows the Central European Time, the current sign of the zodiac, equinoxes, solstices and seasons.

The chapel was built by the local "Alpini" groups and it is dedicated to their patron saint, St.Maurice. It was inaugurated in Spring 2004. Open from mid of May till mid of October.

The old Nives barn, in the middle of a sprawling tourist village structure, was to be preserved as a reminder of the farming past and used for exhibiting purposes. Through the renovation, surfaces were created in the section made of stone and in the solid wood construction of the barn. The interior spaces below were plastered, and those above were paneled with larch. In order to enlarge the exhibition space the barn was connected through a short passageway to a new structure, forming an elegant architectural contrast. A visually light pavilion, the structural steelwork, was surrounded on all sides by a glass facade. As a result, the building allows insight into what is happening inside and develops a dialogue with passers-by, who are encouraged by its transparency to visit.

10 years Christmas village Ortisei - The picturesque capital of the Val Gardena, has been enchanting its visitors during the Christmas season since 2014. It has become a beautiful tradition: Ortisei's pedestrian area transforms into a true fairy-tale landscape adorned with Christmas decorations that captivate visitors of all ages. Along the pedestrian zone, typical wooden huts welcome visitors. In an impressive manner, the Christmas village Ortisei combines the deeply rooted traditions of the Val Gardena with the elegance and exclusivity of the offerings of the hut operators.

The festive atmosphere is accompanied by the Christmas tunes of local musicians, spreading joy and serenity in the air. Visitors can stroll through the Christmas village, admire local craftsmanship, discover regional delicacies, and find original gift items among the Christmas huts.

The Christmas village is an experience that engages all the senses and offers moments of joy and sharing in an enchanting environment. It is a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the tradition and culture of the mountains and fully experience the spirit of Christmas in a magical atmosphere.

Opening times Christmas Village Ortisei:
30.11.2024 - 01.12.2024
16.00h - 19.00h - gastronomy till 20.00h

05.12.2024 until 05.01.2025
From Monday to Friday: 16.00 - 19.00h
Weekend: 11.00h - 19.00h
Gastronomy: till 20.00h

Special opening hours: 
24.12.2024: 11.00h - 17.00h
25.12.2024: only gastronomy 11.00h - 20.00h

The trail starts near the valley station of the Col Raiser cable car in S. Cristina and winds through the woods above Cristauta. Along the way, accessible from directions, there are five information stations, each dedicated to a different bird species in Val Gardena. Each station features a wooden sculpture, handcrafted by a master sculptor from Val Gardena, and offers interesting facts about the habits, lifestyle and characteristics of each species. You can hear the bird’s calls by scanning the board’s QR code, making the experience even more engaging.

The monument is near the parish church square in Ortisei. It was built in memory of Johann Baptist Purger (1805-1872), the mayor who fought for the construction of the Val Gardena Road from Ponte Gardena to Ortisei.

The old mills in Bulla, right above Ortisei, were built in the 8th and 19th century. The Zaramin mill is abandoned, but the Rumanon mill was restored in 1999 and the Droch mill in 2010. They are now fully operational. Visitors can join a guided tour and learn more about the mills and the ancient local lifestyle. More information is available at the Tourist Office in Ortisei.

One of the most beautiful viewpoints in Val Gardena is definitely the Seceda . At an altitude of 2,500 metres, you can admire the Odle, Sassolungo and Sassopiatto and the Sella massif. The numerous mountain huts invite you to enjoy a delicious lunch.

The 19th century neo-Gothic nave was demolished in 1988 and replaced by a modern octagonal structure. The beautiful chancel dating back to 1670, however, was preserved, complete with the painting of the Madonna with Child by Lukas Cranach on the high altar (now a copy). In 1503 Wilhelm von Wolkenstein had a chapel dedicated to the Virgin built here, which subsequently had to be enlarged several times to cope with the large numbers of people who came to this popular place of pilgrimage as they still do today. On the outside wall of the sacristy there is a stone painted with the coat of arms of the Counts of Wolkenstein.

A cable car always means an intrusion into the mountains. For the fragile high-mountain landscape above Selva/Wolkenstein, an architect was commissioned for a suitable design. For the 2.2-km cable car, which has the capacity to transport 3,000 people per hour, three structures were to be designed: the base, intermediate and summit stations. The equipment rooms were to be situated underground to the extent possible, allowing passengers to step into spacious, glazed entrance areas that are covered by protective, undulating concrete shells. The smooth lines of the base station integrates into the terrain with smooth lines. The steel structure of the open intermediate station has a glassy, transparent look, and passengers are greeted at the summit station by the welcoming gesture of a concrete shell above the glazed hall.

A chapel dedicated to Santa Cristina existed here probably at the end of the 12th century. A Romanesque church was mentioned in a papal document in 1342. The bell tower walls, up to the roof eaves, date back to that period. The church was extensively altered and enlarged: the choir is in the Gothic style, and a polygonal ossuary was added in the 16th century. The main altar (1690, Vinazer dynasty of sculptors) is worth a visit. The bronze statue of St. Philomena by Dominik Mahlknecht, once in the ossuary, is now in the main sqare of S. Cristina.

The Resciesa Alp is part of the Dolomites - UNESCO World Heritage and a popular excursion destination for everyone. Hikers, families, hobby photographers, bikers and connoisseurs are taking advantage of this unique space in the middle of Nature park Puez - Odle. The natural park with an area of ​​over 10,000 ha is bordered in the north by Passo delle Erbe and in the south by Passo Gardena; in the east the area reaches Val Badia, in the west into Val di Funes up to  Val Gardena. The northern part of the area is dominated by the Aferer and the Funes Odle and the Sas de Pütia, the southern the plateau of Gherdenacia, Sassongher, Puez with Vallunga and the Cir Group.

 

Monpiër - from "mo n pier", the typical Ladin phrase pronounced by those who want "another beer" - is the name of the first craft brewery in Val Gardena.Founded in Ortisei in 2016, born from the desire to get involved by Carmelo, Diego, Jan and Tobia: four people from Val Gardena who have found a common denominator in beer. Monpiër beers take their name from the surrounding mountains and their respective heights and are a dedication and hymn to the beauty of the Dolomites.Our 1000 liter manual batch system allows our brewer a lot of flexibility in the construction of the recipes and styles to be produced. In our laboratory, low fermentation beers are born, high beers and exploiting the local microflora we carry out a wooden project of spontaneous fermentations. Selected malts and a skilful dosage of hops combined with pure high mountain water from the Cunfin spring located at the foot of the Sassolungo are a guarantee of high quality. Monpiër is proof that craft beer can be simple, drinkable, immediate - and at the same time incredibly seductive.In addition to the beers produced by our brewery, we offer a vast assortment of over 70 national and international craft beers in our Labetula brew pub.

The eponymous bronze statue were built on the "Raida dl luech" walk in S. Cristina. The project is the result of a competition backed by the partnership between S. Cristina, the Tourist Association and the S. Cristina Art Sculpture Association to embellish the "Raida dl luech" and to o emphasize the importance and value of artistic activity in Val Gardena. The bronze statue freerider was built in 2012 near the Cisles Street in S. Cristina.

Next up is the Dolomites World Heritage Cinema, where you can marvel at the stunning scenic view on the unique mountains of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puez Odle Nature Park and the imposing Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. You can also use a telescope (or do without one) to see every summit, then comparing it with the wood carved mountains created at the S. Cristina workshops.

An unique botanical attraction, the highest rosary of Europe waits for you at the Hotel Uhrerhof in Bulla. Discover the variety of 6.000 roses of more than 150 various species. A steep mountain hillside was transformed into a garden park filled with flowers and perfume. Enjoy the beauty of nature! From July to September every day from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. along the hillside at the Hotel Uhrerhof in Bulla. Dogs are not admitted.

The Holy Cross Chapel, built in 1755 in Rasciesa di Fuori (over 2200 m) is also worth a visit. The chapel was restored in summer 2012.
The chapel is located at Resciesa and can only be reached on foot in about 45 minutes, starting from the top station of the Resciesa funicular. It is a flat and easily walkable trail suitable for the whole family.

The beautiful Romanesque church, dedicated to St. Leonard, was built around the 13th century. Its main altar dates back to the 18th century.