Bezienswaardigheden in Zuid-Tirol

Registered as a natural monument since 1979 with the Provincia Autonoma of Bolzano Department of Nature, Landscape and Spatial Development.

The reason for protection is the great age of the tree and its aesthetic peculiarity.
The chestnut is located directly at the Happichlhof (Happichl Inn) in Rabland/Rablà in Geroldstraße/Via Gerold and can be visited during a hike along the Rablander Waalweg/sentiero della roggia di Rablà (irrigation channel).

According to the owner, the roots reach under the adjacent barn of the Happichlhof (distance 10 m).

As a result of its free standing, it was able to develop unconfined.
The trunk divides into two main branches at a height of 6 m.

This very early church stands in the south-east part of the village, in the midst of green meadows. The church was built in the Romanesque style by the von Tschengels as their proprietary church at the end of the 13th century; it then benefited from the pastoral care of clerics from Tschengls. The last member of the Tschengls died in 1421. Inside the church John the Evangelist and John the Baptist are revered as patron saints. In the course of time the church was adapted to contemporary architectural styles and enriched with devotional pictures. Particular sights worth seeing are:

• Romanesque and Gothic frescoes
• the gallery from c. 1600
• the wooden baroque ceiling and pews
• a grave-stone from the Counts of Tschengels
• the frescoes uncovered in the last century
• two frescoes by Karl Plattner (1948)

The last constructional measure was the reroofing with small shingles in 2002.

Guided tours in English  on request

For visit only during the year, please contact the tourist office in Prato allo Stelvio.

Since 2000, the world's largest nativity scene has been displayed in the Iman Sports Centre in S. Cristina. The project is beeing carried out by a group of 18 sculptors. It was initiated in 1998 with the first statue being that of the Holy Mary with Baby Jesus. Creativity, sensibility, sense of art and skill fostered the idea: St. Joseph, the Magi, a shepherd, a donkey, three sheep, an Angel and a camel are now part of the scene, and the family continues to grow year after year.

The western Lodner glacier is located between the Lodnerspitze (3,228) in the south and the Hohe Weiße (3,278) in the north. 
About 20 years ago, the glacier extended from a height of 2,780 m to a height of 3,180 m and covered an area of 25 ha.
In recent years, this glacier has also receded considerably and no longer reaches these dimensions. Today, the glacier extends from about 2,855 m to 3,030 m. The only larger ice field that can be seen is about 200 m x 200 m, which is an area of 4 ha. In former times, the northern flank of the Lodnerspitze (3,228) was covered with ice all the way to the peak, but today only three or four small ice fields remain as reminders of this.
Four to five smaller ice fields can still be seen on the southern flank of the Hohe Weiße (3,278). The rest of the ice is covered with rocks that fall from the wall.

Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano ripartizione Natura, Paesaggio e Sviluppo del Territorio

The historical garden is situated at the entrance to the monastery complex. It reopened in summer 2004 following extensive restoration work. The sequoia tree towers imposingly over the rear part of the garden, with the impressive centuries-old ginkgo trees directly opposite. The pretty baroque garden with its myriad flowers and herbs and beautiful fountain is laid out between them.

 

Between the 3,337 m high Roteckspitze and the 3,254 m high Rotwand, the glacier "Roteck Ferner" extends in an easterly direction.
The former direction of flow of the glacier can be seen very clearly in the lateral moraines, which point in the direction of the Zieltal valley and are partly already overgrown with cushion vegetation and grasses. In the upper part of the cirque, the glacier is partly covered with metres of very large boulders. The rock that falls and is carried down the valley by the ice consists mainly of muscovite schist and paragneiss in this area. The Ferner used to have an ice surface of 50 ha, of which about 30 ha are left today.

Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano ripartizione Natura, Paesaggio e Sviluppo del Territorio

The ten Spronser lakes, the largest collection of lakes in the high alpine region, can be found to the north west of Tirolo, at the heart of the Texel group of mountains at around 2,500 metres above sea level. These enchanting mountain lakes form one of the most beautiful and significant groups of lakes in South Tyrol, with the Langsee lake, at 1 km long and almost 300 metres wide, also being one of the largest in the country.

The most beautiful group of mountain lakes in South Tyrol is so high that even in summer there is often snow on their shores. The Spronser lakes supply a large part of the city of Merano and its surroundings with water. The flora and fauna at this altitude are also noteworthy and absolutely fascinating.

The Alluvial Terrain beneath the Stelvio

The Prader Sand biotope is a flooded area along the Solda river, with its unique vegetation and is one of the few remaining swamps in South Tyrol. The Solda river once flowed unchecked across the Valley causing flooding and following its containment, the wetlands became considerably reduced. What remains of the former great expanse, is known as the Prader Sand.

Three different walking and hiking trails lead through this protected natural area of sand and swamp all the way to the fishermen’s lake and are also suitable for prams.

Lago di Pausa Lake is a deeply blue alpine lake. According to a legend instead of Lago di Pausa Lake there was a stony area with many huts built on top of it. Dwarfs were the owners of the huts, and they worked in the mine of the Dwarf King named Mute. They searched for crystals in the mine and got good money for their hard work. However, after some time the dwarfs became more and more dissatisfied. One day, the dwarfs found a giant gemstone, which they wanted to keep and sell themselves. Mute found out about the dwarfs' intention and brought about a giant storm. Water flew down the mountains and the dwarfs could not be saved. Lago di Pausa Lake, and Mutenock Peak are still there today.

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)

East of Aicha at an altitude of 700 m, lies the Köstental chestnut orchard in a conservation zone. During the Medieval Period, the chestnut (also known as the poor man’s bread) was a staple food of the population, but nowadays it is a soughtafter delicacy forming part of the classical South Tyrolean cuisine. Today, the traditional fruit is a rarity in the South Tyrolean cuisine and the highlight of the traditional Törggelen in the Eisacktal Valley.

Venezian saw has been built in the  year 1847 and restored to 2003

The Seceda area is located on the sunny side of Val Gardena, at the foot of the Natural Park Puez –Odle.

From the Seceda summit you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Dolomites and of all the mountains in South Tyrol.

Our area offers a great number of mountain huts and refuges where you can stop, refresh yourself and have a nice time.

Every single hut on Seceda has its very special charm and boasts a really distinctive atmosphere. An original wooden bench, a comfortable deck chair, a sunbathing terrace or a cosy "stube" - Seceda offers something for everyone. Skiers, snowboarders, hikers, paragliders but also families with children ... everybody meets on Seceda!

[[For the "Gasthaus Hippolyt: https://gasthaus-hippolyt.it, Tel. 0039 0473 42 00 37]]

The St. Hippolyt church in the north of the municipality of Tisens/Tesimo, near the village of Völlan/Foiana and above Lana, dominates the hill of St. Hippolyt in Naraun/Narano, which is visible from afar. 

This is not only a popular and easily accessible excursion site, whose panorama from the mountains of the Texelgruppe all the way down to Bolzano is second to none, but also an ancient settlement and cult site. Finds of Neolithic arrowheads, blades and mortars show that people were already living here in the 4th millennium BC, almost 6,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest prehistoric settlement sites in South Tyrol. There is also evidence of a prehistoric sanctuary on the hill.

The little church of St. Hippolyt was first mentioned in 1288, but is probably much older - not least because of its rare patron saint. Parts of the nave walls and the offset round apse still bear witness to the Romanesque church. The two pointed-arched slit windows and the likewise pointed-arched entrance door with rosette in the west were created during reconstruction work in the Gothic period. Towards the end of the 17th century, the tower was added (a votive picture from 1679 still shows the church without a tower, but with a choir bell wall). The bell was cast in 1566 by Simon Hofer and is thus the oldest surviving bell in the parish. The barrel vault in the nave was inserted in 1762 (see date on the triumphal arch). 
Inside the church, the altar and the pulpit date from the 2nd half of the 17th century, the statues of St. Isidore and St. Roch, as well as the image of St. Hippolytus from the 2nd half of the 18th century. 

As Saint Hippolyt is also venerated as the patron saint of the weather, ringing the bells in thunderstorms were once part of the duty of the sacristan of St. Hippolyt in Naraun. Due to the exposed location of the church, however, lightning strikes occurred time and again. Since the 17th century, no fewer than six deaths during weather ringing have been recorded in the parish's death register, which is why the little church was given the nickname "Zum bösen Segen" (to the evil blessing). 

The church is only open on certain holidays. However, the hill offers a wonderful panoramic view all year round.

The path of reflection to the Luminous Rosary and in memory of Pope John Paul II, built in 2010, leads to the church. Six bronze reliefs with the mysteries of the Luminous Rosary and a portrait of the deceased Pope await the pilgrim on the way. They are works by the artist Robert Giovanazzi from Merano, which were realised by the art founders Stefan and Vinzenz Dirler, natives of Prissian/Prissiano.

On "Wallneregg-Bühel", where robbed graves can be visited; some burial objects have been found in the moss. On the top of the "Bühel" you can admire the remains of an altar more than 3 m high, which served as a burnt offering place from about 1500 to 750 BC.

The Vallunga is part of the Dolomites - UNESCO World Natural Heritage and is located in the heart of the natural park Puez Geisler, which now covers an area of ​​about 10,722 ha. The natural park extends in the north to the Passo Erbe and in the south to the Passo Gardena; In the east it reaches the Val Badia (Kampill, Untermoj), in the west the Val di Funes and Val Gardena.

The valley is bedded in between rocky walls that fascinate tourists in summer as in winter. It offers countless opportunities for sports enthusiasts and real nature lovers, as it is part of the Europe-wide protected area network Natura 2000, which primarily aims to protect the habitats and wild fauna and flora.

WINTER: The valley, which extends over several kilometers, is great in winter for snowshoeing and hiking and is a dream come true for cross-country skiers. It enchants both children and adults with fantastic panoramas immersed in unique mountain peaks. SUMMER: Fresh springs and pure mountain air bewitch us on all our hikes in this unique holiday paradise. Both cyclists and climbers will get their money's worth. With its numerous hiking trails, the Vallunga is the ideal starting point for hikers of all ages.

The small highland area La Crusc/Santa Croce, located at the foot of the magnificent Santa Croce mountain, has always had a special place in the heart of the people from Val Badia.

A story that started many hundreds of years ago
Many centuries ago, when Alta Badia was still largely uninhabited, La Crusc (Holy Cross) seems to have been a pagan place of worship. It was probably the unfavourable living conditions of the area that led the first Christians to construct a sanctuary here.

Around 1010 the monks built a chapel at La Crusc where a small church was erected in the 15th century. At the end of the 17th century the church was deconsecrated by the then Austrian Emperor and was subsequently left to decay. Pilgrims and valley dwellers rescued the little church by partially rebuilding it, and some years later in the middle of the 18th century it was enlarged and embellished with a bell tower.

For a long time the existence of La Crusc as a place of pilgrimage had been established on the basis of documents from the year 1511. And then two further parchment documents emerged with evidence pointing to an earlier existence. The first mentioned a church consecration; the second contained the story of “Morellus de Caninis” who made a pilgrimage to Rome in 1500 in order to seek favours for the La Crusc church.

Numerous relics are preserved in the altar of the church, such as those of St Leonhard (to whom the parish church of San Leonardo/Badia is dedicated), St Hippolitus, St Virgilius (Bishop of Salzburg), St Mary Magdalena, St Agnes and St Barbara.

Nowadays there are several processions to the church during the summer season, and there is an important service on the first Sunday in June.

The legends surrounding the church

The building of the church
Many, many centuries ago, the inhabitants of Badia had planned to build a chapel on the “Col d’Anvi”. During the construction work however the workers kept injuring themselves on the wooden shavings. White birds collected the blood-spattered shavings and took them to the foot of the La Crusc/Santa Croce mountain. After a while the workers began to notice this and they followed the birds in order to find out where they were flying to with the shavings. Once they had arrived at the wonderful spot at the foot of the mighty Sas dla Crusc/Santa Croce, they were so impressed that they decided to build the church there.

The legend surrounding Ottwin, Count of Lurn
People in Badia like to relate how there used to be a hermit who lived at the foot of the Sas dla Crusc/Santa Croce. This hermit was no less a person than Ottwin, Count of Lurn and Pustrissa, or possibly his son Volkold, the founder of the Sonnenburg Monastery at the entrance of the Val Badia Valley. The legend tells how Ottwin had fallen into heresy during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon his return to his homeland in South Tyrol, he was unable to overcome the feelings of guilt over his lapse. He therefore decided to live as a hermit in a log hut under the crags of the Kreuzkofel and devote his life to prayer and penance.

From Dobbiaco in Alta Pusteria you can reach the Landro lake in the Landro-Valley, at an altitude of 1406 m. It is already in the Three Peaks Nature Park, so it is a protected area, and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park is directly adjacent to its western shore. The magnificent mountain scenery around the turquoise-green Dolomite lake is known far and wide: The view reaches as far as the Cristallo Group in the Ampezzo Dolomites, and near the lake, in the direction of Dobbiaco, is the well-known "Three Peaks View" with a view of the world-famous Three Peaks.                                                                         

The Rasciesa is part of the Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the nature park Puez-Odle. During summer, as well as in winter, the Rasciesa is a famous destination for numerous guests. In early summer, you can admire the beautiful flower that transforms the plateau into a sea of color. Even during the winter months you can enjoy numerous activities, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

This is one of the major wine growing regions of Bolzano, embellished by the slopes lined with grape vines. The "schiava" grape variety is cultivated here and vinified in the Santa Maddalena hills, hence the name of its famous ruby red table wine. Rows of wine farms line the hill.

The small church of Santa Maddalena, situated in a stunning panoramic position on the hill's summit, and hosting a precious fresco cycle dating to 1300, which is still well preserved on all its interior walls, is always woth seeing. Ask at the Tourism board for opening hours. 

The panoramic view from the Santa Maddalena hills ist astonishing. In the sunset the Catinaccio Dolomite massif takes a pink shade, due to the presence of dolomite mineral.  Its German name "Rosengarten" meaning "Rose garden" refers to the legend of King Laurin and  the glowing in the sunset remembers his Rose garden. 

 Each year on the 22nd of July a splendid festival takes place in Santa Maddalena, celebrating the saint Mary Magdalene. 

Located at the foot of King Ortles, the church of the three Holy Wells in Trafoi tells a special story: In the 13th century, the shepherd Moritz saw three little streams break from the rocks in the spot where the chapel now stands. Each of the streams carried a cross. The shepherd was able to grab two of them, but the third was washed away. When the little church was erected in the 15th century, the site became a place of pilgrimage and the healing powers of the holy wells are still spoken of today.

Growing on the west side of Unterweirachhof farm is an approximately 250-year-old vine of the Weißer Heunischer grape variety, which has been placed under protection as a natural monument.

Tradition has it that this vine was destroyed by the French during the pillaging of the courtyard during the Napoleonic Wars in 1809. When the farm was rebuilt in 1810, the vine began to sprout again. The base of the grapevine has a circumference of 106 cm.

This formerly widespread grape varietal can now be found almost solely on old stock located on the viticultural fringes. Since it is a winter-hardy variety, it is also said: “From loden skirts and the Heunischer vine, Tyroleans shall never part.”

The Fachschule für Obst-, Wein- und Gartenbau Laimburg (College for Fruit, Wine and Horticulture) used seedlings of this Heunischer to include them in the collection of old grape varieties.

The Rosengarten/Catinaccio massif in the Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site – is known for the many legends and mystery that surround its peaks. Indeed, even today the Catinaccio mountain seems to bloom at sunset, as if by magic: it is said in the legend that many years ago, there was a garden full of roses (rose garden = Rosengarten) of the dwarf King Laurin. One day, while fighting knights, King Laurin used his magic cap which made him invisible. However, the knights could tell from the movement of the roses where the dwarf king was hiding. Very angry about this, King Laurin put a curse on the rose garden that had betrayed him. He decided that neither by day nor by night anyone should ever see his rose garden again. However, he forgot the twilight and so today you can still admire the magical alpenglow (Enrosadira) at sunrise and sunset which colours the mountain in and red.

At the Catinaccio there are countless hiking trails of different levels to be explored: the Masarè path to the Christomannos Monument, the Rosengarten circular route and much more. The Catinaccio massif also invites adventurous climbers to explore the via ferrata and the climbing routes.

The carved-wood monument in memory of the famous mountaineer is found under the "Parei de Ciampac" rock wall, in Vallunga, where Comici fell to his death in 1940. He made over 200 first ascents in the Dolomites, he was the director of the ski school in Selva and town mayor between 1938 and 1940.

The building techniques and the disposition of stones in layers let suppose that this little fortress was built around 1180. It is highly likely that the lords of the castle were the Counts of Tyrol. The last written documentation about the Helfenburg goes back to 1353.

"Hans der Sager" is probably the only documented minnesinger or troubador of the Venosta Valley, who thought up the words and also the tunes for most of the songs he performed himself (sagen=to say, singen=to sing, Sänger=Singer). He resided many times at the court of the counts of Annenberg, who appear to have been his promoters and patrons. Hans der Sager was mentioned in documents six times between 1326 and 1338. In the castle of Laces (Laetsch) he once acted as witness to a purchase of a "farmstead with garden". On this occasion Hans der Sager expressly described himself as a resident of Laces. Hans der Sager also had a son known by the name of Ulrich von Hagenach.

At Hochhueben Hof farm in Partschins/Parcines, a feudal holding of the Salzburg Bishops dating to the 14th century, a Roman gravestone has been built into the front wall of the house on the right side next to the entrance. The officer Marcus Ulpius Primigenius of the customs station in Töll/Tell did this to immortalize his firstborn son Quintus Caecililus Eutropius, who died only 21 years and 11 months old.

The letters D.M. on the seal (Dis manibus– the gods of death) and the manner of execution of the lettering appear to date to the first half of the 2nd century AD.

Roman tombs and coins have also been found across the courtyard.

The Seiser Alm is the largest high plateau in Europe (56 km²). It is located in the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Italy, north-east of Bolzano above the well-known tourist destinations Ortisei and Castelrotto. The Mount Sciliar and the Denti di Terrarossa bound the Seiser Alm to the southwest. To the southeast follows the striking mountain massif of the Sassolungo Group. To the north, Bullaccia borders with Val Gardena.

During summer, as well as in winter, the Seiser Alm is a famous destination for numerous guests. In early summer, you can admire the beautiful flowers that transform the plateau into a sea of colour. The Seiser Alm owes its uniqueness to the farmers, who annually mow the great meadows during the summer months with much diligence and effort.

Even during the winter months you can enjoy numerous activities, such as skiing, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

At the foot of the rocky walls of the "Grup dl Sela" or Sella Group, the most imposing massif of the Dolomites, you can admire the suggestive “cascades de Pisciadú”. The waterfalls, which can be reached from Colfosco with an easy walk through a large clearing, are particularly impressive in spring, when thanks to the thaw they are rich in water.

 

A steep path starts near the "Carabinieri" training centre in Vallunga and heads up to the castle ruins. Built at the beginning of the 13th century, it collapsed in 1525 and has never been rebuilt. It has been owned by the Wolkenstein family since the 14th century. Oswald von Wolkenstein, a famous minstrel and poet born in South Tyrol between 1376 and 1387, died in Merano 1445, probably spent his summers in the castle.