The leisurely walk along the irrigation channel crosses the foothills of the Ortler Alps on its panoramic path between Oberlana and Niederlana.
From the first days of spring until late autumn, the Waalwege, as the paths along the old irrigation channels are called, offer magnificent views of the mountains and the Adige Valley, but also exciting insights into a varied cultural landscape. The ancient irrigation channels are one of the most atmospheric walks in South Tyrol. They gently run through vineyards, apple meadows and chestnut groves along the low mountain ranges.
The narrow paths were originally created for purely practical reasons. The irrigation channels, called "Waale", were built in the pre-industrial age to irrigate fields and meadows thoroughly. For kilometres the water was led through small canals. The Waalweg along the canals, on the other hand, was used by the Waalermeister for maintenance.
From Lana, two irrigation channels in Merano and the surrounding area are easily accessible: The Brandis-Waalweg and the Marlinger Waalweg.
