Cultuur & bezienswaardigheden in de Dolomieten

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.

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 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.

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.

TSCHETTERLOCH

At the path between the so-called Bärenfalle and the Sciliar mountain you can see a small hole, which scales up to a hidden hall. In there you can find a large rock which looks like a table and chairs. According to the legends a forest ghost, wild men and other mystic figures lived in this cave.
The ascent to the cave is only possible with an appropriate equipment.

Zu Plun is the artisanal distillery of the Dolomites, founded and run by the Rabanser family. It was established by Florian Rabanser in an old 15th-century farmhouse, located at the foot of the Schlern massif. Here, excellent spirits are produced by combining local raw materials with high-quality ingredients from around the world.

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.

The Witches’ Benches The resting place of the Sciliar/Schlern witches on the Bullaccia/Puflatsch mountain is a truly mythical location. Starting point: Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm

Due to its favourable setting, the area around Seis was settled very early on in history, as far back as 2000 BC. The Wallburg fortresses on the Laranz ridge to the north of Seis date back to this time. The inhabitants of these fortresses were Rhaetians or, more specifically, natives of Isarck. A bronze sword found on Hauenstein provides evidence of a further hill settlement in that area. In the Iron Age, settlements were established on Gschlier and Runggereck. In Gschlier (in the Laranz Forest), archaeologists have discovered many pieces of Southern Alpine querns typical of those used in the Middle Iron Age. A further impressive Wallburg fortress can be found in Runggereck, in the area around Laranz. It is, however, impossible to date and classify the finds from this area with absolute precision. Iron Age ceramics have been discovered and, underneath them, numerous pieces of pitchers and bowls. The remains of these Wallburg fortresses in the Laranz Forest can still be seen to this day.

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

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 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.

Witch Martha The Witches´ Chairs remind us of the Schlern witches who met on the Schlern mountain to celebrate their rites. Together with the Witches´ benches they constitute the resting place for the witches. Witches´ Chairs Starting point: Kastelruth Highest point: 1368 Map/guide: Kompass 067 Walking Quide Lift systems: Kastelruth - Schererplatzl - Tiosels - Witches´ Chairs

The artificial pond at Teis is ideal for relaxing. It is situated amidst meadows and a circular trail (suitable for baby carriages and wheelchairs) will take you around this pond. Benches and a fountain with drinking water invite to take a rest and boulders on the eastern side of the pond stand witness to the area's geological history.

From the old church from 1332 only the lower part of the tower with its Roman round arch window still remain. The red tower with its imperial roof was built in 1739. The last redesign of the church’s interior during the second half of the 19th century gave the church its New-Roman touch. The artist Karl Hernrici painted an impressive ceiling fresco in 1772.

It is the ruin of a castle once belonging to the lords of Aichach in the 12th century, whose decline is linked to bitter disputes with the lords of Kastelruth. The lords of Kastelruth got hold of the castle and kept it until 1741. Hiking route no. 7a from Seis.

Brick shrine on the way to St. Magdalena which was build in 1636.

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.

Cheese dairy Plattkofelschwaige hut

Homemade goat cheese and we have our own cow milk.

In the year 1937 the construct of the building began, which should be consecrated to the holy cross. The finished place of worship was consecrated in 1950. The arrangement of the walls reminds of the strict forms of old basilicas. In 1962 the tower received five new bells. In the four large windows the mountain lecture, the sacrament of the baptism, the altar and the marriage and the Eucharistie are represented.

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.).

You will soon find more information about Josele mill in Gfrill/Caprile here

Farmer´s Museum in Tschötscher Hof St. Oswald is a district of Kastelruth located on a fertile high-altitude plateau which extends over the precipitous slopes high above the Val d'Isarco. Michl Jaider of the Tschötscherhof remembers the old days before the war well – back when everyone had to pull his own weight when plowing the cornfields, helping with the hay harvest, working in barns and stalls or in vineyards. When he took over the farm and the adjacent inn from his father, the modern era had already begun. Tractors replaced yoked oxen, automatic threshers replaced scythes, and the growing of grain was displaced by the more-profitable dairy industry. Of course, all of the old equipment was now only in the way, but the young Michl didn't want to throw it away. Too many vivid memories from his childhood were connected with it…
Admission ticket: volontary contribution
Categories: Farmer, Craft, culture, Popular culture, Etnography
March 1 - November 30 Thu-Tue 9 am - 20 pm