Sights – Todo Südtirol

Cloister | Bressanone

How top reach the Cloister

One of the most important monuments of art in South Tyrol

The Bressanone Cathedral cloister is one of the most important monuments of art in South Tyrol. The cloister is famous in particular for its Gothic frescoes. It was originally built in pre Romanesque times but later redesigned in Romanesque and Gothic style. The depiction of an elephant (3rd arch) and the Adoration of the Magi (13th arch) are particularly worth seeing.
With the adjacent buildings Bressanone Cathedral, St. John’s Chapel and the Church of our Lady, the “Cloister” is the centre of the cathedral district.

Opening hours:
April 1 – October 31:
Daily: 6am – 6pm
November:
Monday – Saturday: 6am – 12am & 3pm – 6pm
Sunday: 3pm – 6pm
December 1 – January 6:
Daily: 6am – 6pm

La torre delle polveri | Merano

How to reach the Torre delle polveri

The best view of Merano! An old keep in which a modern staircase was installed to use it as a viewing platform. A location directly above the parish church on a majestic rock. A view over the whole Burggrafenamt, from the valleys to the highest peaks of Merano.
The Torre delle plover (“Powder Tower”) is rightly considered one of Merano’s most popular sights! The Powder Tower Merano owes its name to the fact that the Meran city fathers, worried about the large amount of gunpowder stored in Meran during the 30-year war, had it stored in the keep of Ortenstein Castle. The castle was demolished, but fortunately the powder tower was not!
Today the tower is accessed by a staircase in its inner courtyard and its viewing platform at a height of 20 metres offers a fabulous view of the centre of Merano and the entire Burgraviate. If you look from the tower towards Passeirer Tor, you will immediately see the well-preserved remains of the old Merano city wall.

Gaul Canyon | Lana

How to reach the Gaul Canyon

A particular impressive and easy accessible testimony of natural forces is the Gaul Canyon (Gaulschlucht in German) at the entrance of the Val d’Ultimo. Rough rock faces composed of quartz-porphyry, gneiss and granite, dark caves, rope bridges and the rushing Valsura river make this walk an impressive adventure. Especially in summer it is genial cool here and the humidity gives rise to a little jungle.

From the Valsura bridge in Lana di Sopra, the Gaul Promenade proceeds into the wild valley along the river. The well-established hiking trail is secured by wooden bridges and is a contrast to the wilderness of the Gaul Canyon. The path leads to the Gaul Meadow beneath the castle hill of Braunsberg Castle. This location is the scenery of the Lana Open-Air-Theatre and other events, in autumn and winter however an ice skating ground can be found here. Either you take now the path past the electric power station through the narrow gorge until a waterfall (about 20 minutes) or you choose the way steep uphill, which leads near Braunsberg Castle and to the Val d’Ultimo road. From up there you have a gorgeous view on the canyon until the first houses of Lana.

Three artificial lakes in Val d’Ultimo impound the Valsura river that rises at the head of the valley and empties into the Adige river near Lana. So for safety reasons it’s not recommended to descent down to the riverbed, as the opening of water gates can cause a prompt rising of the water level!

Merano 2000 | Merano and surroundings

How to reach Merano 2000

On the sunny mountain plateau of Avelengo/Hafling, Verano/Vöran and Merano 2000, located above the spa town of Merano/meran, hikers can find numerous attractive routes and varied trails. Easy hiking trails lead through larch forests and mountain meadows, past ancient churches and alpine lakes. Many routes are suitable for families with strollers. On the other hand, experienced hikers will find challenging summit tours higher on the Ifinger mountain.

Upon arrival in Merano 2000 the breathtaking view stretches as far as the Ortles mountain range and the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site. More romantic souls can take an excursion with Haflinger horses from Avelengo and Verano, while others can enjoy mountain biking routes, hiking trails and excursions to mountain peaks.

In summer the Outdoor Kids Camp becomes a playground with a small petting zoo. While kids enjoy the nature and outdoor activities, the parents can have a rest on the terrace of the Panorama Bistro… without losing sight of their children. Adrenaline junkies can get their fix on the Alpin Bob, a 1.1 km rail-guided bobsled run.

Mount Plose | Isarco Valley

How to reach the Plose

On the Plose you can fully enjoy your summer holidays. It does not matter if you stay for a day or a whole week. Plose offers you a whole range of possibilities to spend your holidays in South Tyrol.
Indeed, in summer Plose is the favorite destination for all families looking for adventure and entertainment, for those who love hiking on easy and challenging trails, and for those who want to enjoy a few relaxing hours, or decide to take a trip on a mountain bike. Our guests love the hiking trails, especially WoodyWalk, our family trail full of attractions. They are enthusiastic about the mountaincarts, kind of gocarts that allow you to run downhill for 9 km until you reach the bottom station of the gondola lift again.Last but not least on the Plose a number of caches are hidden for friends of geocaching.
The breathtaking 360 degree view from Plose is also known outside Southtyrol. The view extends from the Stubai Alps to the Dolomites and the Ortles. Many consider it the most beautiful view of the Dolomites, directly on the outskirts of Brixen. Outstanding also the view of the old episcopal city of Brixen in the middle of the Isarco Valley, that borders the High Isarco valley and the High Pusteria Valley.
Brixen Plose – summer and winter a mountain full of entertainments, for a summer holidays on its best.

Stone cairns | Bolzano and surroundings

How to reach the Stone cairns

The cairns are a special place, a real place of energy in Meltina and one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Sarntal Alps: From here you can look over the whole of the Dolomites world up to Marmolada and Monte Ortles.
On your holidays in Meltina you should not miss out on a hike to these over 100 stone cairns. These pillars made from sandstone rocks await you like a troop of soldiers.
Their history and meaning is not clear. Were the cairns once used as signposts? Did herders build them here to while away the time? Do they point to meetings of witches or to some Celtic cult? Rock carvings and flint stone equipment point to the Stone Age and to the Middle Ages. A court document from 1540 confirms this origin, and that some 500 years ago the site was a place of witches dances and satanic ceremonies. Scary stories of how the witches made thunder and lightning and eating children are included! Ancient engravings even point to this viewpoint having been a Celtic worship site many centuries ago.

Seceda | Gardena Valley

How to reach Seceda

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!

Contact:
Dolomites Val Gardena
+39 0471 777777

Montiggl forest | Appiano

How to reach Montiggl forest

Position:
The nature reserve Montiggl forest is located on the Mitterberg and offers a lot of space for all kinds of activities. The mixed forest with an area of 100 hectares and the Big and Small Montiggl Lake is rated as South Tyrol biggest local recreation area.

Trivia:
If you are walking, horseback riding, with a bicycle, mountain bike or on a blanket next to the lake – it is the combination of relax and active holidays which make the Montiggl lake a unique spot.
The castle, wine and culture community Eppan on the Wine Street pursue the goal of sustainable, responsible forest cultivation and a controlled further processing of the nature product wood. The community of Eppan is one of the biggest forest communities in South Tyrol and after the implementation of different sanctions the community of Eppan got awarded the internationally recognised certification PEFC.

Walking and Mountain bike tours:
Well-maintained walking trails stretch through the forest, in which is located the Spring Valley with its snowdrops and daffodils. The Montiggl Forest is popular not only among hikers but as well among Mountain biker, who find flowy single trails. Not exposed, fluent to ride, some ascending slopes and technical sections – that is why biking is so much fun. In the summertime a jump into the Montiggl Lake make the whole day just perfect.

Franzensfeste Fortress | Fortezza

How to reach the Franzensfeste Fortress

With its gigantic appearance and labyrinth of rooms, corridors, and stairways, the fortress of Franzensfeste/Fortezza belongs to the most interesting fortresses in the Alpine region. This masterpiece of Austrian fortress architecture was built from 1833 to 1838 and has a varied history. 2008 it was opened to the public and since then it hosts international and local exhibitions of art, architecture, and other events. The permanent exhibition “Kathedrale in der Wüste/Cattedrale nel deserto” (English: Cathedral in the desert) shows the building history of the fortress and its effects on the surrounding area.
The areal of the fortress includes also the bunker no. 3: It is located in the wood, east of the fortress, hidden under thick vegetation, and can be visited on request.

Please check this website for detailed information on opening hours and prices.

Contact:
Festung Franzensfeste
Brennerstraße
39045, Franzensfeste
+39 0472-057218

Castelvecchio | Caldaro

How to reach Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio, located above the main village of Caldaro, is a small but mighty village lying on a terrace covered by orchards and vineyards. At the border of the village, there is the Gothic church of S. Vigilio adorned by colourful roofing tiles. Dating back to the 14th century in its present form, it boasts the most ancient wall painting of Caldaro, dating back to 1320, illustrating S. Cristoforo.

Particularly popular with hikers is the fabulous viewpoint close to the church. The little meadow offers seats and is ideal for making a pause, sitting back and enjoying the fantastic view on the Lake Caldaro and surroundings. Another popular excursion destination is the romantic Rio delle Foglie gorge. Above all in summertime, when it is rather hot in the valley, this ravinge offers pleasantly cool and refreshing conditions.

Ideal for a walk is also the Peace Path (Sentiero della Pace), stretching in the beautiful forests. Of course a visit to the S: Pietro ruin, which is considered the be the most ancient church of Tyrol, is a real must-do. In the surroundings of this church, cup-marked stones dating back to the Bronze Age (1,000 BC) were excavated.