Hiking

Always along the water (Tscharser Schnalswaal)

A “Waal” is an irrigation system that has been used for centuries to irrigate the fields of the very dry Vinschgau region. The Waal routes were created in order to allow peasants to repair their water pipes leading to orchards and vineyards.
Although a Waal route may sometimes be rather steep, they are always easily accessible and very popular with families with children.

You start out above the parish church of Tschars (625 m). For about an hour you walk through a mixed deciduous wood to Juval castle. The route is moderately steep until it vertically leads down into the valley. You will be able to admire two wonderful views: a view of Juval castle and down into the alley, to Etsch and the lower Vinschgau region with its apple orchards. A visit to the castle, which has been owned by extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner since 1983, will be worth your while. It accommodates a Museum of Tibetan folk art, a collection of masks and a gallery of mountain pictures.

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Merano and surroundings - screen made from air & light (the Knottn cinema at Rottenstein)

if you follow the sign post “Knottn-Kino” you will find a modern fairy tale world: traffic signs made from deer antlers and sundials. Finally, you will reach the “Knottn-Kino” cinema, where 30 folding cinema chairs made from steel and chestnut wood, set up in 4 rows on the summit of the Rotenstein (rock plateau 1,465 m) are waiting to be filled. Around the clock, on a screen made from air and light, you will see one of the best films of South Tyrol: the Etschtal valley landscape itself. The way home leads through woods and meadows where you are likely to meet the prettiest blondes of South Tyrol, the Haflinger horses.

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Bolzano and surroundings – Sagenweg Trail in Aberstückl/Sarntal Valley

This path was created by pupils at the primary school in Aberstückl in cooperation with the Forestry Authorities and the Sarntal Tourist Authority. This unique, adventurous trail starts at Wippingerhof high above the small village of Aberstückl and extends to the “Eggerwiesl” (path no. 13) and then to Durralm. On the way there are plenty of sagas to read and matching stations. In the corresponding Sagenweg brochure there’s also a quiz to do.

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Eisack Valley – To South Tyrol’s Almendorf, Fane Alm

In the Middle Ages the small hut village was formed as a place of refuge before the plague broke out in the valley and was then used – because of its surrounding meadows - for Alpine farming and has been used as such until present day. The idyllic view of the little chapel, the clapboard-covered log cabins, cattle sheds and hay storage barns is a feast for the eyes whatever time of the year and worth a visit, as is the cheese produced here, the annually organised Fanefest (festival) and, particularly, the passionately-prepared, traditional meals in the Alpine inns and restaurants. The best way of getting to the Fane Alm is an approx. 1 hour walk from the car park at the top of Vals Valley across the professed “Milchsteig” (literally “milky mount”).

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Or the leisurely pursuits of the family:

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Rosengarten Latemar, Dolomites – via the legendary Latemar labyrinth

From the western banks of Lake Carezza there is a logging road which is marked no. 11. It runs through the forest directly to Latemar itself. When you reach the fork, both paths lead to Mitterleger: the path on the right-hand side is longer, the left-hand path steeper. At the Mitterleger hut the information signs for 20, leading to the labyrinth, are clearly visible. You leave the larch behind you and reach the large mudslide forming the labyrinth. Through the labyrinth you will come to the basin which forms a pool in early summer. Here there are two possibilities: either return to Lake Carezza or continue onto Passo di Costalunga.

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Myth of the Sciliar witches – Dolomites Alpe di Siusi /Sciliar region – hot on the trail

The stops on the “Sciliar Witches” tour are meant to once have been dwelling places of witches, demons and other dark figures. Your best bet for catching a glimpse of the spirits is on the witches’ benches on the Puflatsch. Leaving Compatsch you following the A-path, which leads to Puflatsch, and then you will reach Arnika Hut (2,061 m). Continue on to the witches’ benches – it is a fascinating, legendary viewpoint. From there you will be able to make you way back to Compatsch using the mountain station with the Puflatsch chair-lift.

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Gröden, Dolomites – Discovering the planets

1960 saw the discontinuation of the railway line built for Russian prisoners during the First World War, which ran through the Gröden Valley. Thanks to the steady, slight slope, the former railway line was restored and developed for the better into a promenade.
This offered the ideal path for a planetary path. The nine planets in our solar system (including Mother Earth) are set out next to each other to scale; info boards give information about the most important data such as diameter, density, distance from the sun, number of moons, etc. The intention is to teach and show visitors the real “astronomical” dimensions of everything.

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Alta Badia, Dolomites– en-route on the nature trail - Lärchenweg path

From the centre of St. Kassian village we will climb up and walk along the concrete street to Hotel Fannes and continue walking to Rü Hof (takes approx. 15 minutes on foot). At Rü Hof we then begin our trail on the Lärchenweg path. The route is approx. 1.5 km, is flat, even and easy (takes approx. 30 minutes on foot).
The trail offers unique insights into the natural landscapes and gives you information about interesting accounts of human achievements in perfect keeping with the natural surroundings such as the characteristic Alpine wooden fence handiwork, dry stone walls and a water mill. There are information boards set up along the path. These boards provide vital information on some of the characteristic flowers and trees as well as general information about the flora, fauna and geology of the area.

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Kronplatz, Dolomites –the bizarre formations of the last Ice Age, the earth pyramids

In front of Platten Hamlet/Oberwielenbach (1,335 m) there is a large car park on the right-hand side which can easily be reached by car from Percha. From this point walk to the left-hand side of marker number 6 through the forest until you reach the impressive earth pyramids (1,550 m). They represent the most significant occurrence of erosive storms in the whole of the Puster Valley. However, the straightforward trail isn’t just nature-oriented, but also very rewarding in terms of the landscape. Platten’s vast meadow slopes offer an extensive view of Puster Valley and the Dolomites.
After visiting the earth pyramids take the same path back to Oberwielenbach.

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High Puster Valley, Dolomites – Uphill on foot and downhill on the Fun-Bob

In Innichen at Erschbaum Sports Centre, past the football pitch, you will find the path across the logging road in the direction of Greiterwiesen. After about 30 minutes, the path (no. 6) branches off to the left and will take you (information sign after about 20 mins) to “Jorahütte” (Jora Hut) - continue on path no. 6 to Haunold Hut. After a comfortable break, continue and go downhill on the summer toboggan run “Fun-Bob”.

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Taufer Ahrntal Valley – on the Taufer Knight’s Trail

The Taufer Knight’s trail puts you back into the time of the knights. It leads from the Toblschlucht ravine with its 3 waterfalls to Taufers Castle. Starting from Sand in Taufers Tourist Authority, it follows an easterly direction over the bridge to St. Moritzen. Immediately after that it goes to the right-hand side of Hotel Alte Mühle, at the orthographical brookside on the left-hand side across another bridge and then at the right-hand brookside and over the next bridge turning left to Winkel Hamlet. Following the logging road you will reach the car park for the Reinbach Waterfalls (855 m). Now enter the forest and follow path no. 2 until the first Reinbach waterfall, then there’s an even steeper path to the second and third waterfalls. The high bridge at the third waterfall will take you to Toblhof (1,054 m). After an enjoyable stop, cross the logging road and follow path number 2A, slightly downhill, to the Pircherhöfe. Further down on the left-hand side, through the forest, you will reach a cross-route allowing you to descend to St. Moritzen. Here turn off at the right (no. 2A) and walk to Taufers Castle. You will have a panoramic view of the floor of the Taufer Valley. And then go over a steep track past the Schlosskreuzkapelle (cross chapel) to Sand in Taufers.

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