Památky v Jižním Tyrolsku

The sun lounger is a harmoniously curved wooden lounge chair that is perfectly integrated into the natural surroundings. This seating and reclining option offers visitors the ideal opportunity to relax and unwind amidst nature. From this comfortable wooden lounge chair, one also has a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.
Whether for a short break or a longer stay, the sun lounger provides an unparalleled nature experience.

This wayside shrine is a beautiful and slender “tabernacle” with a pyramid-shaped roof. The four niches contain a cycle of paintings including the Madonna with the infant Jesus, Catherine and Margaret, the Mount of Olives, Wolfgang and Martin, a scene of the ascent to Calvary, Andrew and Leonard, the Crucifixion and the patron saints of the Taisten church, Ingenuin and Albuin. The frescoes are attributed to the Bruneck School of Painting (around 1460).

Located next to the parish church of the Holy Margareth. Erected by the inhabitants of the town, that survived an epidemic of plague. The Wayside shrine is supposed to be painted by Michael Pacher, a famous regional painter of the late Middle Ages. The Wayside shrine got thoroughly restored after being heavily damaged in 1882.

Brown, marshy ground surrounds the three Schwarzseen (black lakes), which lie below the Toten. All around you can admire the abandoned mines with galleries and slagheaps, and the imposing peak of Villanderer Berg rising into the sky. The single lakes of the black-lakes-formation are called black, white and blue lake.

At the instigation of the friends of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy, local group Laces, the monument made of marble from Lasa, which was erected in 1908 and disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1919, was replaced in 1994 by a valuable bronze bust from Prague. The monument commemorates the 60th anniversary of the reign of the penultimate Austrian-Hungarian Emperor, Franz Josef I of Habsburg Lorraine.

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.

"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.

Hiking up to see the Stoanernen Mandln, which translates roughly to ‘Men of Stone’, is quite a popular excursion.

The stone men are located atop a remarkable knoll on Alpine pasture and tower at an elevation of 2,000 metres above the municipality of Tschögglberg mountain plateau, looking out over the Sarentino Alps. Human figures made of stone such as these can also be found in other parts of South Tyrol: they served as a landmark frequently or were simply built by shepherds to pass the time.

Prehistoric flint tools and stone carvings have been found at the Stoanernen Mandln, however, demonstrating that this stone knoll has served as a passage from the Adige Valley into the Sarentino Valley for millennia.

Mythology and Witchcraft:
Myriad tales are linked to this place. In early modern times, people believed witches met with the devil up there, celebrating wild festivals, changing the weather, and sending strong thunderstorms down into the valley.

Tip: Sunrise and sunset hikes.

The first rituals held at this site, where the little church has overlooked its wonderful views since 1743, probably date back to prehistoric times, although we cannot be sure of when exactly it was that people began to discover the unique aura of this place.
One thing is for sure: the road to the Latzfons Cross (2,311m), highest pilgrimage site in South Tyrol and erected on the south face of the Kassian Peak, is the oldest pilgrimage trail in South Tyrol.

The mountain refuge hut, close to the church at an elevation of 2,305m, has provided countless pilgrims and hikers with refuge and sanctuary over the years. Innumerable wonderful tales have been told about this sacred place, such as the legend of the “Black Christ” who, with a nod of his head, decided on the spot where the crucifix should be erected. Prayers sent up from here at the end of the pilgrimage, about an hour’s walk up a fairly steep road from the Klausen hut to the cross, afford protection to one and all, particularly from the wrath of the elements.

The view stretches over to the Langkofel, the Grohmann Peak, the Kesselkogel and the Rosengarten. It is not just the view that makes this place special though, but the atmosphere which pervades the site and can be felt instinctively by all those who come here.

The Resciesa Alp is part of the Dolomites - UNESCO World Heritage and a popular excursion destination for everyone. Hikers, families, hobby photographers, bikers and connoisseurs are taking advantage of this unique space in the middle of Nature park Puez - Odle. The natural park with an area of ​​over 10,000 ha is bordered in the north by Passo delle Erbe and in the south by Passo Gardena; in the east the area reaches Val Badia, in the west into Val di Funes up to  Val Gardena. The northern part of the area is dominated by the Aferer and the Funes Odle and the Sas de Pütia, the southern the plateau of Gherdenacia, Sassongher, Puez with Vallunga and the Cir Group.

 

The lake Totensee, literally "lake of death" is less threatening than its name suggests.

The lake is located in a hollow below the well-known Chapple Totenkirchl. Surrounded by boulders and meadows, it is situated at an altitude of 2200 m. The macabre name comes from the agricultural expression "dead", which can be interpreted as unprofitable.

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.

The Town Hall of Sterzing is considered a true gem in the entire Tyrolean region. It was built in the years 1468 - 1473, and the distinctive bay window was added in 1524 during a renovation. The Gothic council chamber, with simple paneling and beamed ceiling, is considered the most beautiful in all of Tyrol. The rooms of the Town Hall have been repeatedly used for historical meetings: in 1525, the emergency council met in the council chamber during the peasant uprising, and from the 15th to the 17th century, several sessions of the Tyrolean Landtag were held there. Additionally, members of the imperial family were received there (Emperor Maximilian, King Philip of Spain, Archduke Ferdinand, Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and many others).

In the courtyard, flooded with light by flat arch windows on the south wall, various museum objects related to the city's history are exhibited. The Town Hall is connected to a citizens' hall, named after Vigil Raber, born in Sterzing and the first theater publisher in the German-speaking world.

In the courtyard at the end of the ground-level gallery, finds from the history of Roman settlement are displayed. A copy of the "Mithras stone" found in Mauls in Freienfeld bears witness to the well-known mystery cult practiced by many Roman soldiers. The adjacent Roman milestone (circa 200 AD) confirms the expansion of the Roman road along the Brenner Route under Septimius Severus.

The courtyard and the historic council chamber are open to visitors during the Town Hall's opening hours.

The cloister of the cathedral of Brixen/Bressanone is one of the most important art monuments in South Tyrol. Its origins date back to pre-Romanesque times. The complex was rebuild in the romanesque (12th century) and gothic (14th century) phases.  In this last major reconstruction phase of the 14th century the sacred building was vaulted with a gothic groined vault. The well-preserved gothic frescoes, which depict themes of  the religious and  medieval life, are particularly breathtaking. Some of the most extraordinary frescoes of the cloister  are the presentation of  an elephant (3rd arcade) and the adoration of the Kings (13th arcade).

 

The waterfall trail in Pflerschtal/Val di Fleres is called "Hölle" (in english hell) and lies right at the feet of the Tribulaun summit. The tranquillity in the valley end, the ionized air from the waterfall  purifie the respiratory tract and the sounds of the water calm the nervous system.

From the village centre (town hall) via Church alley ‘Kirchgasse’ to the parish church of Saint Blaise. Walk under the church, then keep left to Turnauna irrigation channel path no. 8. After a few hundred metres along the irrigation channel path, the path to the cup stone branches off downhill (approx. 20 minutes from the town hall).

The prehistoric cup stone dates back to the Middle Neolithic period (approx. 4,500 - 3,000 BC) and is therefore one of the oldest monuments of mankind. The indentations in the stone are known as ‘ cups’. Researchers do not agree on the meaning of the cup stones. There are various assumptions:

1. The cup stone stored energy and served as a place of power. It was mainly used as a fertility symbol for ritual purposes. The cups were notched as thanks.

2. The cup stone was an astronomical calendar. At a certain distance, a wooden slat cast a shadow on the cups, indicating the right time for sowing and harvesting.

3. People or animals were killed on a lying cup stone and the blood that flowed out was soaked up in the cups and sacrificed to the gods.

The cup stone was found on 11 November 1988 during excavation work for irrigation pipes by Paul Hermann Vidal. In April 1989, Dr Lorenzo Dal Ri, then Director of the State Monuments Office, was able to prove the authenticity of the cup stone. In September 1990, Dr Sennhauser, an archaeologist from the monastery of St. Johann in Müstair, determined the age of the cup stone to be 4,500 BC (Neolithic period).

Marvel the impressive spectacle of the Pojer waterfall near Luttach/Lutago. Feel the cooling freshness on your skin, breathe in the pleasant fresh air and admire the colorful light reflections when the sun shines.

Built on the Passer Promenade, the old Kurhaus wellness center is the symbol of the city of Merano as a spa town and one of the finest multi-purpose buildings on the southern side of the Alps. Its rooms regularly house cultural and social events, conferences, exhibitions, celebrations and galas. The Kurhaus was built in the second half of the nineteenth century. The original part, the Pavillon des Fleurs, was inaugurated in 1874 and has existed practically unchanged to this day. The new wing, which included the Kursaal, a huge hall designed by Vienna Successionist architect Friedrich Ohmann, was inaugurated on 31 December 1914. The access at the Kurhaus is allowed only during events.

From the village centre (town hall) via the Church Alley ‘Kirchgasse’ to the parish church of Saint Blaise. Walk under the church, then keep left to Turnauna irrigation channel path no. 8. At the end of the irrigation channel path, follow the forest road upwards. After the second bend, the path to "Schlietplott" branches off upwards at a small gate (approx. 45 min from the town hall). 

This rock called „Schliettplott" belongs to a type of inclined megaliths known as fertility stones or slides. Women in search of fertility used it until the end of the 19th century. This custom, linked to the cult of the “Great Mother” and widespread in many countries among the Alps, provided that women in search of motherhood slipped along the rock in the nights of full moon. These numerous slips that had been practised over the centuries, have left evident signs of smoothing.

On this experience trail you will come across 6 informative stations that have been set up at special energy spots.
Which animals and plants are essential for our bees and where do they find their well-being on certain days and at certain times of the year? The bee in the meadow, the bee at the pond, the bee in the pasture and at the former forest border - special energy places for our indispensable helpers are pointed out.
The focus is not exclusively on the honey bee - visitors also get an insight into the exciting and very different life of the wild bee.
At the beekeeper's house, everyone has the opportunity to take a closer look at the hustle and bustle in a beehive on the display honeycomb.
From mid-May until the end of September, guided walks are also offered here every Tuesday. Our guides will specifically show you the power spots that can be found here in nature. The special characteristics of wild bees and honey bees are compared in detail and also looked at.
Of course, a visit to the wild bee hotel and the beekeeper's house is also part of the experience. To round off the experience, a honey tasting is not to be missed.

Bookings for the guided tour (in german and italian languague):
+39 0471 619560 or online: BeeForest

Here is a brief insight:
Video BeeForest

The octagonal, striking tower of the water station, together with the reception building, the storage shed with loading ramp according to type plans by Wilhelm von Flattich and the railway dwellings to the east planned by Angiolo Mazzoni in 1926, form a railway ensemble steeped in technical history. The water reservoir, a unique landmark of railway buildings from the “k.k. Monarchie” (imperial and royal monarchy), was inaugurated in 1871. It was placed under monument protection by decision of the regional government in 2004 and has been the property of the municipality since 2010. In the era of steam locomotives, the water station had the function of a regular filling station, which was fed by the natural gradient of the high springs, south of the railway line, by means of a gravity pipe (communicating vessels). As the trains had a stopover of around 15 minutes to refuel the locomotives, the water filling of the tenders (storage wagon) and usually the deslagging of the ash box and the re-fuelling of the coal were carried out at the same time.

 

The national defender monument better known as the "eagle monument" in Laces was built in 1809 to commemorate the fallen of the wars. In connection with the commemoration of the century in Latsch the inauguration of the national defender monument took place. A post-wife named Lina Platzer was the biggest sponsor of the monument.

In 1776, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria built a masonry embankment in Lagundo near Merano. This was meant to serve as protective bulwark against flooding of the Adige River. This masonry can still be visited today. Not far away, on the left bank of the river, are the ruins of an ancient imperial Roman road bridge along the route of the original "Via Claudia Augusta". Construction of the bridge dates to the first century AD. Today, the ruins of the bridge have the status of protected monuments. At the head of the bridge there is also a small shrine and chapel.

Marienberg Abbey above Burgeis/ Burgusio dates back to the 12th Century. The highest located Benedictine abbey in Europe is situated at an altitude of 1,340 m a.s.l., since 900 years monks live here according to the rules of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Today, the main hall displays impressions about the daily life of the monks marked by Benedict's credo ora et labora. The exhibition displays also beautiful paintings such as the Romanesque Crypt frescoe with its unique depiction of angels.

Special exhibitions:

- Marienberg in front of and behind the lens
- Maria

Guided Tours
All information about guided tours and timetables can be found at https://www.marienberg.it/en/museum/guided-tours.html.

Father Joachim Haspinger, also called "The warlike Capuchin", was born in 1776 in Val Casies Valley. After completing his studies, he entered the Capuchin Order and in 1809 he participated in the Tyrolean battles for freedom. Alongside of Andreas Hofer he fought at the Bergisel against the French and Bavarian troops. In his honor, a monument was erected in the village square of his birthplace St. Martin.

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!

An impressive drama of nature is offered by the three Rio di Riva waterfalls which can be reached starting out from the hamlet of Bad Winkel. The Rio di Riva waterfalls are located in the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park and offer an impressive view of nature above all else in the summer. Fed by melted snow, the Rio di Riva plunges in three cascades over the rock cliffs into the depths, making it possible for visitors to experience the power of water with all of their senses. 

The St. Francis'Path with the 10 meditational spots lines the path of the Reinbach waterfalls up to the Franziskus and Klara chapel.

Walking time from the starting point "car park Cantuccio/Winkel; Wasserfallbar":

- until the 1st waterfall approx. 20 minutes - 40 m altitude difference -
        up to the 1st waterfall suitable for baby stroller

- o until the 2nd waterfall approx. 40 minutes - 140 m altitude difference

- o until the 3st waterfall approx. 55 minutes - 170 m altitude difference -
        from here you can return with the Fly-Line possible www.fly-line-wasserfall.eu

- o until the Franziskus and Klara chapel approx. 75 minutes - 300 m altitude difference

Way back:

For the way back you can use the same trail or from Gasthof Tobelhof (near 3rd waterfall) on the hiking trail 2A in the direction of Sand in Taufers back to the starting 

The Adige has its source at 1550 metres, about 10 minutes from the village of Reschen. It is the main river in South Tyrol and the second largest river in Italy with a length of 415 kilometres. It forms the watershed between the Adriatic and the Black Sea with the Stillebach, which flows towards the Inn and the Danube.

The fertile terrace between Auer/Ora, Neumarkt/Egna, and Montan/Montagna is an ancient cultural landscape. Castelfeder was the center of human existence in the south of South Tyrol for thousands of years. There are traces of settlements from the Stone and Bronze Ages. The remains of a castle complex, the legendary fertility chute and the walls of the Barbara Chapel bear witness to a mystical past. Also, Raetians, Romans, and other tribes who settled in the area around the hill retreated to the 400-meter-high hill in troubled times and left their traces.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire had Castelfeder refortified as a bastion against the Germanic tribes shortly after the year 500. On this "acropolis," hundreds of people could find refuge together with their cattle and supplies. The last remains of the 500-meter-long ring wall of this largest fortress of the Adige Valley are the "Kuchelen," whose construction resembles the city wall of Constantinople.

Because of the Mediterranean vegetation, the area was called the "Arcadia of Tyrol" by romantic poets. The Castelfeder hill is important not only from an archaeological and historical point of view, but also from an ecological one. Thus, a zone with an area of about one hundred hectares was placed under landscape protection as a biotope years ago. Due to the Mediterranean climate, it is particularly mild on the hill as early as March. Today, Castelfeder is home to some animals that have become rare in Europe. The biotope's flora and fauna can be explored on the nature discovery trail.

Dark green coniferous forests, the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Rieserferner mountain chain and, in the midst of all this, shimmering turquoise-green water. This is the dreamlike scenery of the lake called Antholzer See, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Alps! And with 44 hectares and a depth of 38 m, this idyllic pearl of our Blue Valley is the third largest mountain lake in South Tyrol. Located at the head of the valley, it is also very close to the well-known Staller Saddle mountain pass and Austria. At an altitude of approx. 1,640 m, families, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy countless activities in the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park all year round.