Kultura a památky v jižním Tyrolsku

In 1709, Eustach Waldner built the Radund Chapel in Val Martello. Following a serious mountain accident, he promised to build a chapel if his life would be spared. The chapel is dedicated to the fourteen emergency helper, who were involved in his rescue.

The keys are available at the familiy Waldner Alois
Tel. +39 0473 744675

Castle Hochnaturns is located above from the village Naturno/Naturns. The Roman Tower has been changed in Mediaeval style and in the middle of the 13th century the “Oswald Tower” has been established and named after Oswald von Naturns, who was a knight of the Teutonic Order. From then on, the castle was the principle residence of the Lords of Naturns (Naturno). After various owners, Castel Hochnaturns had its prime in the 16th century has been equipped with various items such as wood ceilings or tilted stove. Then came a period of decay until Franz Ritter von Goldegg had the castle restored in the 19th century. As the complex has been changed into a hotel, its original shape can only be guessed. The castle was designated a historic monument in 1950. Today, Castel Hochnaturns is in private ownership and cannot be visited.

Castle Dornsberg (also called Castle Tarantsberg) has been established in 1217 by the Lords von Tarant. The castle has panels, tiled stove, carved doors and windows, and many more elements. In the Saint Ursula chapel there is also a winged altar, the walls boast ancient paintings. In the heart of the castle, the donjon towers into the sky. Castle Dornsbeg was owned by various families until in 1964 the Gottschall family from Munich purchased the castle and had it restored. Still to this day Castle Dornsberg is in possession of this family and is not open to the public.

The romantic Castle ruin Rafenstein rises high above the city of Bolzano at the entrace of Sarentino Valley. 

The Church of Blessed Henry, patron saint of Bolzano/Bozen, is the youngest church in the district of Laives/Leifers. In 1853 donations were collected to make the construction possible. All donors were immortalized on a board in the church. In the church there are three altars, the picture of the high altar shows Blessed Henry. 

Dating from the 13th century, with gothic chapel from the 15th century. Was the property of the Lords of Mazia (choir chair and altar are located in the regional museum in Innsbruck). Later the castle became the property of the Counts of Annenberg.
Cannot be viewed interior - private property.

St. Zeno Parish Church in Naturns A Romanesque chancel chapel is known to have stood on the site of the present-day parish church which dates from 1200. The older pre- Carolingian building was later incorporated to become the apse of the present-day Late Gothic church which is dedicate to St. Zeno, patron saint who protects against flooding and erstwhile Bishop of Verona. It was built between 1474 and 1475. The choir was re-built in Baroque style in 1760.

The Paul Schuster Bild on the only way from Vilpiano to Meltina is located sideways to Salonetto and was built in 1900 as a sign of gratefulness towards the protection of Mary.

In the year 1848, Christian Altstätter, the ‘Kaiserjäger’, vowed to build a chapel if he returned alive from the Battle of Custoza. Dedicated to St. Martin, the chapel was built in 1873 and today it is privately owned.

Saint Nikolaus was bishop of Myra in the 4th century. He is valued as the Patron of the travelers and the hikers. The church is being mentioned the first time in the year 1369. The walls and the tower, however, seem to be built during the roman time. The choir and the portal have been built during the late gothic period (1493). Later on the church has been changed into the typical style of the baroque era. In 1899 a huge fire destructed most of the church, but has been rebuilt. The most precious piece in the church is the late-gothic Altar, probably deriving from the house of Hans Schnatterpeck.

A short distance from the town centre on the road to Cirlano, you will find the ruins of the St. Laurentius church. Waggoners and wanderers of days gone by would often seek refuge here and were on occasion stripped of their possession by bands of unscrupulous thieves.The ruins were carefully restored by the Association for the Preservation of Local Heritage, and is lovingly cared for and maintained by its members. Equally so the cornfields right next to the church, which have been revived and are farmed using traditional methods of agriculture to preserve the cultural landscape of bygone days.

The unique tabernacle is particularly interesting: the Cross is made from a grapevine. The key can be collected at the nearby Gasthof Lamm.

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.

The succursal church of St. Ägidius in Raas is a late-Gothic building, and was completed by the constructor Thomas Maurer in 1532. The neo-Gothic interior mostly dates from around 1880. On the high altar, one can see St. Ägidius, the patron of the church and the protector of viticulture. In Raas, the now rare custom of the bread donation and bread distribution is still practised on the day of the church patron in September.

The church was first mentioned in 1237. The main patron is the Saint James the Greater, but the church was also dedicated to St. Barbara and St. Christopher. Originally, the little church was a Romanesque nave construction, which in the 15th century has been adjusted to the new gothic architectural forms. The old Gothic winged altar, also of the 15th century, is still preserved inside the church.

Archeological discoveries prove that settlements at Lavena date back to the Bronze Age, probably as a place of paga worship.

The lovely church beside Lavena is dedicated to St. Jacob, the patron of travellers and wayfarer. 150 years ago, Lavena was a frenquently visited merchant's and livestock market.

Today, Lavena has become tourist attraction and hiker's delight on the Salto high plateua in San Genesio.

The church from St. Georgen is situated on a very historical plateau close to Versein. Numerous findings from the Bronze Age testify the prehistoric settlement of this beautiful place. The carved Gothic altar is ornamented by the statues of Saint Georg, Saint Oswald and Saint Leonhard.

A place of energy with views of Sciliar, Catinaccio and Latemar.

Titschenwarte is an absolute insider’s tip and a pure place of energy: After a short hike you reach this unique viewpoint with breathtaking views of the Dolomites - Sciliar, Catinaccio and Latemar. The place invites you to linger and to reflect. As a special treat you will be offered a delicious glass of wine. Thanks to a generous benefactor!

The church of Pineta is the youngest in the surroundings of Laives/Leifers. The building process began on 15th september 1963. Since building a church was extremely expensive, lots of people helped voluntarily. The first mess was celebrated in 1969, even though the church wasn't finished yet and there were no benches.  

Although consecrated in 1281, St. Margaretha, the late Gothic parish curch in Schabs was only completed in 1454. By the end of the eighteen century its interior had been reconstructed in Baroque style with its poral framed in Stone. It is worth noting that the 72 m bell-Tower is unusually tall and narrow.

Already in the 13th century, there was a St. Mary’s church at Teis which, however, was destroyed by the heavy earthquake in 1471. The present-day neo-Gothic nave was completed in 1890 and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The bell tower dates back to around 1500 and the great bell was cast at Innsbruck in 1734.

The church, situated on a hill in Viums, was consecrated in 1281 and is considered as the most beautiful shrine in the surroundings. The present church construction dates from 1500 and was build on the fundament of a church, the expansion of the tower happened in the 17th century.

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.).

Baroque chapel at the eastern part of the town. The simple building with dome and lantern was built in 1713. The chapel of "Our Lady of Sorrows" in the eastern part of Laces is a baroque construction. The chapel can be visited during the summer months.  

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.

Natz is the original seat of the ancient Natz parish from the Carolingian period. The curch was built in 1208 in the late Gothic style, commissioned by the Prince-Archbishop Konrad and consecrated in honor of St. Philip and St. Walburga. The tower was built from 1,400 granite blocks. The wooden sculptures that decorate the neo-Gothic main altar date back to 1470 and were influenced by the famous Artist Michael Pacher.

At the Stallwies farm, one of the highest farms in South Tyrol, is an old mill not far from the farm. The Kornhof, on which rye is still grown today, has processed the grain in the mill itself. Visit the old mill and gain an insight into ancient traditions.

The chapel at Bad Salomonsbrunn is also called "Bade Stöckl" and was built in 1725 by Peter Josef von Walther from Brixen.