Kultura a památky v jižním Tyrolsku

The church St. Georg in Antholz Mittertal was rebuilt in 1798 to today's baroque church. It is assumed that Antholz Mittertal had already a church in the year 1000.

A musical clock is set into the facade of the "Sarteur" house in Selva. Every day at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. (5 p.m.), fourteen valuable bells play different tunes. Four wood-carved medieval statues appear as the music starts. The paintings on the wall depict the craftsmen who used to work in the area, which was once called "Ghetun".

The small church in St. Jakob got its actual shape in the 15th century. The Christophours – painting on the outer wall as well as several paintings of saints on the inside were made by an unknown master of Brixen of the 15th century. The altars are new Gothic.The church is locked for safety reasons, the keys are available at the nearby farm.

The church of St. Hippolytus in Glaiten/Le Coste overlooks the village of St. Leonhard/S. Leonardo, with a spectacular view of the valley.
Thanks to the discovery of traces of ancient settlements, the hill where the church is situated is the site of one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the valley. In the late 1950’s shards of pottery were found near the church and subsequently pieces of baked clay were also unearthed. However, since prehistoric relics linked to the church have not yet been found, the exact date of its origins is not known. In the meantime, archaeologists have postulated that the votive fire coincides with the Laugen-Melaun/Luco-Meluno culture (i.e. late Bronze Age, around 1100 – 900 BCE).
It is even more certain that in the Middle Ages the area was inhabited by farmers, as the farmsteads and other settlements already had Germanic place names.
Although the Church of St. Hippolytus itself dates back to the fourteenth century, it is believed that it originates much earlier, as the name suggests.
Of even greater archaeological importance is the Silberhütt-Höhe structure near Stulles/Stuls. Clearly visible on a hillside, it served as a place of pagan worship. As from 1937, several artefacts including fragments of clay, the relics of a mill as well as a perfectly preserved millstone lever were discovered during a logging operation. These and several other small findings suggest that by the third century these settlements survived till the end of the Iron Age. On the outer edge of the steep hill is a rock wall with a number of mysterious cup-like objects.
Though rarely visited, near the prehistoric archaeological sites and the ancient farm settlement next to the path, lies another noteworthy feature. The Church of St. Hippolytus is the repository of the only fresco cycle in the valley. During the course of minor renovations, remains of frescoes in Giotto’s style depicting scenes from the life of St. Hippolytus came to light. This discovery is of much greater significance and proves that the Florentine school of painting had already spread to Tyrol as early as the fourteenth century. Dating from 1380, these frescoes are attributed to the Bolzano School and may have been commissioned by the young nobleman, Hiltprant von Passeier (deceased in 1418). Due to the damage incurred during construction work in the nineteenth century, the frescoes have only partly been preserved. On the church’s southern façade, there is a portrayal of St. Christopher, which could be the work of the young artist who also painted the interior frescoes. With its coat of arms, the von Passeier nobility has become immortalized, thus increasing the importance of the Church of St. Hippolytus.

The church can be viewed from the outside only.

In Rasun-Rasen in the Valle Anterselva-Antholzertal awaits you a fantastic adventure park where the main focus is on the theme of water. The Wasserwaldile consists of a variety of play elements and fosters creativity among children. Along a water course, you can feel and experience the wet element up close and let the freshness of the water have its effect. A small stream can be crossed on “wiggly bridges” by balancing on wooden discs. This requires a great deal of both skill and concentration. The two banks of the stream are also connected by means of stepping stones. In a separate water play area, new water connections can be constructed in open wooden water pipes. Assistance can be provided, in turn, by natural materials such as sticks and rocks, but also wooden water wheels and water seesaws. 

The church of St. Andreas in Oberrasen was built in the 14th century, consecrated in 1422, expanded in the 17th century and re-arched. In 1959 it was broken off in order to create space for the contemporary, modern style of the church.

South Tyrol's highest refuge is located on the southern side of the Stubai Alps at an altitude of 3,195 meters. The Becherhaus was built in 1894 by the German and Austrian Alpine Club, but subsequently received several conversions and renovations. The latest renovation work on the highest building site in South Tyrol was completed in the summer of 2021 after about a year of work. The original construction period lasted from March to August 1894, for which 25 tons of material were brought from Maiern to the summit. In the same year, the hut was opened under the name "Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Schutzhaus". The name was then changed a few years later. The chapel "Maria im Schnee" was also built and can still be visited today.

Despite its impressive location, the refuge offers mountaineers running water, hot meals in the comfortable Stube dining room and space for 100 people; the fire safety equipment, technical facilities and energy-generation system are also up to date. The Becherhaus is open from the end of June to mid-September. Well-known peaks such as Wilder Freiger (3418 m), Zuckerhütl (3505 m), Sonklarspitze (3463 m) and Botzer (3250 m) round off the Becherhaus in the area of eternal snow. 

Starting from the head of the Ridnauntal valley in the direction of the Aglsbodenalm, you reach the Becherhaus via the Grohmann and Teplitzer refuges. After the Teplitzerhütte, past the picturesque Vogelhüttensee lake, continue on trail no. 9 over boulders and well-secured passages with wire ropes and step bars, crossing a moraine to below the Becherfelsen rock. The last part of the hike is via serpentines up to the Becherhaus. Mountaineering experience, surefootedness and appropriate equipment are essential! The way back is via the ascent path.

Today's church was built toward the middle of the 15th century after a village fire. The walls of the nave and the shaft of the tower should be considerably older. A gigantic Christophorus fresco which might have arisen at 1500, is on the right next to the portal of the church. On the left and on the right on the lower side of the fresco are Saint Nicholas with the three golden balls and Saint George with a dragon. Saint George is the second patron saint of the church. The church inside surprises with a pointed arch portal, the lancet windows and an impressive net vault. The baroque high altar (1720) shows Saint Silvester, Saint George, Saint Margareth, Saint Valentin and Saint Nicholas, who looks to the Mother of God with the child. The masterpiece of the church is the gothic winged altar (called the "Georgsaltar", 1520) from Artist Andre Haller from Brixen. In the middle of the winged altar is Saint George on the horse, who fights against the Dragon. On the right side Margareth knees in front of a lamp and prays for a good ending of the fight. In the background are represented Saint George's parents and his execution. The wings of the altar show Saint Joachim with a book and Saint Anna together with the Mother of God and the child.

The Santo Sepolcro Church also known as the Church of Calvary, can be reached in about 20 minutes following the forest path that starts from via Santa Geltrude or from the road that goes up from via Piè di Virgolo. A handful of minutes, following the via crucis, and here we are, immersed in the forest. From here you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over Bolzano and the Sciliar plateau.

The church, built between 1683 and 1684, has been for centuries a place of pilgrimage. On the right, looking at the entrance of the church, there is a chapel that contains the fountain with Christ. In past times couples used to do small fertility rites to become a child. The elders of Virgolo still remember a popular belief who said that children came into the world under the fountain of the chapel and weren't brought by the stork.

The church has been restored in recent times, but the countless love-graffiti are safe. Pilgrims and lovers engraved the walls of the sepulchre with love messages from the 18th century up to our days and it is a real emotion to read those messages that overlap over the centuries and tell the story of hundreds of people through a heart, a flower, a name, a date or a promise of love.

In Laion village, next to the Maria Einsiedel chapel, there is a wayside shrine that dates back to the 17th century. In the niches of the wayside shrine are representations such as a crucifixion group, two holy warriors, St. John and St. Margaret and the visit of Mary to Elizabeth.

The parish church to the hl. Veit was inaugurated at the beginning of the 16th century and restored again and again during the past centuries, even after the great fire in 1783.

The church is a Baroque building from the year 1671, by the master builder Franz Delai. Of particular interest are the Pietà, from around 1415, and the baptismal font (circa 1380-1400). In the cemetery chapel at the original shrine, there are significant Gothic frescoes from the year 1415.

Although the first reference to a church consecrated to St. Magdalena appeared in a letter of indulgence dating to the year 1273, the origins of the chapel would appear to stretch even further back in time. The chapel as we know it today was built around 1480/1481 by the Schneeberg/Monteneve miners. The centrepiece of the chapel is the late-gothic winged altar, created in the workshop of Matheis Stöberl in 1509 and depicting scenes from the life of Saint Magdalena together with a number of other saints considered to be patron saints of miners. The second altar, attributed to artist Hans Harder and dated ca. 1470, is also worthy of note. Other works date back to the late Gothic and Baroque periods. In 2004, the church underwent extensive renovations. The altar and ambo were created by Hartmut Hintner of the Gsies/ Casies Valley in 2005.    

From the beginning of May to the beginning of November, a guided tour in German and Italian takes place in the miners' chapel every Monday from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm. In July and August, there is also a guided tour every Friday from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.
The guided tour is free of charge. No registration required.

In the 8th century, there was probably a church at the place where the present church of St. Korbinian stands. The church was restored in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. At the old nave, a Gothic chancel was added in the 15th century, with reticulated vault and arched windows. In 1615/16, barrel vaulting was added, later extended in the mid-19th century also to the west. The south wall of the church is decorated with frescoes dating to the end of the 14th century.

St. Peter forms an independent parish, Lajen's parish priest, however, looks after the spiritual welfare. Churches, which are dedicated to Saint Petrus usually point to a high age. The parish church in St. Peter documentarily reaches back to 1241. The church was already rebuilt in the 15th century, so nothing more reminds of the originally Romanesque building today. Today's baroque making is even younger, it was consecrated in 1767. In the inside are great ceiling frescos, which were painted from Josef Arnold,who also painted the blanket frescos of the parish church in Lajen. Three paintings are attached to the parapet of the gallery: Peter cures the lame (on the left), Saint Cäcilia (in the middle) and the conversion of Saint Paulus (on the right). The high altar dates from the building time of the church. The painting represents the farewell of Peter and Paulus. The side altars have different saint figures which have been made in the 18th century. The figures at the outside of the pulpit show figures which symbolize the three cardinal virtues (faith, hope and love).

An inscription refers to the first consecration of the church in 1199. The nave has a flat ceiling and is equipped with oylets. The choir has a semi-circular, vaulted apse with a Majestas representation and two well-preserved Evangelist symbols. There are traces of frescoes dating back to the 13th century. To the south of the triumphal arch appear the victims of Cain and the upper body of a fish-tailed siren. The head with long hair, the thoughtful expression and the gestures of the arms give the depiction a uniquely melancholic appearance, which contrasts significantly with the image of the demonic element in the other wall paintings.

The Church of S. Nicolaus is open from 15.04.2025 - 07.10.2025 every Tuesday at 2 pm for the guided tours in German and Italian language (3,00 € per Person, no registration needed).

The late Gothic church was mentioned already in 1147 for the first time. According to the legend the church stands on the foundations of a heathen victim place. Today's building was built in the 15th century. Gothic elements of the church are the ogival portals, the rosette window above the main entrance with the Gothic three passports and the dainty net ribbed vaulting inside. The high altar (at 1620) shows Jesus' birth, statues of Peter and Paulus as well as figures from the Life of the Virgin Mary. The painted windows on the left and on the right side of the high altar were donated from Lajen's nobility families in 1905. The remaining fittings are in the neo-Gothic style. The tower of Our Lady's Church is adorned on the northern side and has impressing frescos.

The old Romanesque parish church, of which only very little remains today, got up at the same place as today's building, but it was much smaller and was across the present church building, facing east. In 1714 the tower was placed a Baroque onion. 1842-1845 was built on the site of the old, the new, classicist parish church. The parish church belongs to the biggest columnless church buildings in South Tyrol: She is 40 m long and 15,6 m wide in the ship. For her great she's also called the "cathedral on the mountain". Josef Arnold and his sons painted the blanket areas in 1844. The frescos show conditions of Stephanus and Laurentius' lifes. The altarpiece of the high altar shows Maria with the Jesus and the two deacons Stephanus and Laurentius. On the blanket are four smaller paintings with scenes from the Gospel and the four evangelists.

The mystical Hill of Tartsch towers amidst the green valley of Upper Vinschgau Valley, surrounded by the villages of Glurns/ Glorenza, Matsch/ Mazia and Mals/ Malles. Due to its position as viewing platform, the schist drumlin was already settled in prehistoric times. In the 11th century A.D. the Romanesque St. Veit Church dedicated to St. Vitus was erected upon a pagan cult site. It is one of the few churches that were never restored and displays precious medieval murals.
The Romanesque frescoes, which unfortunately have only been preserved in a few places, are of great art-historical importance. The interior of the church has a wooden ceiling from the 16th century. 
Traces of fire can still be seen in some parts of the church. These date back to the Engadine War of 1499. 

The church S. Veit is open from June to October every Thursday at 5pm for the guided tours in German and Italian language (Info: +39 0473 831190).

On September 19th, 1991 Ötzi, the Iceman, was found by the German mountaineering couple Erika and Helmut Simon on Tisenjoch/Giogo di Tisa mountain, above the Niederjochferner/Giogo basso mountain in 3,210 m a.s.l.

Today a pyramid of stones identifies the find spot.

Full-day tour, rechable from Vernago through the Tisental Valley to the Similaun refuge, to the place of discovery OR from Maso Corto to the Schnalstal Glacier and o the place of discovery. Return path through the Similaun refuge and the Tisental Valley. Duration: about 5 hours ascent and 3-4 hours descent.

All year round on Tuesday the guided hike or ski tour "Ötzi Glacier Tour" brings interested guests to the place of discovery - more details and registration at the archeoParc Schnalstal Valley or online under www.oetzi-glacier-tour.it

See unique spire, tower or cone-shaped figures made of sandstone, which remained preserved by resting boulders before removal.

At the eastern side of Brixen, beyond the confluence of the Rienz river and the Eisack river, in the village of Milland a new parish church was built between 1984-1985, and it is consecrated to the Saint Father Josef Freinademetz. The church is a curiosity, a work of modern architecture, a sacred place full of light.In the basement, there is an exhibition about the life and the work of the church patron, the Saint Father Josef Freinademetz, the Tyrolian China- missionary.
Guided tours possible after request.

The new restored chapel “Unsere liebe Frau im Stöckl” was built in the year 1621 and enlarged in the year 1644. It was built totally new in the year 1680.

Nestled in the pristine nature of Bad Bergfall, just a few kilometers from the village center, lies one of the region’s most fascinating natural wonders – the sulfur spring. Known for its healing properties, the spring has been valued since the 16th century. The mineral-rich water that bubbles from the spring contains a high sulfur content, traditionally used for treating skin conditions and promoting overall health.

The Maia Racecourse is one of the most beautiful in Europe. There are two seasons of steeplechasing and other horse races from April to September On the last Sunday of September there is the most important race meeting of the year: the Merano South Tyrol Grand Prix.

The church has been consecrated in 1434. The west façade shows a little weathered fresco remains, which show the Last Judgement and the Saint Christophorus. The church has a baroque altar. In the altar shrine are sculptures of Saint Mary with the child as well as Barbara (on the left) and Katharina (on the right). Right above is God father with the globe. Worth mentioning is the pretty Gothic net vault with a painted capstone. The right side altar shows holy Antonius of Padua and the left one Maria with the child and the wine patron Saint Urban, who hands the child a grape. Besides that are another two saint shapes, namely Saint Leonhard with the chain and again Saint Urban with the grape.

The origin of the church surely reaches back much further than the consecration in 1465. In the inside are shown the consecrating document, translated into German, and a detailed list of the restaoration work of 1989.The capstones of the soft net ribbed vaulting represent saint figures and different coats of arms. The painting of the baroque high altar (1733) shows Saint Mary with the child and Saint Jakobus Senior and Saint Jakobus Junior. These two saints are represented, together with Saint Silvester and a Bishop, on both sides of the church one more time. Moreover, a Pieta from the 18th century and a figure of Saint Valentin with a cattle are remarkable (at 1800).

These two chapels were build in the 17th century by Georg Paprion, a San Candido/Innichen resident. After his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1653 he decided to recreate the Sepulchral Church of Jesus Christ. 20 years before he had already built the first chapel.

opening times:
during the winter season: closed
01.06. - 30.06.2024: SAT - SUN 10 am - 12 pm & 4 pm -6 pm
04.07. - 08.09.2024: THU - SUN 10 am - 12 pm & 4 pm -6 pm
14.09. - 13.10.2024: SAT - SUN 10 am - 12 pm & 4 pm -6 pm

The altarpieces of the parish church to the hl. Nicholas holds a special treasure in itself: the statue of the Virgin Mary from 1450 by the famous Ulm master Hans Multscher. The organ with the seven registers was set up in 1904.

Above the village is the Malerhaus. Besides the three fresco paintings that adorn the main facade of the building, nothing reminds us that more than 100 years (1719-1845) have passed since a painting school was located here.

Tip: still-existing works can be found in the Pfarkirche St. Martin parish church and the Turmhaus building in the village square.