Walking on the Alto Adige Wine Road

7, 14, or 31: When the first Ways of the Cross were built, there was a varying number of stations. In some places there were seven; in other places, 31 stations. Later, there was an agreement to always have 14.

On this segment, you will proceed from the famed Pinot Noir village of Montan uphill to Aldein – from 500 meters up to 1,200 meters above sea-level. At the beginning of the segment, you will take the "Wine Forest Water" Trail and pass by the Enn Castle and the Elsenhof farmstead which belongs to it. You will then proceed along the old tracks and through the spruce forests (common here on the southwest flank of the Cislon) and farther to the Aldein Bridge (known as the "Little European Bridge" when first built in the 1960s). This is a good opportunity for hikers to make a rest-stop and/or get some refreshments. You will then proceed to the hamlet of Holen and on to Aldein.

Moderately difficult hike below the Mendel Ridge, mostly on forestry trails with beautiful viewpoints over Eppan, the entire Überetsch and the Bozen basin.

This challenging hike begins from the Jochgrimm. You then have to master approx. 500 meters of altitude-differential until you come to the Schwarzhorn (2,439 meters above sea-level). The trail then leads you around and down the other side of the Schwarzhorn until you come to the Kugeljoch; from this pass, you have a magnificent panoramic view of the Fleims Valley. You can now proceed down the "Leitensteig" staircase until you reach the Kaltenbrunn "Ice Holes," where it's pleasantly cool even in the summertime. From Kaltenbrunn (where hikers will find a number of refreshment options and also access to public transportation), there is still a short segment slightly uphill to Truden. This is a uniquely beautiful hike and is – in spite of the level of difficulty – an absolute "must" for ambitious hikers.

The Castelfeder hill is an ancient cultural landscape with settlement remains dating back to the Stone Age and Bronze Age. The remains of the castle complex, the legendary “slide of fertility” and the Santa Barbara chapel walls are testament to its mystical past. The area is of particular importance not only from an archaeological and historical perspective but also from an ecological point of view as for years it has enjoyed the status of being a protected natural habitat (biotope).

Easy to moderately difficult hike along pleasant hiking trails, through brushwood and past vineyards to the Messner Mountain Museum Firmian.

A leisurely, only somewhat steep, excursion across woods and chestnut groves.

In 1494, the famous German artist Albrecht Dürer travelled for the first time to Italy. His final destination was Venice. Because of the flooded Adige valley, he had to bypass from the cloister St. Florian in Egna/Neumarkt to Buchholz/Pochi. He came across the gill of the river Lakus and passed the Roman's bridge ("Römerbrücke"). After Buchholz/Pochi, he arrived at the Sauch pass. This road brought him to the Lago Santo Lake, where he descended to Cembra, Faver and the Segonzano Castle. During his stay in this castle, he created a few of his most important watercolors.

A Part of the path is accessible today.

Appiano has a distinctive architectural potential: Medieval castles, palaces and manor houses, traditional farms and newer grand villas in gentle hilly terrain sorrounded by vineyards.

This challenging segment leads from Gfrill / Cauria (1,330 meters above sea-level) via the hamlet of Gschnon / Casignano and the Cisloner Alm and to Aldein (1,200 meters above sea-level). At the beginning, the route is uphill via the Gfrill Saddle until you reach Gschnon (option for rest-stop, food/drink, and overnight lodgings). From there, you will continue over the asphalt road uphill until you come to Mühlen / Molini (again: option for food/drink and overnight lodgings). After that, it's a rather steep path up to the Cisloner Alm. From here, you will proceed downhill until you reach the Aldein Bridge (known as the "Little European Bridge" when built back in the 1960s). This is a good spot to make a rest-stop (lodgings also available). You can then continue via Holen / Olmi until your come to Aldein / Aldino.

The Pinot Noir walkway leads through the Pinot Nor growing area along the Trudner Horn/Monte Corno Nature Park and the characteristic villages of Auer/Ora, Montan/Montagna and Neumarkt/Egna. The Pinot Noir growing area in Montan and Mazon/Mazzon is one of the most famous in Italy. Furthermore you walk through several monuments and historical places. The walkway is family-friendly and not dangerous.

Greifenstein castle is enthroned high above the village of Settequerce / Siebeneich.  It was first mentioned in 1159.  During the war between the Counts of Tyrol and the Bishop of Trient, in 1275 / 1276, the castle was destroyed.  Only in 1334, the small aristocrats, the Lords of Greifenstein decided to re-built it again.  On a few years later, in 1348, it was burnt down.  In later years (once more re-built in 1363), Greifenstein went into the hands of the Lords of Starkenberg.  In 1420, when a part of the Tyrolean aristocracy went into war against the sovereign Duke Frederick of Austria, the sovereign had the castle besieged and starved out.  Amongst the duke's enemies was also the minnesinger Oswald von Wolkenstein.  He wrote a poetic song about the duke's besieger and made fun of them.  The duke's army could not take Castle Greifenstein, but the fight of the aristocracy and the castle's owner, Wilhelm von Starkenberg, became meaningless and, therefore, the Lord of Starkenberg escaped probably through a crevice at the south-western part of the castle.  His 18 servants gave up their resistance once they were promised free withdrawal.  Today, Castle Greifenstein is merely a ruin.  In common language, it is also called the Sauschloss.  This name derived from a legend, which speaks about the time of the siege.  During this time, the people inside the castle had to face fact that they were left with no food.  There was only one well fattened big in the castle's cellar.  Suddenly, one of the servants had an idea: instead of slaughtering the animal, they threw it with much laughter over the castle walls and down the rock just in front of the besiegers.  When those realized what just had happened, they lost all courage as they believed that the castle's inhabitants still had lots of food available.  Therefore, they withdrew ..... and Greifenstein was saved.

According to a legend recorded by Ignaz Vinzenz Zingerle, two children once found a sword made of pure gold here. This sword was stuck in the earth, and couldn’t be completely pulled out. When they returned the next day, a man dressed in old-fashioned attire led them to the grotto behind the waterfall where there were magnificent chambers. That’s where the man revealed to them that he was waiting to be released from a curse: Only he who was able to completely draw the sword from the ground would be able to save him. The sword and the man in the old-fashioned clothing were never seen again.

You can proceed along this very easy segment from Altrei uphill via the Ziss Saddle – not far from there, you can admire the stunning "huckete Stoan," a free-standing erratic boulder made of porphyry the size of a house – until you come to the Horn-Alm (which is managed). From here, you will proceed slightly downhill until you come to the bogland "Schwarz" and "Weiss" lakes. It's now only a short stretch to Gfrill, the goal of this segment.

The Pinot Noir walkway leads through the Pinot Nor growing area along the Trudner Horn/Monte Corno Nature Park and the characteristic villages of Auer/Ora, Montan/Montagna and Neumarkt/Egna. The Pinot Noir growing area in Montan and Mazon/Mazzon is one of the most famous in Italy. Furthermore you walk through several monuments and historical places. The walkway is family-friendly and not dangerous.

Hiking tour from the center of St. Michael | Eppan to the Montiggl lakes.

TIP: Go for a swim in one of the lakes and return to the starting point with the lake & hiking bus which runs from mid-June to early September.

Hiking trough the Monte Corno nature parkt to the Königswiese/Prato del Rè.  

This pleasant segment leads from idyllic village of Oberradein all the way to Truden – from 1,500 meters to 1,100 meters above sea-level. At the start, you proceed downhill by way of Unterradein until you come to the famed "Ice Holes" of Kaltenbrunn; because of the cool air that streams out of the openings in the ground, it's pleasant here even in the summer. Kaltenbrunn offers refreshment options and connection to public transportation. From here, the route goes slightly uphill and then levels off as you continue to Truden.

Perdonig and Gaid are the mountain hamlets belonging to the municipality of Eppan with its otherwise mediterranean influences. Hiking here offers an excellent insight into mountain farming.

This alpine mountain hike in Eppan is an absolute must for vertigo- free hikers. A varied ascent through a narrow channel with a 25 metre-long (82 ft), newly installed ladder and a unique view from the summit cross.

Medium-easy exkursion across beautiful deciduous forests. The view to Bolzano and Sciliar is beautiful along the path.

When you take this extra segment, you will begin from Gfrill, which is located at approx. 1,300 meters above sea-level, and continue to Buchholz at 560 meters above sea-level. At first, you'll have a pleasant, relaxing stroll downhill until you come to Unterstein. You can then continue along the old aerial lift trail until you reach the vestiges of an old cableway. The trail then goes downhill until you come to the brook where the Truden Faultline is especially noticeable. This boundary is distinctly visible not only on the basis of the different geological strata (dolomites and porphyry), but also due to the abrupt change in vegetation. You can then continue to the small village of Buchholz.

A little above the main village of St. Michael | Eppan, the little Gleif Church, which perches atop Kalvarienberg, immediately catches the eye. The view is surprisingly expansive and the church stands on one of the most beautiful glacially polished rocks in the Bozen area.

The Spring Promenadeis a beautiful circular walk in Salurn. Several information boards raise awareness of the gold of the 21st century. The waterfall is the highlight of this walk.