The heart of this Ladin valley beats for sports and wood carving
Admittedly, you can't surf here. From a sporting point of view, however, just about anything your heart desires is possible, no matter the time of year, in Val Gardena in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. The workshops of wood sculptors and wood carvers, who have a long tradition here and are still in the majority, are also open all year round.
Spend an entire day biking over Dolomite passes. Immerse yourself in the valley’s natural and cultural history. Hike to picturesque excursion destinations. Climb, hike and traverse the Langkofel massif.
In Val Gardena, people are preserving more than just an impressive landscape. They embrace their culture, nurture their language and uphold their traditions with pride. It is this deep awareness of one's own identity that makes Val Gardena so special. This commitment is now made evident through the South Tyrol Sustainability Label. This also encompasses the cultural tradition of wood carving. This art form is long-associated with the Val Gardena valley. Craftspeople have been passing their knowledge down through the generations. Many sculptures are still made from wood sourced from the local area. This demonstrates just how deeply rooted this craft is here. It makes it clear that sustainability in Val Gardena is more than just a buzzword; it permeates every area of life.
Val Gardena is probably the most internationally recognised area of the Dolomites. Ski stars have been skiing down the World Cup Saslong piste here every year since 1970. Mountaineers and climbing pioneers from all over the world have been coming to the valley for even longer. From the villages at the foot of the Sella massif, Sassolungo and Sassopiatto, modern lifts take you up to the Dolomite massifs, to explore them on foot, by mountain bike, on a climbing rope or on skis. You can get very close to the mountain giants on an exploration tour over the Dolomite passes: the Sellajoch and the Grödnerjoch can be reached on many routes. The views of the mountains here are beautiful everywhere - but the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Mastlé Terrace is exceptionally beautiful.
As you stroll through the villages, you will notice the special language spoken by the locals: Ladin. Preserving their own culture is important to the people of Val Gardena. For centuries, wood carving and wood sculpting have played a major role here. In the "Valley of the Lord God Carvers", there are still numerous artists today who you can look over their shoulders in their studios. At the Museum Gherdëina, you can immerse yourself in the culture and history of the Ladin Dolomite valley. The villages of the region await you with family-run shops, where local artisans and producers offer unique creations and homemade products.
Would you like a slice of mild goat cheese? Or a hand-carved artist’s doll? Or a larger-than-life wooden sculpture? Find a wide range of local, high-quality foods and handcrafted articles for daily use in the Dolomites Region Val Gardena, as in the rest of South Tyrol. Lots of producers sell straight from the farm where you can sample the treats and get to know the producers. The people of Val Gardena have been interested in wood carving and wood sculpture since the 16th century. This was not only in order to make something out of wood, a plentiful natural material, but also to safeguard the economic existence of the valley. For centuries already, products from the valley have been sold throughout Europe and even America.
There's one sure thing: in the Ladin valleys, you'll never stay on an empty stomach. In the kitchens of Gröden/Val Gardena, Alta Badia and Kronplatz, there's always a pot on the stove and mouth-watering smells that remind you of your grandmothers. A traditional dish called "Panicia" is a barley soup with vegetables and meat served with slight variants across South Tyrol. But the Ladin cuisine offers far more delicacies: the local dumplings "Bales" , potato dumplings "Gnoch" and fritters filled with spinach and ricotta cheese "Turtres". You can also try a popular dish known as "Grestl", roasted potatoes and veal cut into pieces or "Fortaies", spiral fried pancakes. Besides tasting delicious, the "Jufa", a kind of milk pudding that is traditionally eaten in a pot and with a spoon, is likewise an authentic experience.
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Val Gardena lies in the south-east of South Tyrol, in the heart of the Dolomites. For a relaxed and environmentally friendly travel to Val Gardena, leave your car at home. Buses, trains and cable cars will take you to your accommodation or excursion destination.
If you are travelling by train, this ends in Waidbruck for the time being. You can continue by bus, taxi or with the "Südtirol Transfer" shuttle, which will take you directly to your holiday accommodation.
Once you arrive in Val Gardena, the Südtirol Guest Pass gives you free accessto public transport in South Tyrol. For an evironmentally friendly travel.
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