Bezienswaardigheden in Zuid-Tirol

Brick shrine on the way to St. Magdalena which was build in 1636.

The Stelvio Pass Road twists and turns in tight serpentines and more than 48 hairpin bends before reaching Stelvio Pass at a lofty height of 2,757 meters.
It connects Spondigna/Spondinig in Venosta Valley with Bormio in Lombardy and is the highest mountain pass in Italy. Its planning and construction – which was begun in 1820 under Kaiser Franz Joseph and completed in 1926 with only six years’ construction – is regarded as a pioneering achievement in the area of mountain road building.

Registered as a natural monument since 1979 with the Provincia Autonoma of Bolzano Department of Nature, Landscape and Spatial Development. The reason for protection is its aesthetic peculiarity.

The sweet chestnut tree is located directly at the Oberweirachhof in Töll, Via Weirachweg and can be visited during a hike along the Peter Mitterhofer cultural hiking trail.

The Oberweirachhof is located near the Buschenschank Unterweirachhof (here you can find the natural monument grapevine "Weißer Heunischer").

The crown of the chestnut tree is densely leafy and well formed. It projects over the nearby Talgütl farm.

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.

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.

At the foot of the rocky walls of the "Grup dl Sela" or Sella Group, the most imposing massif of the Dolomites, you can admire the evocative “cascades de Pisciadú”. The waterfalls, which can be reached from Colfosco with an easy walk through a large clearing, are particularly impressive in spring when, thanks to the thaw, they are rich in water.

 

Few individuals have left a mark on Merano quite like Dr. Franz Tappeiner (1816–1902) – physician, humanist, and tireless advocate for the city’s development. His monument on the Passer Promenade serves as a lasting reminder of the man whose vision transformed Merano from the ground up.
Dr. Tappeiner was far more than a 19th-century physician. He championed a revolutionary concept of health: one that extended beyond hospital walls to embrace light, movement, and nature. Among the first to recognize the healing potential of Merano’s mild climate, he spearheaded initiatives that turned the town into a destination for Europe’s social and intellectual elite. Perhaps his most enduring legacy is the Tappeiner Promenade – one of Europe’s most scenic walking paths. Lined with Mediterranean flora and offering sweeping views over the city, this trail perfectly embodies Tappeiner’s belief in the restorative power of nature. His ideas were decades ahead of their time.
The statue, created by Franz Ehrenhöfer and unveiled in 1903, shows Tappeiner in a thoughtful stance, gazing out toward the city. Dressed in a long coat and holding a hat, he appears to have paused just briefly – before continuing on his path. The pedestal bears the Latin inscription Amicus patriae – Friend of the Fatherland.
True to his character, Tappeiner declined all public honors during his lifetime. The monument was erected posthumously, as a gesture of profound respect and gratitude from the town he helped shape. Its location on the Passer Promenade is no coincidence: it brings together nature, leisure, and city life – the very elements Tappeiner believed were essential to well-being.
His spirit still resonates in Merano’s tree-lined avenues, serene parks, and gently winding mountain trails. Visitors today don’t just discover a city – they encounter an idea: that of health, beauty, and joy in harmony with the natural world. Dr. Franz Tappeiner was its earliest and most passionate ambassador.

Every day, you can climb another summit. You will definitely have to hike up the legendary Alpine rage on the "Hohen Reisch" if you want to be called a friend of South Tyrol. It is one of the most beautiful views of the Sarntal Alps, from where you can see the entire Dolomite group, as well as the Marmolata and the Ortler mountains. Even if the weather should not turn out good, a hiking trip to the "Stanernen Mandln" (stone men) is extrenely fascinating. There are more than one hundred, which have been built over time, and most of them are of an impressive height. They are like a group of soldiers.

Here, at an altitude of 2,000 meters, they say that more than 500 years ago, witches have performed their dances and celebrations with the Devil. There are terrible stories around, which talk about what happened during a thunderstorm and also about the eating of children etc. A legal document from 1540 states that Barbara Pachler was accused of meeting with devils and witches and the document is used to support the old stories. Ancient signs seem to prove that the outlook was used as a Celtic place about thousands of years ago.

The waterfall Hartungen is located in S. Nicolò/St. Nikolaus directly at the Ultner Höfeweg, a few minutes walk from the Ultner Urlärchen. Especially from May to October, the waterfall is worth a visit.

The two Tablander Lacken lakes are situated the west of the Tschigat (3,000 m) in shallow basins lime-covered by ice-age glaciers, which are framed by the Plattenspitze (2,828 m), the Tschigat and the Partschinser Rötelspitze (3,037 m) and are open to the west.
The Great Lake (2,649 m) is 160 m long, 90 m wide and about 8 m deep. The inflow comes from the slopes of the Rötelspitze. Most of the outflow runs underground into the Zieltal valley.
The Small Lake (2,666 m) is 50 m long and 40 m wide and has no visible inflow or outflow.

(Source: Menara H. & Rampold J. 1976: Südtiroler Bergseen. Athesia Bozen.)

Neves Lake, 1857m

The round-trip trail around the Neves artificial lake gurantees an unique experience for the whole family (doable even with a baby carriage)

For mountain lovers the Neves Lake is starting point for one of the most beautiful mountain trails in South Tyrol: the Neveser Höhenweg.

Prices:
- up to 1 hour: € 5.00
- 1 hour and 1 minute up to 4 hours: € 8.00
- 4 hours and 1 minute up to 24 hours: € 12.00
- 40,00 € per week

Next up is the Dolomites World Heritage Cinema, where you can marvel at the stunning scenic view on the unique mountains of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puez Odle Nature Park and the imposing Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. You can also use a telescope (or do without one) to see every summit, then comparing it with the wood carved mountains created at the S. Cristina workshops.

Between the 3,337 m high Roteckspitze and the 3,254 m high Rotwand, the glacier "Roteck Ferner" extends in an easterly direction.
The former direction of flow of the glacier can be seen very clearly in the lateral moraines, which point in the direction of the Zieltal valley and are partly already overgrown with cushion vegetation and grasses. In the upper part of the cirque, the glacier is partly covered with metres of very large boulders. The rock that falls and is carried down the valley by the ice consists mainly of muscovite schist and paragneiss in this area. The Ferner used to have an ice surface of 50 ha, of which about 30 ha are left today.

Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano ripartizione Natura, Paesaggio e Sviluppo del Territorio

Discover the new panorama platform at Enzianjoch with a magnificent 360° panoramic view! Spectacular views and breathtaking distant vistas make this platform unique at an altitude of 2,063 m above sea level.
The most important mountain peaks and mountain groups as well as metropolises are depicted exactly in the direction of view, making it easier to find and match them.

You can reach the circular panorama platform with the Ratschings cable car and further on foot on trail no. 13b or from the Römerkehre on the Jaufenpass road in the direction of the Rinnersattel.

Water is, without doubt, one of the most important natural elements in the Texel Group Nature Park. It runs off nearby glaciers and bubbles up from deep underground springs to fill many crystal-clear streams and lakes. The Partschins waterfall is one of the most impressive falls in the Alpine region.

The thundering water shoots out over a towering rock wall and thunders, rages and roars downwards like a "liquid curtain”. The sun’s rays shine on the drops of water making a fascinating myriad of rainbow colours. The 97 mt. high falls are at their best from May to July, when they swell with melted snow water, or after heavy rain storms (water capacity 4,000 – 10,000 per second). Water in all its mighty, majestic forms – the Partschins waterfall is an absolute must, especially around the end of March to the beginning of April when the snow starts to melt and the falls reach a 50 to 60 lt. per second capacity, at the end of April with an average 100 to 200 lt. per second or the end of May with records of between 350 to 500 lt. per second.

The falls reach their full weight with melted snow from mid-May to the end of June or beginning of July with 5,000 to 6,000 lt. of water crashing over them. The most impressive sight of all was seen in July 1989 when an estimated 10,000 lt. per second went hurtling its way towards the valley.

Alpine Health: The high level of humidity found at the waterfall has an extremely beneficial, refreshing and re-vitalising effect on our body, helps improve the circulation of air in our lungs and boosts our immune system. The “WATERFALL CURE” is recommended as a means of combatting the effects of air pollution as well as for itscleansing action on the breathing mucous membranes. The Partschins waterfall is known to have an exceptionally high concentration of so-called oxygen-ions, estimated at an incredible figure of 50,000 per sq: cm. These particular oxygen-ions are present in our homes as 100 ions pro cm³, 200 ions in town and city air, and 5,000 in mountain and seaside regions. You can either walk up to the bottom of the Partschins waterfall from the village centre in about 1,5 hoursor take the bus line 265. A well-marked, safe path then leads up to a viewing platform with a fantastic panorama out over the nearby valley and imposing mountain peaks.

The Partschins waterfall is fed by various side streams and other smaller falls all along its 8km. journey on through a steep gorge. The watershed of the Texel Nature Park, which is completely encircled by the Merano High Path, totals some 25 sq. km. and includes the highest peak of the Partschins/Parcines area, the Roteck peak at 3,337 mt.

The falls are most swollen at about 20.00 by which time the run-off water from various mountain streams and little lakes, which takes five hours to reach the main stream, has found its way to the waterfall. The water volume decreases during the night.

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 biotope relaxing zone is frequently visited by young and adult guests that appreciate the three ponds, a lawn with showers, a bar with restaurant and a children's playground.

There are three small lakes: a small pond, a children's pool and a regeneration pond which was built separately, to ensure the protection of the regeneration zone during bathing season. The pond is purified mechanically, but most of all biologically.

Prices:

Adults: € 10,00
Children (7-14): € 8,00
Children (up to 6 years and only if accompanied): € 5,00
1 Entrance + 1 Sunbed with umbrella: 16,00€
2 Entrances + 2 sunbeds with parasol: 28,00€

The Men of Stone are situated to the north to Flaas. It's a sacred power spot that offers a 360° panorama view. The hiking tour starts at the parking space "Campitello". From here you will walk for about 40 minutes to the mountain hut Jenesier Jöchl (reachable with prams). Follow the trail no. 23 till you reach the Men of Stone. Backwards you will pass the mountain hut Möltner Kaser till you turn to the starting point by following the road no 28.   

The small waterfall is like a green oasis at Monte Sole mountain in Silandro/Schlanders, below Schlandersberg Castle.

The Rosim plateau is a high mountain platform of alpine meadow in the little side valley of Solda. Sit down and wonder about the natural, alpine flowers and enjoy the wide panorama.

Discover the new panorama platform on the Telferberg with a magnificent 360° panoramic view! Spectacular views and breathtaking vistas make this platform unique.

The most important mountain peaks and mountain groups as well as major cities are shown exactly in the direction of view, making it easier to find and locate them.

The circular panorama platform can be reached from Obertelfes via trail no. 5 to the Freundalm and then following the Ridnaun high trail (marked no. 23) in the direction of Rosskopf. Alternatively, starting from the Rosskopf cable car, follow the Ridnaun high-altitude trail to the left.

Small alpine chapel on the alpine pasture of Rodengo and Luson and a nice place for a short rest.

Not far from Seis, there is a hushed spot with a view beyond compare: The Karlotten Kofel hill. At the highest point of the volcanic rock and at the foot of the shimmering red porphyry of the mountain face, the incredible view opens out onto the mighty massif of the Schlern - and no less than seven chruch towers! Through the heat of the lava and the exceptionally sunny location, the vegetation here is surprisingly Mediterranean.

The western Lodner glacier is located between the Lodnerspitze (3,228) in the south and the Hohe Weiße (3,278) in the north. 
About 20 years ago, the glacier extended from a height of 2,780 m to a height of 3,180 m and covered an area of 25 ha.
In recent years, this glacier has also receded considerably and no longer reaches these dimensions. Today, the glacier extends from about 2,855 m to 3,030 m. The only larger ice field that can be seen is about 200 m x 200 m, which is an area of 4 ha. In former times, the northern flank of the Lodnerspitze (3,228) was covered with ice all the way to the peak, but today only three or four small ice fields remain as reminders of this.
Four to five smaller ice fields can still be seen on the southern flank of the Hohe Weiße (3,278). The rest of the ice is covered with rocks that fall from the wall.

Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano ripartizione Natura, Paesaggio e Sviluppo del Territorio

From Moos/Moso walk up the first road bridge. At 50 meters, turn left on the walkway up to the wooden observation bridges over the Stieber waterfall. From here hikers will have a breathtaking view of the gigantic Stieber waterfall, where the Pfeldererbach stream first plunges 19 meters then 18 meters deep in the Passer river.

Growing on the west side of Unterweirachhof farm is an approximately 250-year-old vine of the Weißer Heunischer grape variety, which has been placed under protection as a natural monument.

Tradition has it that this vine was destroyed by the French during the pillaging of the courtyard during the Napoleonic Wars in 1809. When the farm was rebuilt in 1810, the vine began to sprout again. The base of the grapevine has a circumference of 106 cm.

This formerly widespread grape varietal can now be found almost solely on old stock located on the viticultural fringes. Since it is a winter-hardy variety, it is also said: “From loden skirts and the Heunischer vine, Tyroleans shall never part.”

The Fachschule für Obst-, Wein- und Gartenbau Laimburg (College for Fruit, Wine and Horticulture) used seedlings of this Heunischer to include them in the collection of old grape varieties.

Father Joachim Haspinger, known as “the fighting Capuchin,” was born in 1776 in the Gsiesertal Valley. After joining the Capuchin Order, he became one of the leaders of the Tyrolean uprising in 1809, fighting alongside Andreas Hofer at the Battle of Bergisel against French and Bavarian troops. The monument in the village center of St. Martin honors his bravery and enduring spirit of freedom.

The small mountain lake "Blaue Lacke" is located in the basin of the Blaulackenkopf, the Kreuzspitze and the Texelspitze and lies at approx. 2915 m.
Size: approx. 105 x 65 m;
Colour: brownish-green, murky water;
The lake lies lonely and alone. At present only a small slope glacier remains.
It has changed a lot in the last 10 years and has shrunk considerably.

It is best reached from Katharinaberg, via the Schrofl-Hof, from there continue in the direction of the Mair-Alm, then take path no. 9 to the GinglJoch, which lies at 2938 m; now go left up over large stone slopes to the Blaulackenkopf (3163 m), from here the lake is clearly visible.

(Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano / Ripartizione Natura, Paesaggio e Sviluppo del Territorio)

The Naturno Music Balcony was newly opened in 2020 and reveals a wonderful view of the Vinschgau Valley. Furthermore, you can admire the imposing mountain range opposite and Juval Castle, the summer residence of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner.
The new attraction is located just a few minutes' walk from the Unterstell mountain station (heading west).
Together with the Unterstell viewing platform, which faces east towards Merano, the Naturno Music Balcony forms a panoramic view of Naturno and its surroundings that is well worth seeing.
The percussion ensemble of the music band of Naturno has recorded a piece for the opening of the music balcony, in which music is played only with clapping.

Der Kobler-Hof am Mühlbach

 

© Ludwig Veith

Dieses hart am Mühlbach stehende Haus mit Ökonomie-Gebäude entstand in seinen baulichen Grundelementen wohl in der ersten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhunderts. Diese Bauzeit-Annahme dürfte die im Dachstuhlgebälk eingravierte Jahreszahl von 1541 untermauern. Das einstöckige Wohnhaus mit Dachgeschoss beruht auf einem dreibogigen, tonnengewölbten Durchgang (Ladum) zu den Kellern, dem Stall und Hofraum. Über eine gemauerte Freitreppe gelangt man durch eine rundbogige Eingangstüre in die tonnengewölbte Labe, Küche, der getäfelten Stube und den Kammern. Links des südseitigen Eingangsbereiches ist das Wirtschaftsgebäude mit nordseitig befindlichem Scheunenzugang, angebaut.

In der Frage nach den Bewohnern dieses „Engadiner-Durchgangs-Hofes“ nennt uns der Steuerkataster aus dem Jahre 1694/96 Christian Gabriel der Ältere als Besitzer dieses bäuerlichen Eigentums zusammen mit einem „Mannmahd“ großen Anger. Aus diesem Eigengut reichte Gabriel dem Pfarrwidum zu Schluderns, der Skt. Johannkirche zu Prad und dem „Viztumamt“ in Fürstenburg einen geschaffenen Getreide-, Schmalz- bzw. Schaf-Zins. Zurzeit S.M. Kaiserin Maria Theresia um 1775 erfahren wir aus jenen Steuerfassionen, dass diese „zu unterist des dorfs Pradt“ liegende Hofstelle des Mathias Koch aus einem Haus mit einer Stube, einer Küche, drei Kammern, zwei Keller sowie Stall und Stadel bestand. Der Hof samt einem  Tagmahd und 259 Klafter (3.218 m²) großen zweimähdigem Anger mit Obstbäumen besetzt war eingefriedet. In der Folgezeit muss das Anwesen dann geteilt worden sein, denn um 1813 bewohnen es die Familien Georg Koch und Simon Gander und 1857 haben es Johann Koch und Josef Theiner inne. Im Jahre 1871 besitzt dann Anton Kobler den ehemaligen Anteil der Koch und 1875 besitzt jenen der Gander, Michael Mailänder. Der Enkel des ersteren gleichen Namens, übte in diesem Haus bis in den 1950-er Jahren die Tätigkeit eines Webers aus, das ihn den Vulgonamen „Weber-Touni“ einbrachte. In Ausübung verschiedenster Dienste, bekleidete der Weber-Touni auch das Amt des „Gemeinde-Ausrufers“ – ein jahrhundertealter Brauch-, dem er sich je nach Bedarf immer sonntags nach dem Hochamt am Kirchplatz sorgfältig und lautstark verpflichtete. Für diesen althergekommenen Dienst bekam er laut „Nittbach-Wasservertrag“ von 1510 von den „Alt-Feld-Besitzern“ zu Tschengls, die wegen des „Nittbach-Wassers“ der Gemeinde Prad seit dato Getreidezins schuldeten, sechs Mutt Korn. Dieses holte der „Weber-Touni“ alljährlich um 13 Uhr des 24. Mai vom Kirchplatz in Tschengls mit Ross und Wagen ab. -  Seit 1. Juni 1981 ist das dreigeschossige Haus mit seinen bauzeittypischen Merkmalen unter Denkmalschutz und ab 1990 im Besitz von Robert Kobler und Manfred Michael Wunderer.