LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

From romantic to Middle-aged to the largest Christmas market in Italy. Bruneck Christmas market, a romantic ambience. Brixen Christmas market, a varied supporting program. Klausen Christmas market, on the trail of the Middle Ages. Sterzing Christmas market, a real winter fairy tale. Innichen Christmas market, tradition and a natural ambience. Bolzano Christmas Market, the largest Christmas market in Italy.

Probably the most poignant Alpine experience in the Alps: The Three Peaks Nature Park in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. Multi-award-winning ski area in winter, a paradise for hikers and families in the summer. Nowhere else can you find so many natural wonders in such a small space.

Lake Prags lies in the middle of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park. Wedged in a wild and romantic cirque, and towered over by the majestic Seekofel, it is considered the most beautiful lake in the Dolomites. It can be circled in just one and a half hours, in a light walk. The circular route passes a small chapel on the right, under light shade from spruce, larch and pine. The eastern part of the hike is laid out in stages. The Seekofel is beautifully reflected in the lake.

Campofosso Lake is also a deep blue alpine lake (2.439m) with a legendary story: once upon a time, there was a beautiful, green meadow in the Campofosso area. A young shepherd, with eyes as blue as gentian, used to live here. One day, a farmer's daughter came to visit him. When she looked into his eyes, they fell in love. However, the farmer's daughter did not visit the shepherd again. One day, the farm labourer informed the shepherd about the upcoming farmers' daughter's wedding. The shepherd was petrified and the mountain trolls provoked a storm. Instead of the alpine hut, the farmers' daughter found a lake, as blue as the eyes of the shepherd.

According to the narrations of old locals, on this stone, the witches used to dance with the devil. Their foot imprints can still be seen. Old dairy farmers say, that not only did the witch meetings take place there, but drinking sessions during the nights of the summer solstice also took place. The water source near the stone draws us to the conclusion that this stone had something to do with the fertility cult. Starting point: Terento-Terenten - parking place "Val Vena"

A hike to the earth pyramids of Percha reveals the clay column structures with an impressive display of colors. There are two paths to choose from for the ascent / descent. The tour takes about 1-1.5 hours.

Visit Ötzi! The "Iceman" is THE highlight of the South Tyrolean Archaeological Museum. The 5,000-year-old Iceman and all of his equipment have been exhibited in the South Tyrolean Archaeological Museum in Bozen (South Tyrol/Italy) since 1998. Free with museumcard & museumobil Card. Closed on Mondays (except when Monday falls on a public holiday). The museum is open every day in July, August and December.

The small town of Bruneck is the geographical, cultural and economic centre of the Puster Valley. With its large number of sights, festivals and top events, Bruneck is a magnet for visitors of all ages. Bruneck sits at 835m above sea level and is in the middle of a wide valley basin, framed by high mountains: to the north, the Ahrn Valley, with its glaciers from the Zillertaler Alps, borders the mediaeval town, while to the south sits the Gader Valley with its Dolomite peaks.

Reinhold Messner opened his 5th Messner Mountain Museum at Bruneck Castle, and dedicated the contents to the people of the mountains. Discounted tickets that allow entry to all six Messner Mountain Museums are available.

When you visit Rodenegg Castle, one of the largest and strongest fortified castles in the country awaits. You will be amazed, not just by its sublime and unique location, but also by the many rooms and cellars within the castle walls. The Iwein frescoes from the 13th century are the oldest secular wall paintings in the German-speaking world.

The MMM Corones, located on the summit plateau of Plan de Corones at 2,275 meters above sea level, is all about traditional alpinism, decisively shaped by Reinhold Messner. Here Alpine history is told, and the unique view of the great walls of the Dolomites and Alps is incorporated into the exhibition. On the edge of South Tyrol's greatest viewing platform, in Zaha Hadid's unmistakable museum building, the view crosses national borders at all four points of the compass.

Kloster Neustift (Neustift Monastery) is a monastery of the Congregation of the Austrian Canons Regular in Neustift, near Brixen. Neustift Monastery now runs a boarding house and private school, a winery, and a training centre. You can also taste all of the monastery’s own products in the monastery winery: the monastery wines, the schnapps, the apple and elderflower juice, and the Neustift herbal tea.

The Ridanna Mining World is a unique monument to the industrial revolution. A state-of-the-art ore processing plant was built here 150 years ago. Huge machines break and crush the rock, then large flotation basins bring the ores to the surface. Impressive inclined planes and horse-drawn tram routes form the world's largest surface conveyor system, to the ore district high in the mountains. The Poschhaus tunnel leads 6 km right through the mountain into the Passeier Valley. Closed in winter. Closed Mondays. Clothing: A warm jacket is needed.

In the small, genteel museum with an outdoor area, the creation of loden cloth is illustrated in an imaginative way, from the sheep to the end product, from the wool to the finished product. You will also learn interesting details about the history of the robust woolen material, which was once used as garments for shepherds and farmers and, soon thereafter, for princes and emperors. You get a glimpse into the Oberrauch-Zitt factory, whose fashion shop is right next door.