Excursions and sight-seeing

South Tyrol’s capital, Bozen/Bolzano and its smaller towns of Meran, Brixen and Bruneck are within easy reach and all offer a wide choice of cultural attractions.

In addition to South Tyrol’s natural beauty, the fascinating world of its high mountains, its customs and traditions, architectural treasures from centuries past, its defiant castles like eyries among the rock faces, the region is also rich in museums to explain the past, the development of the Dolomites and recent history.

A small taster
“Ötzis”, the 5,300 year-old early Bronze Age man discovered with his clothing, tools and weapons in a glacier has now found his final resting place in the Bozen/Bolzano Archaeological Museum.
How did the Dolomites evolve? Find out in the Natural History Museum in Bozen.
Rural life in times past – the Museum for Ethnic Anthropology at Dietenheim near Bruneck.
The collector and his treasure trove – minerals on show in the village of Teis, Villnöss Valley.
How was school life 100 years ago? All lovingly documented in the School Museum at Tagusens near Kastelruth.
Sun, Moon and Stars – visit the observatory above the village of Steinegg between the Eisack Valley and the Eggental Valley.

Recommended excursions:

The Bletterbach Gorge near Aldein in the south of South Tyrol
A journey through the Earth’s history: Since the end of the last Ice Age the water of the Bletterbach stream has cut a gorge into the mountainside beneath the Weisshorn mountain in the south of South Tyrol, 8 kilometres in length and up to 400 metres wide. A part of the gorge with a geological theme trail is accessible to walkers. Finds such as dinosaur footprints, fossilised fishes, gastropods and plants can be seen in the museum at Radein, while the geological evolution of the gorge is revealed vividly in the visitors’ centre at Aldein.
Geoparc Bletterbach
0471-886946 www.bletterbach.info

To the earth pyramids on the Ritten mountain:
in reality columns of purple debris protected by a rock on top while the earth around them was eroded. They are situated on the Ritten mountain near Lengmoos (take the new gondola lift from Bozen, to Oberbozen and walk: Lichtenstern - Rappersbühl - Kematen - Maria Saal - Collabo/Klobenstein, and return to Oberbozen on the quaint “olde-worlde” train).
Ritten Tourist Board
0471-356100 www.ritten.com

The Gilfenklamm gorge near Sterzing
Experience the awesome power of nature where the Ratschings stream has cut a course to produce Europe’s only white marble gorge and thunders 15 metres to valley producing a deafening roar and an awe-inspiring effect. A secure pathway leads through the ravine.
Sterzing Tourist Board
0472-165325 www.infosterzing.it