The most spectacular excursion destinations in South Tyrol

The ancestral castle of the province of Tyrol is one of the many magnificent castles in South Tyrol. There are two palace buildings and a two-storey palace chapel. In the castle itself, you get a wonderful insight into mediaeval South Tyrol with its noble knights and damsels. Right next to the castle, in Dorf Tirol, you will find a bird care centre. There you can watch majestic captive-bred birds of prey in a flight show held twice daily.

The 700-year-old Juval Castle towers high above Val Senales/Schnalstal at the entrance to the Val Venosta/Vinschgau. It has been owned by the world-famous South Tyrolean extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner since 1983 and was opened to the public in 1995; the inner courtyards and a dozen rooms can be viewed. You can reach Juval Castle on foot or by shuttle bus (from the Juval car park). During the summer months, when the owner, Reinhold Messner, is in Val Venosta/Vinschgau, the castle is closed to visitors. This is just one of six Messner Mountain Museums, each showcasing Reinhold Messner’s passion for mountaineering, mountains, and mountain culture.

Visit the world-famous Iceman, also known as Ötzi, who was found at the Hauslabjoch in Similaun in 1991 and became known as the oldest glacier mummy in the world. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano provides further insights into the prehistory of South Tyrol and fascinates its visitors with regularly changing travelling exhibitions.

Have you heard the legend of King Laurin and his rose garden (“Rosengarten” in German)? It is one of South Tyrol’s most famous legends and tells the story of the dwarf king Laurin, who fell in love with the beautiful princess Similde and – invisible thanks to his magic cloak – unceremoniously put her on his horse and rode off with her. The knights, however, tracked him down in his kingdom and challenged him to a battle, which he sought to win with a miracle belt that gave him the strength of twelve men. He protected himself with his cloak of invisibility, but the movements of his beautiful roses betrayed him as he crushed them despite his invisibility. Captured, he placed a curse on his rose garden – never to be seen by human eyes, day or night. Yet he failed to consider twilight. This oversight allows King Laurin’s roses to glow a powerful red in the sunset, creating a magical experience known as alpenglow. Whether or not you believe the legend, the Catinaccio/Rosengarten massif is always worth a visit, as it is part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site and enchants its visitors with its panoramic hikes. During your holiday in South Tyrol, be sure to take a look at the incredibly romantic and unique alpenglow.

Lake Carezza/Karersee is a jewel at the foot of the Latemar, in the middle of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. It shines in a strong turquoise blue, in which the Latemar is reflected on sunny days. With this blaze of colour, we find it only fitting that Lake Carezza/Karersee is called “Rainbow Lake” in Ladin. A walk around the lake is a wonderful experience for the whole family and can also be done with a pram. On the viewing platform, you will find information about the lake as well as a display board that tells the legend of the water fairy and the sorcerer of Maserè.

If you have a penchant for remarkable, fascinating photo spots, look no further than the Seceda. It is a 2,519-metre-high mountain in the Puez-Odle Nature Park that can be reached comfortably by cable car or via a leisurely hike from Sankt Ulrich in Gröden. At the top, it immediately becomes clear why the Seceda is such a popular place for photography, as the spectacular view of the Geisler peaks opens up in front of you, a row of pointed needles rising into the deep blue sky. Numerous hiking routes lie ahead of you here, leading to rustic huts and enchantingly panoramic spots. On a hike in the Dolomites, you won’t stop marvelling – we promise.

Lake Resia/Reschensee lies serenely, the surface of the water only rippled by fine waves, the colour a strong blue. At one point, a church tower rises mystically out of the water, a silent witness to a dramatic history. Lake Resia/Reschensee, with its surface area of over six square kilometres, was created from 1943 onwards under the fascist regime as a reservoir for energy production, replacing the three natural lakes that had previously been there. As early as 1940, the inhabitants of the small village of Graun on the shores of the lake were dispossessed of their houses because the village was flooded. The village was rapidly moved to higher ground. About 100 affected families had to choose between forced resettlement and emigration. The church, which was a listed building, remained standing. That is why the church tower still rises out of the water today. In summer, Lake Resia/Reschensee is a popular destination for windsurfers, hikers, and sun lovers.

The Lake Braies/Pragser Wildsee is a true celebrity in South Tyrol; everyone has seen a photo of it. It is rightly called the “Pearl of the Dolomite Lakes” and is a protected natural monument located in the Val di Braies/Pragser Tal in the Braies/Prags Dolomites. In recent years the lake has gained fame through the Italian TV series “Un passo dal cielo” (one step from heaven) with Terence Hill. Behind the emerald-green lake, so peaceful and untouched, rises the imposing Croda del Becco/Seekofel (2,810 metres above sea level), which is reflected in the lake on clear days. Legend has it that a boat on the lake could lead you to the subterranean realm of Fanes. Find out for yourself if this is true on an enjoyable and scenic rowing boat tour across the lake. Since the water is chilly even on hot summer days, it offers a welcome way to cool down.

These are one of South Tyrol’s signature landmarks, a natural monument with recognition value, a magical place. The Three Peaks rise majestically into the sky like towers. They are located in the Three Peaks Nature Park in the Sexten Dolomites and are a place all mountain lovers and hiking fans yearn to visit, as well as passionate photographers and pleasure seekers. You can reach them on foot in about 2.5 to 3 hours from the Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal car park near Sexten or by a very short hike from the Auronzo mountain hut in the province of Belluno. If you arrive by car, the last stretch of road to the Auronzo mountain hut is a toll road. Alternatively, you can take the regularly scheduled shuttle bus to the hut. At 2,999 metres above sea level, the Cima Grande/Große Zinne peak is the tallest of these mountain giants.