South Tyrol: Dolomites, National Park and Culture
Accommodation in South Tyrol
South Tyrol combines impressive mountain landscapes with museums, historic sites and trails with a range of themes. When looking for a hotel, you can plan your trip around what interests you most in the area: the Dolomites and the national park, archaeological and geological topics, or cultural history. The destinations below provide some specific points of reference.
The Dolomites and Stelvio National Park
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites comprises nine component areas that protect distinctive mountain landscapes of exceptional natural beauty. Four of these areas are in South Tyrol. The landscape includes rocky peaks, pinnacles and towers, as well as forests, meadows and gorges. Some limestone walls rise more than 1,500 metres. The Dolomites’ elevations and formations make them a clear focus if the landscape is a deciding factor in your choice of destination.
Another point of reference is Stelvio National Park. It lies mainly in South Tyrol, around the Ortler-Cevedale group, and includes the Martell Valley and the Ultental Valley. In the South Tyrolean part, elevations range from 650 metres on the valley floor near Latsch to glaciers at 3,900 metres; all Alpine climate zones are represented there. The park’s network includes more than 250 kilometres of marked trails. The visitor centres provide information about the protected area and the hiking trails. This means that within a single national park, both the wide range from valley to glacier and trail information are central features.
The South Tyrolean Wine Road and trip planning
The South Tyrolean Wine Road stretches for 150 kilometres between Nals and Salurn. From Bolzano, places along the route can be reached by connecting trains, local buses, taxis or the SĂĽdtirol Transfer shuttle. If you include this part of South Tyrol in your trip plans, check the connections for your travel dates. This lets you match your choice of where to stay with the places you want to visit, without assuming a particular connection or journey time.
Museums, Ă–tzi and historic sites
In Bolzano, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology displays the glacier mummy Ă–tzi. An interactive permanent exhibition is devoted to his life; the original clothing and equipment on display offer insights into life in the Copper Age. A mountain hike leads to the Ă–tzi discovery site at Tisensjoch, at an altitude of 3,210 metres. The museum and the discovery site thus offer two distinct points of reference on the subject: the exhibition and the place where Ă–tzi was found. The ArcheoParc displays reconstructions of Stone Age houses, complementing these archaeological themes with reconstructed dwellings.
The history of architecture and tourism is also represented. Castel Thun was built in the mid-13th century and was the residence of the Thun family for centuries. At Trauttmansdorff Castle, the Touriseum tells the story of Alpine tourism. The castle gardens cover 12 hectares and include 80 garden landscapes across four themed garden worlds. The Sissi Path leads uphill from Merano city centre to the gardens. This allows the castle, museum, gardens and a named trail to be considered as distinct cultural and landscape themes when planning a trip.
Geology and culture in Trentino
Trentino also offers destinations with a geological and historical focus. The Museum of the Dolomites in Predazzo is a branch of MUSE and houses more than 11,000 exhibits. The Dos Capèl geological trail, associated with the museum, is open to visitors in summer; check seasonal access before your trip. At the House of the Geopark in Carisolo, in Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, geological topics are presented using models, dioramas, interactive experiments and multimedia stations.
In Trentino, trails exploring cultural history pass through old houses, mills and huts. Another cultural trail includes visits to fortifications from the First World War, hydroelectric power stations and mountain villages. Castel Thun adds the history of a family residence spanning centuries to this selection. In Garda Trentino, a surf centre offers courses, private lessons and equipment rental for various disciplines. These destinations differ considerably in theme: you can plan your trip around whether you are interested in historic buildings, traditional places, geological interpretation or water sports.
Discover more destinations: Bolzano, Trentino, Umbria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Tuscany, Marche, Molise, Lake Maggiore.
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