Partschins: Nature, culture and regional delicacies

Partschins offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: the Partschins Waterfall and access to the Merano High Mountain Trail, as well as technological history, church art and regional produce. Which of these you would like to explore during your stay can be a useful starting point when choosing a hotel in Partschins. The places and activities below offer concrete ideas for your plans.

Nature and trails around Partschins

The panoramic Texelbahn cable car takes visitors directly to the Merano High Mountain Trail in the heart of Texel Group Nature Park. Operating times and days vary by season, so check the current timetable before your visit. This lets you make the high mountain trail a focus of your trip while keeping its seasonal operating schedule in mind.

On its eight-kilometre course through the steep, unspoilt Ziel Valley, the Partschins Waterfall is fed by numerous tributaries and trickling streams. Its course and many tributaries give the waterfall a distinctive place in the landscape: the nature experience encompasses not only the waterfall itself, but also its route through the valley. Travel options include bus line 265, a walk of about an hour from Partschins, or driving to the Birkenwald car park. Check current travel information before setting out.

The Typewriter Museum and local history

The Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum houses around 2,000 typewriters and explores more than 150 years of social and technological history. This includes the history of the Enigma cipher machine. The collection thus connects typewriters with a broader look at technological developments and their social history.

Peter Mitterhofer lived in his house in Partschins for 31 years and developed six typewriter models in his workshop there; the first was made in 1864. The earliest written records of Peter Mitterhofer’s house date from 1431. These dates mark different chapters in the history of the house and the inventions, and should not be confused.

The parish church of St Peter and St Paul also offers a glimpse into local history: it was first mentioned in a document in 1264 and remodelled in the late Gothic style around 1502. The church houses Jörg Lederer’s († 1550) group of figures depicting the Death of the Virgin Mary, the only surviving element of the original late Gothic high altar. The grave and memorial plaque of the inventor Peter Mitterhofer are in the old cemetery by the church’s east wall.

Family outings with different focuses

The Partschins Legends Trail is a family outing starting in Partschins and leading to prehistoric ritual sites. The route follows the Legends Trail to Saltenstein and returns via the Zielbach stream, a suspension bridge and the Sonnenberg Trail. The walk thus connects ritual sites with several named stops and landscape features.

The Apple Walk offers a different experience: this apple-themed family trail has twelve stops, a quiz and a prize draw. The comparison can help you choose an activity: the Legends Trail focuses on ritual sites and the route itself, while the Apple Walk features apple-themed experience stops and a quiz. Details of the prize draw may change.

Wine, local produce and seasonal tastings

At the Ansitz Mairhof, locally grown grape varieties are used to make Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Lagrein Rosé, Vernatsch, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. The wines can be tasted in the historic cellar on request. The estate also makes apple juice, a variety of jams, fruit and leaf syrups, and homemade chutneys from sun-ripened fruit grown on site. These products are sold and available for tasting. If you would like to arrange a tasting, it is best to enquire about current options in advance.

At Ansitz Gaudententurm, Christine Schönweger demonstrates her distilling skills weekly during the season at the Gaudenz estate distillery. Afterwards, she invites visitors to taste her fine spirits in the historic cellar; the inner courtyard can also be visited. Demonstrations and tastings are seasonal, so it is advisable to check the dates in advance. Mairhof and Gaudententurm offer different experiences: the former focuses on wine and produce from its own estate, while the latter features spirits and demonstrations of the art of distilling.

Discover more destinations: Hafling, St. Leonhard in Passeier, Plaus, Schenna, Algund, Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde-St. Felix, Marling, Nals.

For the broader travel overview: Burggrafenamt.