Discover Kardaun: Cycling Art Trail, Hiking and Culture

If you are looking for a hotel in Kardaun, you can plan your stay around specific interests: cycling, hiking, culture and wine. The routes differ in activity type and course; the castle and winery each have their own visiting arrangements. This can help you decide whether a cycling route, a multi-day hiking stage or a visit focused on culture and wine suits your travel plans.

Cycling and hiking in Kardaun

The “Augenreise” cycling art trail runs between Bolzano/Bozen, Kardaun/Cardano and Blumau and is also part of Cycle Route 1, “Brenner–Salurn.” It starts at the Kardaun, Apotheke stop and can be reached by public transport. Check transport connections and stops before setting out. The two names refer to different things: “Augenreise” is the cycling art trail, while “Brenner–Salurn” is Cycle Route 1, of which the trail is a part.

Another option is the first stage of the multi-day “Alpine Pearls” hike: it starts in Kardaun/Cardano and passes through Karneid/Cornedo, Steinegg/Collepietra and Tiers/Tires. The starting point is at the Kardaun Brennerstraße/Cardano Via Brennero stop, served by public bus routes. Check bus connections and stops before travelling; trail conditions can change seasonally.

The Rittersteig trail runs from Steinegg/Collepietra to Kardaun/Cardano and is rated as moderate, with a length of 7.8 km. It passes through coniferous and deciduous forests as well as vineyards, with views of the Eisack Valley/Valle Isarco and Karneid Castle. From the Kardaun Brennerstraße/Cardano Via Brennero stop, bus route 182 will take you back to the starting point in Steinegg. Unlike the “Alpine Pearls” stage, the Rittersteig can be considered as a single route with a stated length and difficulty level.

Be sure to match the stop information to each tour: Kardaun, Apotheke is listed for the cycling art trail, while the first hiking stage and the return journey from the Rittersteig use Kardaun Brennerstraße/Cardano Via Brennero. The route of each hike can also help you choose: the multi-day stage passes through several places, while the Rittersteig connects Steinegg and Kardaun.

Church, castle and winery

The parish of Mary Help of Christians is located in the Kardaun/Cardano district. The Maria-Hilf Church in Kardaun/Cardano was built around 1700; this indicates an approximate construction period, not a specific year.

Nearby Karneid Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Check the tour arrangements before your visit.

Pitzner Winery is situated above Kardaun in the castle’s old armoury. It produces distinctive wines from five hectares of individually cultivated vineyards. Guided winery tours with wine tasting are available by reservation; check availability before your visit.

When planning, bear in mind that access to the castle and visits to the winery have separate requirements: the castle requires a guided tour, while a winery tour with tasting requires a reservation. This will help you plan your cultural and wine visits according to the relevant arrangements.

Discover more destinations: Rabland, Pustertal, Reschen Am See, Kaltern an der Weinstraße, Laag, Astfeld, Longega, Prenn

For the broader travel overview: Bolzano.