Prettau: Mining History and High-Altitude Trails

Prettau combines high-alpine nature, mining history and church art. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Prettau, specific landscape destinations, cultural sites and trails can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

High mountains, nature park and distinctive places

Seventy percent of the municipality of Predoi lies in the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park. Prettau is surrounded by 14 peaks over 3,000 metres, including the Dreiherrenspitze at 3,499 metres and the Rötzspitze at 3,495 metres. Lake Waldner lies at 2,338 metres beneath the Seewände cliffs of the 3,252-metre-high Rauchkofel. So, alongside the peaks, the landscape also features a specific destination at a mountain lake and its elevation.

The pilgrimage church of the Holy Spirit is also located behind the hamlet of Kasern, in the heart of the nature park. Above Kasern, on the Knappenberg in Prettau, the Rötbach waterfall offers a viewing platform with a refreshing microclimate. Check the condition of the facility locally before your visit.

Mining history and architecture

The first documented reference to copper mining in Prettau dates from 1426. On the “Adventure in the Mine” tour, visitors travel one kilometre through the St. Ignaz tunnel on a mine train. They then walk 360 metres on two levels through the show mine. The tour thus combines an underground train ride with a walk through the show mine.

The parish church of San Valentino in Prettau was consecrated in 1489. Its main altarpiece is by Franz Unterberger and depicts Saint Valentine with a herd of cattle in a landscape. The Stegerhof is also part of the rural cultural heritage: it was a centre of the Prettau parlour theatre. The present-day dwelling house was extended in 1618; the original section is considerably older and probably dates back to the 12th century. In Predoi, lace-making and mask carving are also among the forms of domestic work.

Hiking trails and special routes

The hike to Lake Waldner begins at the church in Prettau and follows trails 16B, 17 and 15A. As mountain conditions can change, check the conditions before setting out. The Knappensteig follows the traces of historic mining and passes tunnel entrances and ruined mining buildings. Both route descriptions draw on the area’s mining history, but have different focuses: the history of the facilities on one hand, and the trail to a high-altitude lake on the other.

In the Kasern area, the Holy Spirit Way of the Cross consists of 15 covered wooden pillars carved with reliefs depicting the Passion of Christ. The High-Tirol Trail offers a different perspective: this long-distance hiking trail connects Prettau in South Tyrol with Prägraten in East Tyrol in three stages. In South Tyrol, it crosses the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park; in East Tyrol, the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Prettau health trail is about four kilometres long and includes a natural bathing pond with a Kneipp trail.

Plan your stay and journey

The Prettau climate gallery lies 1,100 metres deep inside the mountain. The two-hour stay in its underground microclimate takes place under the supervision of specialist staff and physiotherapists. Advance reservations by email or telephone are required to enter; confirm the reservation arrangements before travelling. The stated duration helps you plan this activity into your schedule.

For travel to the Prettau mine, bus route 450 from Bruneck stops directly at the museum car park. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable before your trip. This makes it possible to plan the journey to the mine separately from the hiking trails and cultural sites.

Discover more destinations: Enneberg, Innichen, Kiens, Welsberg-Taisten, Sankt Lorenzen, Issing, Rasen-Antholz, Olang

Go to the regional travel overview: Pustertal.