Schnals: Ötzi, Monastery History and Ski Season

There are three distinct themes to consider when planning a stay in Schnals: the story of Ötzi’s discovery, the history of the Carthusian monastery and skiing. The archeoParc explores the archaeological side, Karthaus takes you to the rooms of the former monastery, and the Alpin Arena Schnals is all about winter sports. There are also trails, public transport connections and an annual transhumance. Plan your trip around whichever of these aspects interests you most.

Ötzi at the archeoParc and the discovery site

The archeoParc Schnalstal in Unser Frau is an open-air archaeological museum with a visitor centre. Its exhibitions explain how and where Ötzi was found in 1991 and how he and his contemporaries lived 5,300 years ago. They focus on both the story of the discovery and the daily lives of people at that time. The visitor programme also includes a workshop, an archery range and a dugout canoe jetty.

The guided Ötzi Glacier Tour offers a different perspective: on foot or on skis, it leads from the head of the Schnalstal valley to the discovery site at the Tisenjoch, at an altitude of 3,210 metres. This is where Ötzi was found. The tour runs every Tuesday; on other days, it can be booked as a private tour. If you plan this excursion, check the date with the tour operator before your trip, as operating arrangements may change. The tour combines a guided route with the specific place where Ötzi was found.

Monastery history in Karthaus

Throughout the year, you can visit the cloister, grotto, prior’s house, monastery kitchen, perimeter wall, monastery gate and St Anne’s Church at the Carthusian monastery of “Allerengelsberg” in Karthaus. The various named areas draw attention to more than just individual rooms: the perimeter wall and monastery gate are also part of what makes this historic monastery site distinctive. The former Carthusian monastery is also linked to the Via Monachorum, the “Path of Silence”. The monks had taken a vow of silence.

The Via Monachorum leads from Katharinaberg to Unser Frau and Karthaus. If you want to make your way to the starting point in Katharinaberg, you can get there on SAD regional bus route 261. To reach the archeoParc, take train line 250 from Merano to Mals and bus line 261 from Naturns to Schnalstal to the Unser Frau Oberdorf stop; from there, it is a three-minute walk. As timetables can change, it is worth checking connections before you travel.

Transhumance and the ski season

At the end of the summer season, the annual transhumance brings up to 4,000 sheep back to Vernagt and Kurzras from their summer pastures in Austria’s Ötztal valley, crossing the glacier and the national border. Visitors can accompany the animals on the final stretch of their journey. As this tradition takes place at the end of the summer season, check the latest dates before your trip if you want to experience it.

In winter, the Alpin Arena Schnals is a destination in its own right: its pistes reach an altitude of 3,200 metres, and the long ski season runs from September to May. Season dates may change, so check the latest operating information before your trip. For landscape context, the Schnalstal valley stretches from 500 to 3,200 metres in elevation over just a few kilometres. This range describes the valley and complements the specific altitude given for the pistes without equating the two figures.

Discover more destinations: Laas, Morter, Schlanders, Martell, Burgeis, Glurns, Kastelbell-Tschars, Prad Am Stilfserjoch.

Return to the main travel overview: Vinschgau.