Val Passiria - Vacation in South Tyrol

The Val Passiria is located north of the famous spa town of Merano and is surrounded by the Ötztal, Stubai, and Sarntal Alps. The valley is not only the home of the freedom fighter Andreas Hofer, who was born in St. Leonhard in 1767, but also a perfect place for active holidaymakers and nature lovers.

In summer, all mountain enthusiasts get their money's worth in the Passeier Valley. There are a total of five climbing gardens, where families can also find varied climbing opportunities. The Val Passiria also has numerous well-signposted hiking trails that are recommended at any time of year. For example, the Passer Gorge is beautiful, where visitors can feel the power of the Passer, or the Hirzer hiking area, from where you can enjoy the fantastic panorama of the Merano basin. The Golf Club Passeier also offers ideal conditions to demonstrate athletic prowess, especially with its water hazards. A leisurely bike ride or a visit to the adventure pools in St. Martin and St. Leonhard are also highly recommended. For those who love something more extreme, "Tarzaning" offers a lot of adventurous activities under expert guidance. This includes exercises in via ferrata, abseiling, climbing, canoeing, and proper behavior in whitewater. A very special experience is certainly a whitewater rafting on the Passer, where experienced raft guides accompany you and explore the unique river landscape. Not for the faint-hearted is canyoning, where a gorge is traversed in various ways such as abseiling, sliding, jumping, and swimming. On the other hand, it is wonderfully peaceful when fishing in the Pfeldererbach at the Schwarzsee or the Seebersee. With children, a visit to the recreational area Sandhof is recommended, where they can learn to catch fish in a playful way with the support of their parents.

In winter, guests can enjoy the ski resorts of Pfelders, Jaufen-Ratschings, or Meran 2000, all of which have comfortable lifts and well-prepared slopes. For those who want to experience the silence of the mountains, there are opportunities for ski touring or snowshoeing to immerse themselves in the snowy winter landscape. In addition, the cross-country ski trail in Walten, the cross-country ski trail Innerhütt, and the cross-country ski trail Lazinser Tal are waiting to be tested. For pure thrills, there is ice climbing. Adventurers have access to one of the most spectacular European ice climbing facilities. The Ice Tower in Rabenstein in "Hinterpasseier" offers beginners and professionals routes of varying difficulty levels to improve their technique. Another attraction is the sled run in Pfelders with a track length of 3.5 kilometers. On foot or by train, you can reach the Grünbodenhüte, from where the natural toboggan run takes winter sports enthusiasts to the cozy village of Pfelders. Here is also the "Steinerhof" riding stable, which offers romantic horse-drawn sleigh rides and year-round horseback riding. Pfelders also has a romantic natural ice rink, where you can not only ice skate but also play ice hockey and curling.

Of course, the history and traditions of the valley are also very interesting. A visit to the MuseumPasseier, dedicated to the Tyrolean folk hero Andreas Hofer, is worthwhile. His story is presented here in a very lively way, and there is also a permanent exhibition that deals with many other heroes, such as Nelson Mandela or Superman. In the outdoor area, visitors will find a typical farmhouse and other historical buildings that provide insight into the life of the people of Val Passiria. Culture enthusiasts can also visit the "Schildhöfe" in the Val Passiria and discover not only the historical buildings but also numerous idyllic places on the new Passeirer Schildhöfeweg. A magnificent complex is the Jaufenburg, which dates back to the late Middle Ages. The only preserved part is the keep, but on the way there, visitors pass listening stations for legends and many display boards about the history of the castle. You can immerse yourself in the world of mining at the South Tyrolean Mining Museum, where you can feel the heavy work that the miners once did. Here, visitors can see the entire production chain, from ore mining and transport to processing. The highest European mine is the Schneeberg Adventure Mine, located at an altitude of 2500 meters and is the most important zinc and lead mine in Tyrol. Here, guests are transported back to the past, with half-day and full-day mine tours, a museum, mine rides on the train, and a refuge with the possibility of overnight stays.

Tradition and customs are also very important in the Passeier Valley. Many locals wear the Passeir traditional costume on special holidays. For men, this consists of a brown loden jacket, a red vest with small brass buttons, suspenders, a wide leather belt, and pants made of devil's skin or goat fur. The traditional Passeir women's costume is rarely worn anymore: it consists of a light blue silk apron, a black bodice, and a midriff. Of course, the various customs events are also extremely worth seeing, including, for example, the Heart of Jesus Fire, which is lit annually in June and symbolizes the love of freedom of the population. Another tradition is the so-called "Ranggeln," a popular folk sport that is played in a meadow or on a soccer field.

The Val Passiria offers its guests a wide variety of accommodation options. Here, you have the option to leave the everyday stress behind for a while in 4 or 5-star hotels. The offered private rooms or holiday apartments are also very cozy. From all accommodations, guests can explore the surroundings very well, ensuring a carefree stay.