Nonsberger Alps

As part of the Southern Limestone Alps, they cover a charming natural experience area in South Tyrol and Trentino. To the west lies the eponymous Non Valley, to the north the Ultental forms the border, and to the east and south, the Etschtal forms the conclusion.

A vast territory in the Nonsberg Alps is covered by the 35-kilometer-long Mendel Ridge, which runs for a large part as a border between Trentino and South Tyrol. Due to its loose limestone soil and favorable fall winds, strong grape varieties such as the rare Gewürztraminer and the Pinot Bianco thrive on the south and southeast slopes.

The highest mountain of the Mendel Ridge is the Roen, at the foot of which lies the wine village of Tramin. The summit is easily accessible via the managed Roenalm. For those who prefer a more challenging route, the path via the Überetscher Hut (1,775 meters, 20 beds, open from May to October) located northeast of the summit and further along a secured climbing trail (climbing equipment can be rented at the hut) is an option. The Penegal (1,737 meters) also delights with its rich panorama – in addition to the Brenta Group, Ortler, and the Dolomites, you can see all the way to Bolzano and Lake Caldaro. You can enjoy a full 360-degree view of this panorama at the Panoramahotel Penegal directly on the summit.

The winding Mendel Pass is very popular with cyclists and motorcyclists, while the Mendelbahn provides convenient transport for hikers. The funicular railway has been in operation since 1903 and even had Emperor Franz Josef, who liked to spend his cure here, as one of its passengers. The railway from Caldaro to the Mendel Pass overcomes a gradient of 64% and is one of the steepest funicular railways in Europe.

A striking double peak catches the eye from afar – that of the Laugenspitze, which impresses with its 2,434 meters as the highest elevation of the Nonsberg Alps. The two peaks, the Großer Laugen and the Kleiner Laugen, are remnants of an ancient volcano that formed more than 250 million years ago.

History was made on the Laugenspitze in 1552, when the nobleman Jakob von Boymont zu Payrsberg, along with Regina von Brandis and her daughter Katharina Botsch, successfully made the first ascent. It was one of the first documented mountain ascents ever, and above all, the first ascent by women in the history of mountaineering.

The popular vantage point offers an impressive view of the Texel Group, the Ortler Alps, the Dolomites, as well as the Brenta and Presanella Groups. Due to its location, thunderstorms frequently discharge here, leading to legends about weather witches residing here.

Many marked hiking trails, which are also suitable for ski tours in winter, wind their way along the elevation. A central point is the Gampen Pass, from which the south ridge and the southeast ridge can be reached, and where today a museum is located in the former Gampen Bunker (one of the largest bunker complexes in South Tyrol was built here under Mussolini).

For skiers, three very manageable ski areas open their doors in winter: Predaia-Coredo, Mendelpass-Monte Roen, and Ruffrè-Monte Nock, each with only one lift.