Holiday in Val Venosta in South Tyrol

Between the Reschen Pass, where the main Alpine ridge is breached, and the Merano Land lies the charming Val Venosta between the Ötztal Alps in the north and the Ortler Group in the south. Dreamy villages, lush forests, and snow-capped peaks in the background make the hearts of holidaymakers beat faster.

Just beyond the Austrian border, in the tri-border area, lies the Reschen Pass. A special landmark of the area is the submerged village center of Reschen in South Tyrol and Graun, which was submerged during the construction of the Reschen Reservoir, with only the church tower protruding above the water's surface, reflecting the mountain massifs.

For overnight stays, you will find luxurious hotels, cozy apartments, family-run guesthouses, idyllic mountain farms, or rustic mountain huts. The variety of accommodations in Val Venosta guarantees that you will experience a holiday in the midst of a landscape where culture and nature take center stage.

Lastly, Val Venosta is also a region of enjoyment: famous for good wine, crispy "Schüttelbrot," delicious bacon, and juicy apples, it is also a land of culinary delights.

Since ancient times, Val Venosta has been an important transit area. Even in Roman times, the Via Claudia Augusta led through the upper Val Venosta ; finds from this time are displayed in the Val Venosta Museum in Schluderns. A romantic excursion to one of the enchanting villages awaits: whether it's Mals, the main town of the upper Val Venosta, where you can surely buy some souvenirs of your vacation, or the old town of Glurns, which with its only about 800 inhabitants is the smallest town in the Alps and has preserved its dreamy village character over the centuries. Small boutiques, shops, and hospitable inns await to be discovered as you stroll through the picturesque streets of South Tyrol's smallest town.

Or you can visit one of the numerous museums in this region, which document the significant historical past. Worth seeing are the impressive Marienberg Monastery, Europe's highest Benedictine abbey, and the proud Churburg near Schluderns at the entrance to the Matsch Valley, which exhibits various architectural styles and houses some cultural treasures inside.

In the large nature reserve Stelvio National Park, which extends to the Swiss border, you can see deer, deer, chamois, ibex, and eagles, as well as rare plants. This makes Val Venosta very popular among athletes and mountain enthusiasts.

In the alpine area, there are many beautiful hiking trails, mountain tours, and climbing areas, and those who decide to go paragliding will be rewarded with an impressive view. And some steep passes, easily accessible alpine pastures and peaks, as well as fairly flat roads, make Val Venosta a paradise for mountain biking in South Tyrol.

Enjoyment in Val Venosta: Water exerts a special attraction on young and old, especially in the warm season. The holiday region entices with outdoor pools, such as the new outdoor pool in Schlanders, which brings joy to both children and adults. Facilities such as the AquaForum Latsch and the Sportwell Mals provide year-round water fun, offering not only outdoor pools but also indoor pools, sauna landscapes, as well as wellness and spa offers. Lake Reschen offers a perfect scenario for boat trips, which provide the whole family with unforgettable adventures. Rafting on the Etsch focuses on excitement and mastering wild currents, while the quieter activity of fishing requires a lot of patience.

The Waalwege are also famous: they wind their way along these so-called old irrigation channels through the varied landscape with its magnificent gardens and are ideal for a leisurely walk. On the Waalwege, children can let their creativity run wild by building dams or sending small boats on their journey - a fun way to explore the element of water in various ways.

In the picturesque setting, the unique intra-alpine dry climate, with its mix of sunshine, wind, and mild temperatures, provides ideal conditions for extensive hikes. The lush vegetation on the northern slopes stands in exciting contrast to the barren, sun-drenched slopes of the Sonnenberg, where hikers can discover a fascinating flora and fauna. These contrasts make Val Venosta one of the most diverse hiking areas in South Tyrol.

Over a distance of about 108 kilometers, the high-alpine multi-day hike "Vinschger Höhenweg" unfolds a veritable hiking paradise. The route, which leads from the source of the Etsch at the Reschen Pass, a picturesque point in the tri-border area, down to Staben in the lower Val Venosta, is a must for every hiking enthusiast. Along the way, the magnificent nature and breathtaking panoramas of the majestic Ortler Group are revealed. Thanks to the easy accessibility of the individual stages from the surrounding villages, the Vinschger Höhenweg offers ideal opportunities for unforgettable day hikes.

Hiking tip: A particularly beautiful tour, the Schnalswaalweg, leads from Tschars at the southern entrance of Val Venosta to Juval Castle near Kastellbell.

Discover three ski areas in North and South Tyrol with just one ticket: Two of them are located in Val Venosta in South Tyrol, complemented by the Nauders ski area in North Tyrol, Austria. Together, these areas form the Two Countries Ski Arena, which extends from Nauders at the Reschen Pass to Watles in South Tyrol and offers winter sports enthusiasts 159 kilometers of slopes for boundless skiing pleasure.

In Val Venosta, the Sulden ski area lures skiers and snowboarders from the end of October to the beginning of May with a fun park, various slopes, and deep snow areas up to over 3,000m in altitude for skiing and snowboarding. Sulden and the particularly family-friendly ski area Trafoi, both located in the Ortler area in the Stelvio National Park, offer winter fun for all age groups. The Watles ski area, another family paradise in the Sesvenna Group in Val Venosta, offers 18 kilometers of slopes, a 4km long toboggan run, a cross-country and biathlon center in Schlinig, as well as a ski cross course, and presents itself as an ideal destination for a family winter vacation in South Tyrol. The snow-sure Schöneben-Haideralm ski area at the Reschen Pass not only attracts experienced skiers but also offers snowboarders and freestylers a modern snow park full of challenges that are renewed annually.

Sporting challenges are not everyone's cup of tea. Many prefer to move gently away from the busy slopes. The quiet side valleys of Val Venosta offer ideal conditions to relax in peace and to recharge new energy in the enchanting snow-covered landscape around the King Ortler. A relaxed winter hike to the Schliniger Alm allows you to experience the undisturbed winter idyll up close.

For those drawn to higher altitudes, snowshoe hikes to the glacier gate in Sulden or ski tours to the Grionpotten offer breathtaking panoramic views. But winter sports in Val Venosta are diverse: a toboggan ride on the Watles ski and adventure mountain promises fun for the whole family, as does ice skating on Lake Haider. Together with Lake Reschen, both lakes become hotspots for snowkiting in winter. Even as an observer on the shore, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Beautiful cross-country ski trails round off the winter leisure offer. Highlights include the Taufers trail in the picturesque Münstertal, which extends over a length of 3km from Haus Rufinatscha to the Avinga Valley. Another jewel for cross-country skiing enthusiasts is the high-altitude trail Melag in Langtaufers, which leads over 14.5km from the Melager Alm via Grub back to the Alm. The Nordic cross-country skiing center Schlinig in Mals offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the winter landscape with its 15km long trail from Schlinig to the Schliniger Alm. The Trafoi trail and the cross-country skiing trail at the biathlon center Martell, with their respective 3km and 4km long trails, invite you to discover the sport. For beginners and connoisseurs, the easy Dreiländerloipe in Reschen, which runs along Lake Reschen and over the border to Nauders in Austria, and the high-altitude trail in Sulden, which runs along the Suldner Talsohle, are suitable. This variety of trails makes Val Venosta an ideal destination for cross-country skiers, who will find both sporting challenges and relaxing excursions in the idyllic setting of South Tyrol.

In Val Venosta, you can expect a feast for the senses with a variety of regional culinary delights. The scent of the "Vinschger Ur-Paarl," the oldest bread variety in the region, wafting from the bakeries is just one example of the culinary treasures you can discover here. Both the Val Venosta apricot and the historic Palabirne from the upper Vinschgau bear the Presidio Slow Food seal, as does the protected designation of origin Stelvio Alpine cheese. At farmers' markets, in the imaginative dishes of local restaurants, and at the mountain huts, marked with the "Genuine Quality in the Mountains" seal, these local products come to the fore. Like all of South Tyrol, Val Venosta offers a rich selection of high-quality foods, which are often available directly from the farm, where you have the opportunity to taste the products and meet the producers in person. On a walk through the towns and villages, you can also watch artisans crafting sculptures from the flawless Laas marble. These regional delicacies will be served to you during your culinary adventure on site.

Guest opinion from Rosi

Already upon my arrival, I was fascinated by the backdrop of the mountain world. My accommodation (booked through this portal) exceeded my expectations. The hospitality and warmth of the hosts made me feel at home immediately. Every morning, I was greeted with a view of the sun-drenched peaks and a breakfast of local delicacies. The activities are particularly memorable; I went on hikes that took me through blooming apple orchards and past historic castles. Not to forget the great food in the mountain huts or the local restaurants – I was pampered everywhere. My vacation was a mix of relaxation and nature enjoyment. I returned with many impressions and the firm intention to come back soon. Val Venosta has found a beautiful place in my heart!