Summer in the alpes - South Tyrol

Summer in Castelrotto: Blossoming meadows, fluffy clouds in the light blue sky, endless sun, the sweet scent of hay and pine trees. A season to enjoy with all your senses. A time to head out into the great outdoors: Take a trip to the Alpe di Siusi, stop off at a mountain hut, listen to the cowbells, savour the homemade delicacies and revel in the sweeping views over the white limestone walls of the Dolomite mountains.

Take a hike through the Sciliar-Catinaccio/Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, past weird and wonderful rock formations of immense geological interest, waterfalls, feast your eyes on the distant Alpine peaks, cross gullies and streams on via ferrata ascents, and sate your thirst and hunger in traditional mountain huts.

Head out with the kids and explore the mystical spots around Kastelruth, the “witches’ benches” on the Bullaccia/Puflatsch, the remains of a ruined castle (“Castellum Ruptum”) on the Kofel hill, the Veduta del Re/Königswarte (“King’s Keep”)  in the Laranza forest, and the larch meadows on the Marinzen .

Nature and culture are very much intertwined in Castelrotto. Customs are still observed on a daily basis, and the local people have deep-reaching roots in their homeland and religious traditions. The Farming Museum at the Tschötscherhof in S. Osvaldo provides a fascinating insight into local traditions, while the School Museum in Tagusa/Tagusens is a wonderful place to delve into the history of education in the local area, or listen to the brass band concerts in the evenings.

Summer in Castelrotto is also a promise of balmy summer evenings and local specialities, particularly at the dumpling and strudel festivals when the local restaurateurs serve up their most original recipes. Don’t forget to pencil in the farmers’ market in the village square, which is only held on Friday mornings. And if you would like to learn about how medicinal and aromatic herbs are cultivated, remember to book in for a sightseeing tour of the Pflegerhof in S. Vigilio.

With the chairlift Marinzen, located in the immediate vicinity of the village centre of Castelrotto, you can reach the Marinzenalm in a few minutes. From there you can undertake a number of beautiful hikes (e.g. to the Puflatsch or to the Alpe di Siusi). For those who would like to stay on Marinzen, the Marinzen hut with its beautiful sun terrace and the Schafstallhut (approx. 15 minutes walk) are at your disposal.

Marinzen also has a petting zoo for the little ones, a children’s playground and a fishpond for fishing (day tickets and rental fishing can be obtained at the Marinzen hut). Children up to 10 years of age travel free of charge when accompanied by their parents.