The first thing we’d show you
on your holiday above Bolzano
On the first evening of their holiday above Bolzano, almost all guests find themselves asking the same question: “What shall we do tomorrow?” Then we sit down together at the table, and the answer often begins like this: Look: up here is the high plateau, and down in the valley lies Bolzano – just a twelve-minute cable car ride away.” In the other direction, the path leads up to Mt Corno del Renon/Rittner Horn, at 2,260 metres. In the morning you can walk through the vineyards, and in the afternoon you could head up to an Alpine pasture. By evening at the latest, you’ll understand why the people of Bolzano have been spending their summer holidays on Mt Renon/Ritten for generations: while the city below remains hot, it gets pleasantly cool up here. You might even need a light jacket.
Why not take a ride on the tiny train!
The Renon/Ritten train is a narrow-gauge railway dating from 1907 and runs all year round between Oberbozen and Klobenstein across the plateau. The journey takes 18 minutes, with views of the Dolomites out of the window and the old summer cottages lining the way. Anyone spending their holiday on the high plateau uses the train as a means of transport. A train journey is all it takes to slow down. And children usually want to get back on straight away afterwards.
A day out with the children or a hike to the summit?
With children, head to the earth pyramids near Lengmoos, clay towers formed from Ice Age material. Some are 30 metres high. Every rainfall changes them slightly. They’re situated a good half an hour’s drive from Klobenstein railway station. If you want to reach the summit, take the cable car from Pemmern up to the Mt Cima Lago Nero/Schwarzseespitze and walk on from there for 40 minutes to Mt Corno del Renon/Rittner Horn.
And what if you feel like cycling?
There are seven signposted mountain bike routes, ranging from a loop around the village to the climb up to the Mt Corno del Renon/Rittner Horn. These are the ones we most often recommend to our guests for their holiday above Bolzano:
- Klobenstein to Lengmoos, the village tour, easy
- Klobenstein to Riggermoos, an easy, wooded tour
- From Oberbozen to Mt Corno del Renon/Rittner Horn, moderate difficulty, the classic ascent
- Mt Corno del Renon/Rittner Horn to Sella dei Sentieri/Gasteiger Sattel, moderate difficulty, for a long day’s tour
- Maria Saal via Bad Siess to Tann, moderate difficulty, off the beaten track
When is it worth making a detour to Bolzano?
Actually, always – and preferably in the morning. There’s a lot going on under the arcades. Ötzi lies in the Museum of Archaeology; he’s over 5,000 years old and remains the most famous South Tyrolean. Afterwards, why not pop into a café on Waltherplatz? People who like wine stay longer: there are around 498 hectares of vineyards surrounding the city. That’s where the two most popular reds come from – the ones you’ll find on every wine list in South Tyrol: Lagrein and St. Magdalener. You’ll discover just how well these two wines complement our home-made Speck when you visit Armonia. On summer afternoons, most visitors head back up to Mt Renon/Ritten, as the heat tends to build up in the city due to its geological composition.
Frequently asked questions about a holiday in South Tyrol
Take the Renon/Rittner cable car that takes you from Bolzano to Oberbozen in 12 minutes, then continue on the Renon/Ritten narrow-gauge railway to Klobenstein for 18 minutes. We’d be happy to pick you up from there.
Head to Bolzano, where you’ll find museums, the arcades, and the old town. The cable car runs whatever the weather.
Yes, of course. Our price includes only the accommodation; you can book breakfast separately. If you’d like to set off earlier than usual, we’ll prepare something for you – just let us know the evening before.
