Tisens - Tesimo

Picturesque vineyards, idyllic orchards, imposing chestnut groves, mystical places of worship and castles as far as the eye can see: Immerse yourself in the charming world of Tisens.

In the middle of the Burggrafenamt, on a sunny plateau above Lana, south of Merano, lies the romantic village of Tisens - home to countless castles and probably the world's largest vine, the Versoaln grape. The congregation is made up of the small villages of Tisens, Prissian, Grissian, Naraun, Gfrill, Platzers and Schernag, which all represent rich cultural landscapes and still produce archaeological finds of pre-Christian settlements. An example of such mystical places are the Neolithic shell stones and remains of Neolithic fire and sacrificial sites on the St. Hippolyte basalt hill. 

Those who are interested in culture can continue their journey through history by visiting numerous castles, palaces and historical residences, because hundreds of years ago the noblemen of the region used the small village to build their summer residences, far away from any heat, in the midst of picturesque vineyards, apple orchards and old chestnut groves. The fairytale-like Fahlburg, the imposing Wehrburg, Zwingenburg, the ruin of Pfeffersburg (also known as Casatsch Castle), the ruin of Holz Castle or the romantic Katzenzungen Castle, which are connected with each other via the castle circuit, tell of this time.
Also worth a visit are the splendid Romanesque-Gothic churches, chapels and mountain churches, which, built on sunny hills, offer a magnificent view on the Adige Valley and the Dolomites. While the Gothic parish church Maria Himmelfahrt, built in the 12th century with fine glass paintings from Augsburg (1520) overlooks the village centre, the mountain churches of St. Christoph, St. Hippolyt, St. Nikolaus, St. Sebastian, St. Martin and St. Jakob look down on the whole parish.

Just in time for autumn, the chestnut trees adorn themselves with their fruits - the famous and exquisite Tisenian sweet chestnuts - which are not only roasted, but also transformed into culinary delicacies such as sweet chestnut hearts or chestnut doughnuts. At the "Keschtn Riggl", the traditional chestnut festival, the nut fruit is celebrated with dance and food. In spring, the village is marked by the Tisens Grape Blossom Festival, which celebrates the world's largest and oldest grape vine, the 600-year-old Versoaln vine, which grows in the gardens of Katzenzungen Castle.

If you want to do sports in Tisens and explore the countryside, you will find numerous hiking trails amidst the untouched nature, which lead you through dense forests and to the idyllic biotope - the Narauner Weiher - all year round. Along the unique felt art trail, you can also see works of art made of local sheep's wool, exhibited along the way. Passionate and experienced hikers can conquer the summit of Tisner Gall on foot or by mountain bike.