Sarnthein - Sarentino

Leather goods embroidered with peacock quills, organic mountain pine creams and ointments, typical felt slippers decorated with colourful embroidery and the most beautiful traditional clothes of South Tyrol: Welcome to Sarnthein, the cradle of handicraft.

Where the valley floor reaches its widest point, right in the heart of the Sarntal at an altitude of 1,000m, lies the main town of Sarnthein, which with 27 factions is the largest municipality in South Tyrol. The history of the village goes back to the Middle Ages, a time when the narrow, characteristic Sarner Gorge made Sarnthein one of the most inaccessible places in South Tyrol and took an entire day to reach from Bolzano (whereas today it is only a 30-minute drive).
For this very reason, traditions, customs and folk costumes have been passed down from generation to generation without being subject to modern influences from outside. Even today, these traditions are still lived in the context of special events such as the traditional "Sarner Kirchtag", which takes place in time for the end of the summer with the Holy Mass, a traditional procession with costumes, carts and allegories. At the Sarentino market, on the other hand, there are various stalls selling local handicrafts and gastronomic stalls offering fresh and regional agricultural products, as well as the typical cattle market and musical entertainment of local groups such as the "Sarner Schuhplattler". But also the Christmas time is not to be forgotten: The Sarentino Alpine Advent will delight you with handicraft products and traditions such as the nativity scene exhibition and numerous attractive gift ideas.

With its impressive high altar, the parish church Maria Himmelfahrt is the hub of the historic village centre, while the former seat of the court and the prison - the legendary high medieval castle Reinegg - stands with a magnificent view as a symbol for the village. The Museum Rohrerhaus is also worth a visit: in the historic farmhouse you can learn more about the lifestyle and local traditions of that time. And that's not all, because Sarnthein offers you a wide range of leisure activities! In summer, go on adventurous hiking tours that take you to the mystical "Stoanerne Mandln", man-high stone-men worth seeing, or along pleasant walks along the white water of the Talvera. Take a short break on your tours and discover the many refreshment stops to enjoy local specialities such as the typical Striezln with bacon and chives. In winter, however, you can experience the enchanted and snow-covered winter landscape in the Reinswald ski area - a winter paradise for passionate winter sports enthusiasts and the "birthplace" of the Sarner Ski, South Tyrol's first ski factory.