South Tyrolean Unterland

In South Tyrol's south, you will not only find magnificent hills, vast vineyards and orchards, but also lush green meadows and idyllic villages: Welcome to the South Tyrolean Unterland!

From Firmian Castle, at the confluence of Eisack and Etsch, you cycle along the banks of the largest river in South Tyrol, the Adige, and soon cross the border with the South Tyrolean lowlands. In this southern part of the country you will find several cycling routes that allow you to discover the picturesque villages of this region on two wheels.

Only 20 km from Bolzano, lies the small village of Auer with its historic center. This is where our journey to the treasures of the South Tyrolean Unterland begins. Above the village, a vegetation-poor porphyry hill stands out: the protected area of ​​Castelfeder, which is adorned with historic ruins. Slightly higher at the foot of the Weisshorn is the Geetterpark Bletterbach - a deep and impressive gorge, also known as the "Grand Canyon" of South Tyrol, which takes you on an adventurous journey through time into the history of the earth. A few kilometers from Auer you will find Neumarkt, which will delight you with its ancient arcades, and Tramin with the small church of St.Jakob in Kastelaz, with its beautiful frescoes from the 13th century above the village.

Continue through the idyllic vineyards of this region. Thanks to over 200 sunny days and mild temperatures, viticulture has always played an important role in this area. The "Old Vine", a 400-year-old house vines grown on the slopes near Margreid, overgrows an estate here. The highest winery in South Tyrol belongs to the castle winery Turmhof in Entiklar, a small village near Kurtatsch. On the wine trail, the hikers can follow the "way of life" of the wine, from the planting of the "Rasel" to the tasting. From here, the famous wine route meanders through the typical Mediterranean vegetation of this region as far as Tramin, place of origin of the Gewürztraminer, one of the most famous white wines of South Tyrol. The last stage of our tour is the small village of Salurn, in the so-called "Salurner Klause". In the cliff above the village rises the ruin Haderburg, which overlooks the valley from an almost vertical wall and is definitely worth a visit. That's what the South of South Tyrol tastes like!