Kastelruth - Castelrotto walks

To the west of the Dolomites, just above the Isarco Valley, there is a rather surreal place. Imagine a plateau covering several thousand hectares, with undulating terrain between 1,800 and 2,400 metres above sea level, almost completely devoid of trees, and dotted with hundreds of alpine barns. And all this is surrounded by several Dolomite massifs rising to over 3,000 metres. Here you can give free rein to your wanderlust, and the suggested route is the one we took to discover the area.

Compatsch is the gateway to the Alpe di Siusi. This mountain pasture, the largest in Europe, offers a breathtaking view of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy. The panorama in the foreground stretches from the Schlern massif, including Punta Santern, to the Langkofel Group, featuring the Langkofel and the Plattkofel. In the distance lie the Sella massif with Piz Boé, and the Geisler massif with Seceda and Saas Rigais. This circular route offers magnificent views of these ‘bellissime montagne delle Dolomiti’.

Start and finish at the village cable cars with some lovely views around Casterotto. A beautiful, fairly steep climb alongside the cable cars through pastures, then into the woods for most of the ascent. Very pleasant on a hot, sunny day. No great difficulty until you reach the highest point of this circular. There are small inns to choose from in Marinzen or at the Schafstall hütte. There is a slight variation from the route shown on tourist maps when descending towards St Michael. The descent is quite steep. The rest of the route follows a tarmac road with no traffic, passing through a charming hamlet with beautiful views of the mountains and the village. 10 km in total and a variety of terrain that allows you to enjoy the whole route.

Walther von der Wogelweide was a renowned minstrel of the German Middle Ages. His statue stands in one of Bolzano's main squares. He is said to have been born in the village of Ried, in the municipality of Lajen/Laion, and the route traced there commemorates his life and work. The route is marked by signs bearing the words "Wogelweide runweg" and an orange logo decorated with a bust of a medieval woman, and is embellished with metal works, some of which are very beautiful.

A superb hike in the Puez Geisler Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This route offers magnificent panoramic views at the foot of the Fermeda, Sass Rigais and Furchetta peaks. At Seceda, a promontory high above the void, you'll witness a spectacular alignment of these peaks, posing for you. At various other points on the loop, you'll enjoy marvellous panoramic views of the Langkofel, Schlern and Sella massifs.

This hike in the Puez Odle Nature Park is truly enchanting. The wave-shaped summit of Seceda is known throughout the world and its viewpoint will delight your eyes. The rest of the hike offers different views of Val Gardena and the famous pink colour of its mountains.

A beautiful circular loop without any lifts, but for experienced mountaineers. The first descent is quite slippery with gravel. The first ascent is a winding path. Some areas may be snow-covered all year round. Follow paths 525 and then 526 carefully.

After starting on an easy path, sometimes lined with pine trees, you’ll cross the Rosengarten/Catinaccio rock massif via a steep path that presents no technical difficulty. You’ll climb alongside Via Ferrata enthusiasts, whom you’ll leave behind at the pass. A whole new landscape then opens up before you. The route continues through a greener, less steep landscape.

Val Di Funes/Villnösstal is a little paradise at the foot of the Odle mountains. This valley, home to the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner, is off the beaten track. Passing by the foot of the vertiginous cliffs, you can understand how the vocation of one of the greatest conquerors of the peaks came about. And the bucolic setting of this valley also explains why he puts so much energy into defending a natural mountain. Some places have several names: Val di Funes/Villnösstal, Zannes/Zans, GampenAlm/Malga Gampen

This circuit on the eastern slope of the Sella massif is a very accessible loop hike with minimal elevation gain and no major technical difficulties. However, you do need to be in good physical shape. Geologically speaking, it's really cool because the hike passes through rock formations typical of the Dolomites and offers breathtaking views.

This hike will take you close to the Cinque Torri, five stone towers overlooking the Cortina d'Ampezzo valley, and follow in the footsteps of the conflicts between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops during the First World War (trenches, barracks, etc.). The passage by the magnificent Lake Limides will offer you a refreshing and bucolic break.

Set in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park, this hike through mountain pastures, streams and steep mountains will allow you to discover several mid-mountain lakes.

One of the most beautiful hikes in the area, in our opinion. At the foot of the Mondeval massif, equipped climbing routes. So many marmots that you can see them everywhere, especially in the valley before the first pass. Option to continue to the Col della Puena. Many options for returning if you have arranged transport.

A short, easy hike to discover a beautiful waterfall. The hike starts in Alleghe and follows the lake. Be sure to wear proper hiking boots, as the end of the hike is on a small scree slope.

Medium to difficult hike. No technical sections but 800 metres of elevation gain. The start of the hike is located in a ski resort, so the first part follows a piste. The hike then arrives at Col dei Baldi (it is possible to arrive directly here by cable car in high season and "only" climb 450 metres). The last part of the hike connects the Col dei Baldi to Lago Coldai on a rocky trail that climbs for about 3 kilometres and 450 metres of elevation gain.

This is a must-do circuit in the Ridanna Valley. This beautiful hike follows the Burkhard torrent at the bottom of the Ridanna Valley, near the old mines, climbing up towards the glacial cirque. The waterfall trail is well maintained, with wooden walkways, bridges and superb views along the way. The circuit passes by the Aglsbodenalm inn, where you can stop for a bite to eat during the summer. A pleasant and varied loop with magnificent scenery.

Lago del Mis is a little gem nestled between two peaks of the Belluno Dolomites. Its steep banks offer few opportunities for hiking and enjoying the crystal-clear waters. However, at the mouth of the Val Falcina, in the middle of the southern shore of the lake, a nature trail has been created. It starts from the beach at Pian Falcina and climbs up to the heights above. In about an hour, you reach the bottom of a valley where the stream has carved out pleasant pools, then return to the starting point via a trail that follows the flooded bed of a branch of the lake. The route is dotted with information panels explaining the geological and ecological context of the Val del Mis.