Wogelweide Rundweg

Departure from the central square in Lajen/Laion.

(S/E) Opposite the fountain in the middle of the square, take the small street on the left that leads downhill. You will soon leave the built-up area behind and find yourself in beautiful farmland with distant peaks in the background.

The path passes below a hillock with a multi-armed cross. Take the track on the left that climbs this hillock towards Wasserbulh. It joins the first stage of the themed trail, which you can't miss. It consists of a long engraved metal ribbon, placed on the summit and visible from all sides.

(1) Go back down the path you came up and turn left to continue the walk.

(2) Then take the path on the right, following the signs that mark the route. The trail then leaves the well-established path and follows a track that crosses meadows. After a steep bend, you will see a small white kiosk on the slope: this is an oratory in the middle of the field, which you must pass in front of. Continue across the meadow until you pass two barns. You will soon reach the second stage of the themed trail.

(3) Once you have taken the time to appreciate the artwork, take the path on the right across the meadow to reach a wooded edge. Further down, pass another barn, then turn right to reach a main road. Turn left to go down into the woods, leave a path on your right, then pass a first farm that also offers tourist accommodation (Wies Hof). When you see the high bell tower of Albions, leave the path on the left to reach the third stage of the themed trail.

(4) Below the art installation (a pile of wooden beams), follow the trail down the embankment, then continue downhill on a path that passes between the houses. Enter the village, passing the fire station, and turn left at the foot of the church.

(5) At the crossroads at the bottom of the church, leave the village via the road signposted for Lajen/Laion (on the left) and follow it until you reach a farm.

(6) Shortly after this, take the path that branches off to the right and follow it until you enter the forest. Continue through the woods, following the signposts and the red and white markings on the trail. It is not too easy to get lost, but there are several forks and crossroads, so you need to pay attention.

(7) When you reach a path descending from the left, turn right down the slope. Shortly afterwards, you will reach stage 4, which is hidden in lush vegetation, different from the coniferous woods you have just passed through.

Continue along the path, which becomes paved as you approach the village of Ried. Cross the road leading to Val Gardena with caution and take the steps opposite. You will soon see the imposing bell tower of the chapel of Obereid/Novale di Sopra with its magnificent painted façade.

(8) Walk past the few houses lining the road, pass the school and go under two underpasses. Immediately after the second underpass, a small staircase climbs up under a wayside shrine on the left of the road. It joins a track that cuts straight across the meadow, on a steep slope, until it crosses a small road. It is very steep, and this is only the beginning of the climb up to Lajen/Laion. At the road, take the path that continues to the left to cross the Val Gardena road again.

(9) On the other side of this road, the path continues uphill to the left until it reaches the farmhouse that is said to be Walther's birthplace (stop 5 of the route). Pass this farm to reach a hairpin bend that climbs to the right, then turn left halfway up the slope and head left again. The sixth stage of the route is located on a platform to the left of the path, before coming out onto a small road.

(10) Continue straight ahead, climbing up to the right. Further on, you will come to the road that leads to the village. Follow this road to the right for about 100 metres, then leave it for a beautiful paved path that climbs the slope under a beautiful canopy of vegetation. Pass the Koller farm and continue along the edge of the meadow until you come to the foot of the imposing church of Lajen/Laion.

(11) You're not done yet, as you still need to follow the road to the right for about 50 metres before crossing it at the next bend and tackling the last steep ramp that leads to the final stage of the route.

(12) As you pass a small pass, you will see the artist's work. To complete the ascent, and therefore the loop, continue along a path that passes at the foot of a house with curious red and white shutters, and turn right after it. Continuing to the left, you will reach the first buildings of the village, then the central square where you started. (S/E)

- There are no places to stop for supplies along the way.

- South Tyrol is an autonomous region that was annexed by Italy in 1919 and has retained many aspects of its Austrian past, starting with the German language. After its integration into the Italian Republic, the fascist regime sought to impose Italianisation on the region, even going so far as to ban the German language (lingua tedesca). Added to this is the Ladin language, spoken by the Ladins, the inhabitants of South Tyrol. As a result, places often have two or even three different names, such as Laion (Italian) and Lajen (German). This doesn't make it easy to find your way around!