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Departure point Villandro
Villandro - Rifugio Gasser (Villandro Alp), 1,740 m
Before describing the paths to the Villandro Alp, we must introduce this unique hiking area, which changes into a paradise for langlauf skiing in the winter months, to our guests.
The Villandro Alp is an extended high alp between rio Tina and rio degli Orli. It climbs from mount Sommo (Samberg), past the rifugio Gasser to the mount Villandro.
A feature of the alp is its lush meadows, fens, lakes and grass-covered mountain tops. Around 100 alpine huts are spread around here. Almost all of them are inhabited and worked during the summer months. For this reason many of the people of Villandro live on the alp. The landscape highlight of the Villandro alp is the excellent panoramic view to the Dolomites on the far side of the deep gorge of the Isarco Valley. From Sasso Putia via the Marmolada to Latemar, they reveal their full beauty here.
Despite the numerous visitors, primarily at weekends, modern tourism has not yet discovered the Villandro Alp, thank heavens, and it is still protected from hotel chains and large sports complexes. Anyone looking for a comfortable and original alpine life comes here on that account and can experience the alp as it has always been.
The Villandro Alp has been opened up by a paved road, which runs from Villandro via the Sambergerhof Hotel to Saltner Stein, where the rifugio Gasser srands (approx. 8 km from Villandro). The majority of visitors therefore drive to the alp by car. But there are also the following worthwhile footpaths leading onto the alp.
The footpath routes
by hiking route No. 7
From the village square along the Alp road to the first bend, turn left to Weler Kranewitt, now following marked route No. 7, past old courtyards, up to Diller and Pfroder. After the bridge over the Mühlbach it continues, climbing slightly, on via Parjöl to the Speckboden car park with the Bildstock Route No. 7 continues to Seltener Stein (rifugio Gasser, 1,744 m).
by hiking route No. 10 (Sauderer Alp path)
From Villandro we follow Route 4, which leads to the Gasthof Albergo Winterle and to Bagni Tre Chiese (Bad Dreikirchen). Under the Pardell shooting stand turn right onto marked route 10 via the many hill farms to the Speckboden car park, where the path joins route 7. Continue to the rifugio Gasser.
via Flor and Kressbrunn (Sauerbrünnl path)
By foot or car to the sawmill on the third bend of the Alp road. Now take the paved road to Prackfiederer, over the Zargenbach and up to the alpine huts at Flor. Continuing to climb via Kressbrunn and past Sauerbrünnl to Kaser and the rifugio Gasser. This route is described under suggestion No. 19 in the descent.
Walking times Villandro - rifugio Gasser: approx 2 hours, via Flor and Kressbrunn 3 hours.
Villandro - St. Anna - Pfunderer Mine - Zilderer Sweep
The Pfunderer Mine in Villandro was one of the richest in the Tyrol. Copper, zinc, lead and silver were mined here until 1942. The entrances to the adits are located in very impassable country. Entering the adits is not advised without the correct equipment and a local guide. The Villandro tourism association offers regular guided tours through the mine. Details from the tourist office!
The footpath routes
From the village square past the church on a steep climb to the second sweep of the Almstrasse. Here turn right toward Gravetsch. From Gravetsch 2 parallel hiking routes (No. 3 and No. 3 b) through the beautiful forest to St. Anna. Both routes join up shortly before you reach the forest glade with the Chapel. Near the Chapel is the road that leads close to the adit entrances and meets a forest road higher up. On this road you get to the Alp road near the Zilderer Sweep. Bus stop. Return by scheduled bus or climb down on foot via the “Herrenwiesen” (gentlemen’s meadows) and Gravetsch to Villandro.
Walking time:
Villandro - St. Anna - Zilderer Sweep 2.5 hours.
Climb down via Gravetsch to Villandro: another hour
Villandro - Bagni Tre Chiese - Briol - Barbiano Waterfall - Barbiano
Excellent countryside hike. Besides the 3 old chapels on Bagni Tre Chiese the impressive waterfall of Barbiano is a significant attraction.
The footpath routes
From Villandro to Bagni Tre Chiese. Do not go down to Barbiano just yet, but up to the Gasthof Albergo Briol through beautiful larch forests. Continue on a flat forest path high over Barbiano to the bed of the rio Gondo (upper waterfall). Down in a steep little climb (take care in the wet!) to the lower waterfall and out to Barbiano.
Return to Villandro on one of the hiking routes sor by public transport from Ponte Gardena.
Walking time: From Villandro via Briol and the waterfall to Barbiano: 3 hours. |
 
Departure point Sambergerhof
The Villandro Alp road comes to the Sambergerhof (1,530 m) approx. 5 km away. The car park at this hotel is a good departure point for the following hikes.
Sambergerhof - old Alp path - Alpe di Villandro
The old Alp path (“alter Almweg”) to the “rifugio Gasser” is approx. 2.5 km in length. It is now closed to traffic and is therefore ideally suited as a hiking route. In winter the “alter Almweg” is a toboggan run.
The footpath routes
From the Sambergerhof walk about 300 m on the asphalt paved road to rifugio Gasser. Then turn right and up onto the alp and to the rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: about an hour.
Round trip Sambergerhof - Waalweg (sentiero d’acqua) - Rinderplatz - rifugio Gasser - Sambergerhof
This route creates a longer, but very easy access from the Sambergerhof to the Villandro Alp.
The footpath routes From the Sambergerhof on the paved road (marked route No. 21) to Lodestatt. After half-an-hour’s walking bear left and along the former “Wasserwaal” onto the Samberg. On the large round trip (marked No. 24) you come to the panorama viewing point Moarbödele and continue on to the Rinderplatz (cattle square). Continue on to the rifugio Gasser and back to the Sambergerhof on the old Alp road.
Walking time: A good 2 hours for the full round trip. |
  
Departure point Saltnerstein (rifugio Gasser)
You can take the car from the Sambergerhof about 2.5 km to the car park by the rifugio Gasser. It is an ideal starting point for shorter or longer hikes on the Villanderer Alp and for mountain tours in the Sarntal Alps.
The asphalt road goes from the Sambergerhof first to the Specboden car park (toll-free) and finally up to the rifugio Gasser (liable to charges at weekends).
To get to know the Alp, we would like to recommend the “small” or the “large” round trip to strollers and hikers.
Route of the small round trip:
rifugio Gasser - Mount Sommo - Rinderplatz - rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 1 hour.
Route of the large round trip:
rifugio Gasser - Mount Sommo - Moarbödele - Rinderplatz - Moar in Plun - old path Gasteiger (marking 7) - Kaser - rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 2 hours.
rifugio Gasser - church "Chiesetta al Morto" (Totenkirchl) (2.186 m)
From the rifugio Gasser car park you can already see the small chapel “am Toten” (to the dead man) in the cutting between the Villanderer Berg and the wide “Totenrücken” (Dead Man’s Back). In its present form dedicated in the year 1961, but is said to date back to 1350. The chapel is always open and contains an imposing Christ figure. It is custom to leave pictures of the dead on the Isarco Valley and Sarentino Valley side in the chapel.
The name “Am Toten” is said to originate in the plague era. At that time a shepherd died in the pass and lay there because no-one dared to recover the body.
The footpath routes The easy hike, with many sights, follows the Stations of the Cross (Marking No. 6). On the Sarn side the three Black Lakes and the adit entrance lie 10 minutes below the chapel. On the Villandro side, you come to the stately “Totensee” (Dead Lake) 15 minutes from the chapel.
Walking time: rifugio Gasser - chapel am Toten approx. 1.5 hours
rifugio Gasser - Corno di Renon (2.260 m)
Very worthwhile and easy tour. The Corno di Renon is among the most beautiful viewing peaks in South Tyrol. A beautiful all-round view!
The footpath routes From the car park at the rifugio Gasser via the worked Moar in Plun Alp to the Gasteiger Saddle. From here on the Marking No. 1 following the wide course of the comb to the “Schutzhütte, which stands on the peak of the Corno di Renon.
We can recommend the variant from Unterhornhaus on the Marking No. 0 via Kapranka (Nussbaumer Erdstall snacking station) to the rifugio Gasser as a return route.
Walking time: rifugio Gasser - Corno di Renon: 2 hours.
Other round trips on the Villandro Alp
The following additional round trips can be taken on the Villandro Alp. You use sections of routes already described.
a) rifugio Gasser - Kaser - Gasteiger Saddle – from here Route No. 1 towards Croce di Latzfons to the crossroads with the zum Toten road – take this back to the rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 3 hours.
b) rifugio Gasser – via Kaser or Moar in Plun to the Gasteiger Saddle – Marking blue-white No. 3 to Villanderer Berg - Toten and via the paved road back to the rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 4 hours.
c) rifugio Gasser – paved road to zum Toten to the crossroads with the No. 1 – on this route turn right to Stöfflhütte and back to the rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 3 hours.
d) rifugio Gasser - Toten - rifugio Stöffl - rifugio Gasser.
Walking time: 4 hours. |
  
Hikes in the vicinity of Villandro
Sabiona – Velturno – Scezze – Bressanone
On this route there are two important sights, the Sabiona Monastery (information from the Chiusa Tourism Association, Tel. 0272 847 424) and the Velturno Castle (guided tours daily except Monday). With a tour of both the easy excursion takes a whole day.
Take the car to Chiusa. Climb to the monastery. Continue via Pardell to Velturno and finally via Tschötsch to Bressanone. Return to Chiusa by scheduled bus or train.
Walking time: about 3 hours.
Gola Gilfenklamm – Vipiteno
The Gilfen Ravine at Vipiteno was carved out of the marble by the Racines Brook. The road position with the bridges and ascents is very interesting. A good day trip can be organised with a visit to Vipiteno and the museums there (Jöchlsthurn Mining Museum, Schneeberg Adit Exhibition, Mareta Hunting Museum.
Approach route:
On the Brennero motorway from Chiusa travel about 40 km north to the Vipiteno exit. To get to the Gilfen Ravine follow the signs to Racines to the suburb of Stanghe. Here the footpath to the Gilfen Ravine starts.
Walking time through the ravine: about 40 minutes and back again.
Gole del rio Rastenbach – Caldaro lake
Worthwhile hike through very attractive countryside in the South of South Tyrol.
Approach route: Villandro - Chiusa - Bolzano - Caldaro.
From Caldaro to the suburb of S. Antonio and the nearby sports zone. Now through beautiful beech forests parallel to the paved road to Castelvecchio. Now briefly down through the shrub forest to the early Christian church of St. Peter. The climb leads through the bed of the Rasten Brook (steps and bridges, but completely safe) down to the Caldaro Lake. Return to departure point by scheduled bus.
Walking time: 3 hours. |
Mountain tours
Sasso di Putia ( Peitlerkofel)
This 2,874-metre high mountain forms the north-western corner pillar of the Dolomites. For more-or-less sure-footed mountain hikers the Sasso di Putia is a highly recommended tour.
Approach route: As described in Suggestion 28 to the Zanser Alp. From the car park in barely 2 hours you climb to the rifugio Schulter (worked). Now you cross the steep grassy slopes to the Putia Gap. From here up in a zigzag and finally via easy cliffs (cables) to the summit.
Rifugio Firenze in Cisles (m. 2.039) – Seceda – Sass Rigais (m. 3.025)
The cable car manages the difficult climb from
St. Chiristine to Col Raiser in a few minutes.
Approach route: Villandro - Chiusa - Ortisei - St. Christina.
At the upper end of the suburb of St. Christina turn left of the main road and take the car to the cable-car station. There is sufficient parking.
From the mountain station there are numerous possible walks on the gentle green southern slopes of the Seceda. This trough in the middle of the craggy mountain peaks is one of the loveliest landscapes in the Dolomites.
Via the nearby rifugio Firenze in Cisles (Regensburger Hütte) you can also climb the Sass Rigais (3,025 m) It is the highest summit in the Odle Peaks. However, t his tour is reserved for mountaineers with climbing experience and the proper equipment. Not for beginners!
Alpe di Siusi – Monte Sciliar (m. 2.564)
Favourite tour on one of the most beautiful viewing peaks in the country.
Approach route: Villandro - Chiusa - Castelrotto - Alpe di Siusi. From the large car park on the Alp you head in a south-easterly direction towards the Sciliar. Following the short descent to the rifugio Saltner the “Tourist Climb”, which leads in wide bands on the high plateau to the Sciliar houses (worked), begins. In another 20 minutes your are standing on the summit des Pez. Excellent view!
Tour of the Dolomites with hiking at the Carezza lake
The Great Dolomites Road is one of the most famous tourist routes in the world. From Bolzano to Cortina it is 111 km long runs through 3 passes.
Route: (Villandro - Chiusa) - Val d'Ega - Carezza lake - passo di Carezza - Val di Fassa - Canazei - Passo Pordoi - Arabba - Passo Falzarego - Cortina - Tre Croci Pass - Misurina - Dobiaco - Brunico - (Chiusa - Villandro). Pure travelling time approx. 6 hours.
The lake Carezza (1580 m, toll-paying car park) is the departure point for the Temlweg beneath the towering cliffs of the Latemar.. |
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