Vinschgau / South Tyrol in Italien

Sun-pampered Vinschgau and the Reschen pass where Austria, Italy and Switzerland meet, with its grandiose mountain world and 3000 m high peaks, are a region steeped in history and are worth a visit at any time of the year.

In the summer, there is a choice of long walks, mountain hikes and mountain bike tours. Nature lovers head northwards and southwards from the Reschen Pass for delightful valley walks, family treks or hikes to the high pastures, or they go on a convivial tour of mountain huts. If you want to get to your destination more quickly and comfortably, you can take the mountain railway, lifts or buses. Extreme tours to the mountain tops, demanding hikes across glaciers, high level and panoramic routes can also open up new vistas. If you want something more extreme, no problem: ice climbing is possible in, for example, Langtaufers on the glacier of the Weißkugel Massif.

And for anyone keen on kite surfing this is an eldorado. The kite zone at Reschen Lake is in Graun; there is a launch area and a rescue boat. Taster courses and training can be booked at the Reschen Lake Kite School.

In the Stilfersjoch National Park, that was founded in 1935, you can find and wonder at special geological features and the wonderful landscape in the Ortler-Cevedale group of mountains.
There is even more – this unique region produces many a cultural treasure. The Rhetical Triangle (Rätische Dreieck)gives you some insight into the cultural diversity of the region and its history, and so many cultural treasures can be explored. The 14th century church tower in Alt Graun, in the middle of Reschen Lake, reminds people of the destruction of villages of Obervinschgau when the valley was dammed in 1950. The story of the dam is illustrated graphically in the local museum.

In winter, on the other hand, Vinschgau is an eldorado for snow enthusiasts. Thanks to the particular landscape, the ski and cross- country zones satisfy the demands of even the most demanding visitors. Several outstanding ski areas ensure visitors have a good time on the pistes.

In the period before Christmas, many people enjoy the lively, welcoming atmosphere at the traditional Törggelen (a kind of harvest festival). If boredom is still a problem, you can always go to one of the weekly markets with Italian flair and stroll among the stalls.