Sights and culture in South Tyrol
Here is a small selection of landmarks, cultural assets and museums in the vicinity of your **** Holiday and Wellness Hotel Windschar in the country of castles, Oetzi the iceman and fantastic, beautiful nature. South Tyrol - experience nature and culture.
With the central museum in Sigmundskron and the four houses around, witch each has an especial theme, Reinhold Messner want to create a unique Mountain-Museum.
At Brunico castle - at the gate to the Dolomite - the 5th MMM is planed from Reinhold Messner.
Four museums already exist - in Solda at the Ortles Mountain, at Juval Castle in Naturno, at Sigmundskron Castle in Bolzano, and at the Monte Rite in Cadore in the province of Belluno. According to Reinhold Messner this would lead to a synergy between the alpine population and the Museum of Ethnography in Teodone.
For several years highly specialized research teams examined the mummy and the articles found with it. They have been on exhibit since March 1998 at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Under certain conditions a micro-climate emerges in inactive mine tunnels which can greatly help people suffering from respiratory problems. These very special micro-climatic conditions are found in the climate tunnels of Prettau. The climate tunnels are located about 1,100 meters within the mountain and are reserved as a place for peace, relaxation and recuperation.
Walking time: altogether approx. 2 hours
Half-day walk on good, partly steep paths.
Difference in altitude: 350 m
The path starts at the Tauferer Town Hall where you head north and after app. 50 m. branch off to the right, cross over the bridge, turn left and go along the river following the path which then turns right and leads up to the castle. This will take you through the old pay-toll and then up the dirt road to the castle, - also interesting to visit if time allows.
Daily distillation and guided tours free of charge, from May till November, from Monday to Friday.
The 5th Messner Mountain Museum at Brunico Castle
The Projects: one idea - five housesWith the central museum in Sigmundskron and the four houses around, witch each has an especial theme, Reinhold Messner want to create a unique Mountain-Museum.
At Brunico castle - at the gate to the Dolomite - the 5th MMM is planed from Reinhold Messner.
Four museums already exist - in Solda at the Ortles Mountain, at Juval Castle in Naturno, at Sigmundskron Castle in Bolzano, and at the Monte Rite in Cadore in the province of Belluno. According to Reinhold Messner this would lead to a synergy between the alpine population and the Museum of Ethnography in Teodone.
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle - A fascinating garden
In the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, plants from all over the world are gathered together and typical landscapes of South Tyrol are presented. Paths meander uphill through water and terraced gardens, leading to the Sensual Garden or the Japanese Garden, to the cacti and succulents mound or to cultivated plants of the south, like the olive tree and the grapevine.South Tyrol Museum of Archeology - The Iceman
Over 5000 years ago, a man climbed up to the icy heights of the Schnalstal glacier and died. He was found by accident in 1991, with his clothes and equipment, mummified and frozen: an archaeological sensation and a unique snapshot of a Copper Age man.For several years highly specialized research teams examined the mummy and the articles found with it. They have been on exhibit since March 1998 at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Juval Castle of Reinhold Messner
Towering high over the Schnals (Senales) Valley, the 700 year old Juval Castle has been owned since 1983 by Reinhold Messner, the South Tyrolean mountain climber, and has been open to the public since 1995. The castle may be reached on foot or by shuttle bus from the Juval parking area, and a dozen rooms may be visited, along with the inner courtyards. The castle is closed to the public during the summer months when the owner resides there. Messner has restored the castle and has left his personal mark with a comprehensive Tibetan collection, a collection of masks from five continents, and a collection of pictures of mountains. This medieval building thus today also gives the impression of being a Tibetan monastery.Tauferer Ahr valley
Taufers Castle
This powerful medieval fortress structure makes its historical significance evident. Formerly the castle of the lords of Taufers (Tures), it came into the possession of the South Tyrol Institute of Castles in 1977. It was extended in the 15th and 16th cen. into a spacious residential fortress. Completely furnished and very well preserved, this castle is among one of the largest and most beautiful in all of Tyrol. The frescoes in the castle chapel, painted by Friedrich Pacher, are particularly precious.Mineralogical Museum Kirchler
The formation of the Alps is shown in a fascinating manner through mineral strata from the Hohe Tauern National Park collected over the decades by Josef Kirchler. Over 750 examples of have been put on display from the areas of the Zillertal Alps and the Hohe Tauern: rock crystal as the epitome of crystal, whose clarity is reminiscent of the eternal ice of the highest peaks, as well as feldspar, rutile, purple amethyst, fluorite, sparkling apatite, emeralds, and sphene, with its enchanting deep green color will all enchant the observer. In addition to the largest piece of smoky quartz in all of South Tyrol, the 'contorted' rock crystal from the Prettau (Predoi) mine is a special attraction.Exhibition mine and climate tunnels, Prettau
Inhale pure air, free of allergens and pollen, just do something good for your own body and respiratory tracts... do you care a little about yourself every once in a while?Under certain conditions a micro-climate emerges in inactive mine tunnels which can greatly help people suffering from respiratory problems. These very special micro-climatic conditions are found in the climate tunnels of Prettau. The climate tunnels are located about 1,100 meters within the mountain and are reserved as a place for peace, relaxation and recuperation.
Reiner Waterfall in Sand in Taufers
The Rein Creek is a left tributary of the Ahr. It emerges above Rein in Taufers and flows through the Rein Valley and the Tobel Gorge with the spectacular Rein Creek Waterfalls. The upper and middle Rein Creek waterfalls have a height of about 50 m, the bottom one about 10 to 15 m. Alongside the Rein Creek Waterfalls runs the Path of Reflexion to the Sun Song of Saint Francis.Path of reflection...
…the path of reflection of Saint Franciscus leads along the three Reinbach-Waterfalls – from Bad Winkel to the chapel Franz und Klara. The accompanying sign of the path ist the “T“, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the “tau“.Walking time: altogether approx. 2 hours
Half-day walk on good, partly steep paths.
Difference in altitude: 350 m
South Tyrol Museum of Mining
Copper has been mined in Prettau for over 500 years. The administrative center of the mines was in Steinhaus (Cadipietra). The former granary, the food warehouse for the mines, has been the home of the Steinhaus Mining Museum since autumn, 2000.Holy Ghost Church
Built in 1455 and consecrated by cardinal Nikolaus Cusanus. The northern most church of Italy.South Tyrol Museum of Ethnography
Founded in 1976, the Museum of Ethnography is the oldest of the provincial museums of South Tyrol. It is located in the imposing Mair am Hof residence in the Puster (Pusteria) Valley. Taken note of by travel writers as early as the 19th cen., the manor is now home to an open-air museum which offers a view of social life in the past with the juxtaposition of houses of the nobility, self-reliant agriculturists, and smaller farmers, along with several examples of the technology of the period. The instructional itinerary portrays the cultural history of a simple people with emphasis on everyday work in the fields and on the farm.Nature-park house and museum Rieserferner-Ahrn, Sand in Taufers
The Nature-park house fits in with the motto of the nature park “The limits of the nature and the limits of man“.Museum of the manger "Maranatha"
A journey through the world and history of mangers.Tauferer Nature Learning Path
The Tauferer Nature Learning Path was built and opened in 2005. The characterization of our cultural landscape are on the markings for this trail, which illustrate fauna, floral and historical agricultural methods. This path especially offers encouragements to touch, explore, remember and reflect – it invites the visitor to wander through nature with open eyes and ears.The path starts at the Tauferer Town Hall where you head north and after app. 50 m. branch off to the right, cross over the bridge, turn left and go along the river following the path which then turns right and leads up to the castle. This will take you through the old pay-toll and then up the dirt road to the castle, - also interesting to visit if time allows.
Taufers Parish Museum
The Taufers (Tures) Parish Museum is located at the north side of the parsonage garden in the village. Deacon Munter collected a variety of artworks from the churches and chapels of Taufers, as well as objects on loan from public and private collections.Parish church of Gais
The old parish church of Gais is one of the most interesting churches of South Tyrols countryside.Parish church of Uttenheim
Originally it was a Romanic building, but later it was further built in a Gothic style. It has a very valuable altar made by the so called "Meister von Uttenheim". The real name of him is unknown. Today he belongs to the great masters of Gothic. He is probably the master of the great Michael Pacher.Mountain chapel "Schloß Neuhaus"
It was a very popular place of pilgrimage at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1999 it was renovated by the Hofers, a family of the municipality. The Mountain chapel “Schloß Neuhaus” is situated only 15 minutes by walking from the hotel.Puster Valley (Pustertal)
Mountain pine oil distillery – Herb garden
Home manufacture of essential oils and herbal products.Daily distillation and guided tours free of charge, from May till November, from Monday to Friday.
