A potpourri through South Tyrol

A few weeks ago I was once again on the road in South Tyrol and not only learned a lot about cabbage and turnips, but also made other interesting discoveries. This time, the starting point was not the well-known Merano, but the provincial capital of South Tyrol Bolzano, which is located further south. A first for me. From there we worked our way up the V-shaped up the Eisack Valley to Fortezza and on the other side the Adige Valley to just before Merano. I don’t want to withhold from you what caught my eye (and mouth) on the way and have sorted five tips according to your geographical location. The first stop is in Fortezza, a historically important traffic junction in the direction of Brenner.

The Colossus of Fortezza

Whether by train or car, if you drive through Fortezza, you won’t miss the mighty fortress in front of the small village. The building is relatively new. In 1832 the contract for construction was issued. Therefore, today the fortress is a perfect example of modern fortress construction. Every little detail seems to be totally sophisticated. The irony is that the fortress never had to withstand an effective attack. During the Second World War, however, it served as a depot for looted goods and gold storage for the Italian National Bank. There are numerous wild rumours surrounding these gold transports. Today, the fortress is open to the public. In the barracks and bunkers, both modern art and historical information about the fortress are exhibited. A special experience is the ascent from the lower fortress via the “eternal staircase” to the upper fortress high above Fortezza fortress. The staircase built into the rocks counts 433 steps and believe me, your thighs are guaranteed to burn at the top.

More information about the fortress and the current exhibitions and events can be found here: Fortezza

Climbing virus in Brixen

Kicking off an urban development project with a climbing gym? What sounds slightly eccentric to my ears has been implemented by Brixen. The climbing centre in the middle of Brixen, which opened in spring 2012, bears the promising name “The Vertical“. Architecturally, the monolith provides an interesting contrast to the historic city centre. In the near future, a new park and another development are to be built around the climbing hall. The climbing hall forms the link and meeting point of the quarter. I dared to climb the wall again in the climbing gym. With my climbing shoes tied up, I shimmied from grip to hold during a sweaty two hours and, to my own amazement, had a lot of fun with it. Somewhere in the back of my head there is still the idea of overcoming my fear of climbing and climbing a real peak… Who knows…

Plums for all occasions

The juicy, sweet fruit plays an important role in South Tyrolean cuisine. So where does it taste better than in the place that gives its name to a variety – the Barbian plum. At the Gasthof zur Traube in Barbiano, the fruit is prepared in a wide variety of variations during the plum weeks. Noodles with bacon and plums… divine!

The best of Bolzano

Bolzano is a small town with many faces and a wonderful flair. A lively start to the day is at Pur South Tyrol, for example. South Tyrolean specialities can be bought in the gourmet market. At the same time, there is a small café in the shop, where the products can also be eaten right away. Afterwards, the old town invites you to take a stroll. From Piazza Walther to the market square through the narrow streets to the typical Bolzano arcades – one gem after the other. Outside the historic city centre, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, called Museion, is an eye-catcher. The striking new building was designed by Krüger, Schuberth, Vandreike (KSV). If you cross the Talfer on the curved pedestrian and bicycle bridge, you will end up in the so-called Città Nuova. The fascist district also offers interesting insights into the history of the city. For the thirst in between, a stop at Batzen Bräu is recommended. The brewery has some interesting beer variations on offer that even tempted me.

A Count with a Garden

Seven gardens and a winery. When Franz Graf von Pfeil had the idea of sacrificing part of his vines for a garden landscape a few years ago, he received some weird looks. Today, the labyrinth garden, consisting of a soil labyrinth, a snail mountain, a grotto, a larch forest, a theatre and a maze, is an integral part of the winery and a popular destination for excursions. Symbolism plays a central role in the garden. For example, the maze consists of different varieties of vines as a symbol of life, and poisonous yew trees were planted in between as a symbol of death. An afternoon in the garden landscape of the Kränzelhof in Cermes is grounding. I could have spent hours in the swing in the middle of this green wonderland.

At the entrance to the garden, the wines of the Kränzelhof can be tasted and purchased. Just like the design of the garden, the handling of wine is something artistic for Franz Graf von Pfeil. The assortment includes some award-winning pearls that really taste quite extraordinary. You should definitely try a sip of Vernatsch.

Note: I was invited to South Tyrol by Südtirol Marketing. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.