Risk of infection – that’s how great holidays on the farm are

As soon as the car stops, we can’t stop “wow, so beautiful!”, “take a quick photo, the sun is setting!”, “oh look, the Dolomites”.

… I don’t even know where to look first. The evening atmosphere makes the Tiefentalhof on the sunny plateau (300 days of sunshine promised by the sign at the entrance to the village of Tesido) high above Monguelfo shine in golden light. I haven’t been here for a minute, but I know I’m going to love this place.

Red Rooster – Farm Holidays

After an entertaining train ride across South Tyrol from Merano via Bolzano and Fortezza we reached the Puster Valley. For the last stage, Mrs. Sapelza, our hostess, picked us up at the Monguelfo train station. Travelling without a car is also possible in this area, but there is no bus line to the farm. The Tiefentalhof is idyllically situated at around 1,400 m above sea level. All around is pure nature. The panorama with the beautiful Dolomites is impressive and at the very edge lies Plan de Corones. Bruneck’s local mountain is a well-known ski resort. From the farm I have a direct view of the ski slopes.

But what do we actually do here in Val Pusteria on a farm, you might ask. Well, secretly I’d like to be a farmer’s wife. Even as a child, I spent my entire summer holidays on a farm somewhere in the Jura. And if I had a farm, I would change saddles immediately. Unfortunately, this is not the case, so I continue to spend my holidays on the farm.

Holidays on a farm mean getting an authentic insight into traditions and customs and getting to know warm people. In South Tyrol, the Farmers’ Association has successfully launched the “Red Rooster” for this purpose. This brand name is used to market farm holidays, farm pubs, quality products and farm crafts. A true success story! (I’m not the only one who seems to dream of sweet country life)

Before we move into our apartment, we take a quick look into the stable. Here the cows chew the hay from the summer with relish. I am asked if I know how the milking machine works. “Of course!” All guests get the opportunity to get a taste of everyday farm life. Be it to help with milking or to make your own butter.

Now we are looking forward to our apartment, which is located on the first floor of the farm. Wow, I’m absolutely thrilled with the rustic interior design, which can easily compete with any new 4-star alpine chic hotel. The walls have been covered with old wood from the façade of the old courtyard of the Sapelza family. Otherwise, too, a homely atmosphere has been created with great attention to detail and good taste. Fresh apple strudel and apple juice await us on the table – directly from the farm, of course. In addition to the living room with kitchen, we have two bedrooms and a state-of-the-art bathroom. That’s how great a farm holiday can be!

No dinner is served at the Tiefentalhof. The kitchen of the apartment is well equipped with all the necessary utensils. Mrs. Sapelza also tells us that once a week she cooks a typical South Tyrolean dinner for the guests. Unfortunately, since we only stay two nights, we can’t take advantage of it. As an alternative for those who are lazy to cook, there are the rural taverns. Nearby (14 kilometers away) is the Niedristhof, for example. However, we drive a little further for our dinner, to Sesto on the border with East Tyrol.

“Just come into the parlour”. We are also warmly welcomed at the Kinigerhof and treated to homemade, fresh elderberry and currant juices. For starters, we try our way through various types of meat and cheese – the majority of the products come directly from the farm. Afterwards we enjoy homemade tagliatelle (8.50 euros) and goulash with dumplings (11 euros). At the end, there is just some space left for the delicious dessert.

Back at the Tiefentalhof, we can’t resist spending a short moment on the balcony and enjoying the fantastic atmosphere.

The next morning begins as the previous evening ended: with food and drink at its finest. On top of that, we are greeted by a beautiful morning atmosphere.

We have booked the overnight stay with breakfast and are spoiled to the core. The best?! The majority of the products – including milk, butter, yoghurt, jam, spruce honey and eggs – also come directly from the farm. We are even served freshly baked Buchteln! We take plenty of time to taste all the delicacies. After all, we have a quiet Saturday ahead of us without a program and hectic.

My interim conclusion after just under a day on the farm? Well, the farms are classified like hotels – up to five flowers are awarded – but honestly, the Tiefentalhof would have deserved a whole bouquet of flowers! In addition to the good food and relaxation on the south-facing balcony with mountain views, there is of course a wide selection of winter activities around the Tiefentalhof. More on this in the next post.

If you’re in the mood for a farm holiday (who isn’t?!), you’ll find a selection of over 1,600 farms throughout South Tyrol on the Red Rooster website. So you don’t necessarily have to drive to the furthest corners of Val Pusteria, but you will also find what you are looking for in Val Venosta or Merano and Environs.

Note: The Red Rooster supported this stay – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.