The Vinschgau (ital. Val Venosta) is a from the upper reaches of the river Etsch (ital. Adige) valley in South-Tirol in Italy. The Etsch flows from the Reschenpass through the Alps into the Po plain and flows south of Venice in the Adriatic. The Vinschgau forms the western part of South Tyrol and extends to Töll near Naturns, a few km west of Meran.
Regions
The Upper Venosta Valley extends between the Reschen Pass in the north (border to Austria) and the Ortler Alps in the south (Sulden Valley). To the west it borders on Switzerland in the Münstertal and to the southwest on Lombardy (Stilfser Joch). The Etsch is dammed up to the Reschensee. The cultural landscape of the Malser Heide is also located in the Upper Venosta Valley. The side valleys branch off from the lower Vinschgau with the main town of Schlanders Schnalstal to the north and Martell Valley to the south. The Vinschgau is known for its wind and arid climate. Two wind turbines were used at Mals from 2003 to 2012 to generate electricity, but then dismantled due to protests in the population and a lack of acceptance among tourists.
To the south completes Meran the region Etschtal with the middle reaches of the Adige.
places
The following municipalities form the Vinschgau district community:
- 1 Times (Malles Venosta) -
- 2 Glurns (Glorenza) -
- 3 Schluderns (Sluderno) -
- 4 Stilfs with the district 5 Solda at the foot of the Ortler;
- 6 Prad am Stilfserjoch (Prado allo Stelvio) -
- 7 Graun with the district 8 Reschen am See (Resia), (1500 m) - tourist community on the Reschenpass and Reschensee;
- 9 Schnals
- 10 Lasa (Lasa) -
- 11 Silandro (Silandro) -
- 12 Taufers (Tubre) - on the border with Grisons
- 13 Martell (Martello) -
- 14 Laces (Laces) -
- 15 Kastelbell-Tschars(Castellbello-Ciardes) -
The municipalities also belong to the Vinschgau
- 16 Naturno (Naturno) - 315 days of sunshine a year, nowhere in the Eastern Alps does it rain so seldom
- 17 Plausibility
- 18 Partschins (626 m), holiday community and starting points for tours in the Texel Group (Ötztal Alps);
Other goals
The Ortler massif on the border with Trentino forms the with the surrounding mountain and valley areas Stelvio National Park, one of the most important national parks in Italy, which also offers nature park houses to visit in Martell, Prad and Trafoi. That is also interesting medieval town Glurnswhich has been preserved in its original form. The Stelvio Pass road is popular with motorcyclists due to its curves, but is also a popular setting for cycling events.
background
The Vinschgau was inhabited in ancient times by the Rhaetian people of the Venostas and has a long history of settlement, which can be seen in various museums and locations, e.g. B. in Schluderns, can study in detail.
language
The predominant language is German or the Tyrolean dialect, but Rhaeto-Romanic elements have been preserved in some place, area and family names. Italian is understood or spoken as a second language.
getting there
By car
The cheapest way is by car from Bolzano, where there is a connection to the A22 Modena-Brenner-Innsbruck motorway. From Bozen-Süd to Meran is the 
MeBo expanded to four lanes. From Meran (Lagundo) first the SS38 leads, then from Spondinig the SS40 as Vinschgauer Strasse (also Reschen state road) to the Reschen pass. Alternatively, as long as the passes are open, access from Sterzing via the Jaufenpass and Meran or coming from Lombardy via the Stilfersjoch, as well as from Switzerland via the Münstertal is possible.
Toll-free arrival from Germany: Use of the Fernpass and Reschenpass.
- Danger: The Landecker bypass tunnel is vignette required. Those who do not have a vignette for the Austrian motorways should drive through the city Landeck drive. Important: The official signs to the Reschenpass lead through the tunnel (so disregard). It is often checked at the tunnel.
Vinschger train
The Vinschgau Railway is the Merano-Mals railway line, opened on July 1st, 1906. The route is currently served on a regular basis (1 hour). The travel time for the entire route is less than 1.5 hours. In Merano there is a connection to Bolzano.
STA South Tyrolean Transport Structures AG (Vinschger train), Gerbergasse 60, I-39100 Bozen. Tel.: 39 0471 312888.
mobility
The Vinschgau Railway (Vinschger train) was built at the beginning of the 20th century and ceased operations at the end of the 80s. After modernization, the railway was reactivated in 2005 and is very popular. The connections between Mals and Merano are mostly in Hourly offered. Buses serve as feeders.
Train & bike
The EventCard includes the day train ride on the Bolzano-Meran-Mals route and a rental bike with a crash helmet. It is available from all bike rentals on the railway line, from ticket machines, in the Vinschgau tourism associations and at other sales points that are marked with the transport association's logo. Information bike rental Tel. 39 0473 201500
There are bike rentals at seven train stations on the Bozen - Meran - Mals line in Bozen Süd, Meran (goods station area), Naturns, Latsch, Schlanders, Spondinig and Mals. Then there is the rental on the Reschen. Bicycles can be rented and returned everywhere. There are over 1000 bikes available, such as mountain bikes, city bikes, trekking bikes, children's bikes and 10 tandems.
Tourist Attractions
In addition to nature and numerous museums, the tower of the parish church of Graun im Reschensee, which stands in the water and was sacrificed for the construction of the hydroelectric power station and the dam, catches the eye. The small town of Glurns is an open-air museum. What is striking is the change from old traditional construction methods and modern architecture, which runs through the entire valley and separates it from other areas of Tyrol and South Tyrol.
activities
Hiking and biking are possible everywhere in the warmer months, a cycle path through the whole valley and the combination of train / bike offer numerous possibilities. The are particularly suitable for hiking Waalwegen along the historic irrigation canals. Important ski areas are located on the Ortler (Sulden, Trafoi), in Schnalstal, but also on Watles and Martell.
Climb
There are two challenging climbs in the Ortler area: the Ferrata Tabaretta and the via ferrata Croda di Cengles. The marmot via ferrata in Martell Valley and the Ötzi rope park in Schnalstal are also suitable for families. There is also the Alperia climbing garden on the Martello Dam. For rainy days there are climbing halls in Sluderno and in Val Martello. And even in winter the Vinschgau has a lot to offer ambitious climbers: ice climbing, waterfall climbing or indoor training.
kitchen
The Vinschgau is known for its apples. The most important varieties are:
- Golden Delicious, the king of the Vinschgau, color green-yellow to golden-yellow, the taste is juicy, sweet-aromatic and with fine fruit acid.
- The Red Delicious is also known under the name "Stark", it has a dark red color and is a crunchy apple, juicy and sweet, with a flavor typical of the variety.
- The sour one Jonagold has a greenish-yellow basic color and a loose, crunchy flesh.
- The organic variety Gala can be recognized by its light yellow basic color, the taste is crisp and juicy, with a sweet aroma and little acidity.
- The Pinova is yellow to greenish, very crisp, juicy and firm.
- Breaburn has a scarlet to dark red stripe, fruity refreshing
- The Fuji has a pale pink to dark red and extremely aromatic.
South Tyrolean bacon, Vinschgerln and Schüttelbrot are also among the specialties of this region.
climate
The arid climate has made the Vinschgau a special cultural and natural landscape that is unique in the Alpine region. Evidenced by z. B. the numerous succulents on the Sonnenberg or the many species of butterflies. For irrigation, a sophisticated whale system of canals was built high above the valleys over the centuries.
trips
... to Meran in the east, after Grisons (CH) in the west, after Trentino in the south, after Tyrol (A) in the north.
literature
- : South Tyrolean Waalwege. Bolzano: Publishing house Athesia, 2005, ISBN 8882662942 ; 212 pages (German). 40 Waalwege and 250 Waale described, including 25 Waalwege from the Vinschgau
- ; Wartberg (Ed.): Jausen, Marenden & Törggelen - Vinschgau and side valleys. 2011, ISBN 9783831317295 , P. 119.
Web links
- Official website of the Vinschgau district community: www.bzgvin.it
- Citizen network Vinschgau: www.vinschgau.net
- Vinschgau cycle route network
