Brixen Südtirol – the holiday region

There are quiet places that stand out precisely because of that. Barbian is one of them, a place with character. That is due to the leaning tower of the village church and its closeness to nature. From the center, after just a few steps, you are right in the middle of it all – on the way to the Barbian waterfalls or...

Brixen is a place of contrasts that come together effortlessly. In the old town, history stands beside the present. The cathedral square, sacred buildings and medieval walls tell of centuries gone by, while modern architecture such as the city library sets new accents. Confidently, as if it had always been here...

The village lies on a sunny terrace high above the valley, with views all the way to the Dolomites. Chestnut groves, apple trees, and vineyards shape the scenery all around. The best way to experience it is along the Chestnut Trail...

Who does not remember Franzensfeste – on the way south? The place on the old Brenner road, through which a north-south axis has run for thousands of years. Archaeological traces go back more than 4,500 years, and excavations show that a Roman road ran very nearby: how does that shape a region?

Built on seven hills and right in the middle of South Tyrol? Yes, Gufidaun! This location alone makes the small village in the Eisack Valley picturesque. From afar, the pointed church tower of the parish church of Saint Martin catches the eye. Those who come closer discover the interesting exterior frescoes, which give Gufidaun one of many artistic highlights.

Klausen is officially one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”, the most beautiful old towns in Italy. And rightly so: with its narrow lanes, its location right on the River Eisack, and Säben Monastery, which towers above the town and rewards you at the top with a wide view over the Eisack Valley, there are good reasons for that.

Latzfons is not easily thrown off balance. Sure, when you are perched on a sunny hillside, you can afford to be relaxed. Tradition and rural culture are not just empty buzzwords here, but deeply rooted in the lives of the people. Community matters, and that is also reflected in the annual alpine cattle drive at the end of summer, when the animals are brought back down from the high mountain pastures into the valley, decorated and adorned with bells.

280 sunny days? Some places are truly blessed by luck. In Meransen, you get very close to nature. Wide meadows stretching across the high plateau, hikes that lead high ऊपर because the village already sits at 1,414 meters, and then the moment when the view opens up over the valleys.

In Mühlbach, valleys and paths meet. That has always been the case. A striking place that still speaks of its significance today: the Mühlbacher Klause. Once a historic border point and today accessible as part of guided tours. And yet history here is more than a building; it is part of the landscape.

The apple? It does not fall far from the tree here. The mild climate makes the villages of Natz and Viums ideal for apple blossoms. On the plateau above the valley basin, they are especially beautiful. This is a region of short distances. From the village, you can go directly into the nearby Rienz Gorge, a roughly 200-meter-deep ravine through which a wild river landscape winds its way.

It is not a place for haste, and that is exactly what makes it so appealing. Anyone driving from Vintl into the Pfunderer Valley comes closer to peace with every mile. Because in Weitental and Pfunders, authenticity is still truly lived and genuineness is not just a buzzword. Even the drive through the mountain world to Pfunders at the end of the valley helps you slow down.

Some things look simply different from above. The view opens up, everything becomes clear, and a sense of calm settles in. Raas is such a place, perched above it all and yet close to everything that makes a holiday special. Located on a sunny plateau, surrounded by gently sloping vineyards and orchards, the view stretches far across the Eisack Valley. And yet it only takes a few steps to go from this front-row seat right into the midst of urban flair...

Although a stretch of road separates the two, Schabs and Aicha have many things in common. They lie on a high plateau, which guarantees sunshine and peace, yet they are right in the middle of everything. From Aicha, the view falls on a special cultural site, Franzensfeste Fortress. And then there are the mighty chestnut trees in the Köstental, which, standing in a grove, defy all the changes of time...

When South Tyrolean schoolchildren delve into the past of their homeland, this place is almost never missing: Spinges. Here, the Inntal marksmen and the local inhabitants once fought against Napoleon's troops. At their side, and in a truly crucial role: the young farm maid Katharina Lanz. And then there is also an unexpected place...

Sometimes you just have to bring out the superlatives. If you can call your village the one with the longest hours of sunshine in all of South Tyrol, then it rightly becomes a sunny village. And at an altitude of 1,200 meters! Terenten has a feel-good character, and that is already evident in the village center.

If one had to choose a place that playfully combines nature and culture, the choice would fall on Vahrn with its district of Neustift. Anyone driving over the Brenner Pass, getting closer to the warm climate with every meter, soon arrives in Italy's northernmost wine-growing region.

There are places that embody arrival. Vals is not on the way somewhere else; it is the end of a valley, and that is exactly where its strength lies. Here, nature grows right up to the doorstep, and from the accommodations the view opens unobstructed onto the landscape.

Where to begin? Villanders is the village of many possibilities. Not only because of its special location on the sunny side, but also because of its proximity to nature. Vines in the village, forest, and alpine pastures.

Anyone who wants to know how loden is made from sheep's wool and why this natural fabric retains its charm over time will learn a great deal in Vintl about an old craft tradition. The village is not only the gateway to the Puster Valley; craftsmanship takes center stage here.

It is not a place for haste, and that is exactly what makes it so appealing. Anyone driving from Vintl into the Pfunderer Valley comes closer to peace with every mile. Because in Weitental and Pfunders, authenticity is still truly lived and genuineness is not just a buzzword. 

The Villanders visitor mine is one of the most interesting excursion destinations in the Eisack Valley and offers views of the Dolomites. In the Middle Ages, it was an important mining area in Tyrol, was shut down at the beginning of the 20th century, and then fell into oblivion. Today it is…

Capriz cheese museum and show dairy. An interactive world of experience for the whole family. Discover the interactive cheese museum of the Capriz fine cheese dairy in Vintl in the Puster Valley and immerse yourself in the world of cheese making.

The Cathedral of Brixen has shaped the heart of the city for over a thousand years. Its origins date back to 980 and tell a long story of faith, power, and art.

The inner courtyard of the Hofburg is one of the most atmospheric places in South Tyrol. Right next door, the Herrengarten invites visitors to linger as a green oasis of tranquility, adorned with flowers, herbs and a bronze fountain from the Biedermeier period.

On a small forest clearing with a splendid panoramic view stand three closely built yet independent churches, created on an ancient healing spring sanctuary. The origin of this special place in Barbian remains a mystery to this day.

The Franzensfeste is the largest historical complex in South Tyrol and looks like a fortress from another era. Massive walls and hidden passageways tell of its past, yet it was never used in a battle.

The inner courtyard of the Hofburg is among the most beautiful castle courtyards in South Tyrol. Inside, the Diocesan Museum awaits with works of art from many centuries and an impressive annual nativity scene with thousands of figures.

Neustift Monastery is one of Tyrol's most significant cultural sites. Between the Romanesque Engelsburg, the Gothic cloister and the Baroque collegiate church, history blends with vibrant monastic life and one of the oldest still-active wineries in the world.

The path to the Latzfonser Kreuz (2,311 m), the highest pilgrimage site in South Tyrol, on the southern side of Kassianspitze, is the oldest pilgrimage trail in South Tyrol. The shelter house near the small mountain church, at 2,305 meters, has offered protection and refuge to many pilgrims and hikers over the past centuries.

The Minerals Museum is the private collection of Markus Klement. With over 1,500 exhibited specimens from 50 different countries, it is one of the largest collections of its kind in the European Alps.

In 1271, the border between the counties of Gorizia and Tyrol ran here - for this reason, Meinhard II of Tyrol ordered the construction of a dam, the Mühlbacher Klause. The New Klause, which has been preserved to this day, bears the hallmark of Duke Sigismund the Rich in Coin.

The Pharmacy Museum Brixen offers insight into the past of a Brixen town house with magnificent wood paneling, wall paintings, and tiled stoves. In the house of the Peer pharmacy, a rich treasure of rare objects has been preserved, telling of the diversity and imagination of the healing arts.

Velthurns Castle is a historic monument of a very special kind. It was built around 1580 as a summer residence for Prince-Bishop Johann Thomas von Spaur of Brixen. What makes it exceptional lies less in its architecture than in its interior furnishings.

Two mountains, one great skiing experience. 14 lifts and 31 slopes connect Gitschberg and Jochtal to create one of the most varied ski areas in all of South Tyrol.

Brixen's local mountain in winter attire. 8 lifts and 16 slopes await you, plus a view of the Dolomites that makes every turn on the Plose an unforgettable moment.

Some call it the most beautiful way to travel. Getting on the train and enjoying the landscape. From the stop in Brixen, the holiday region Brixen Südtirol is easy to reach...

Some call it the most beautiful way to travel. Hop on the train and enjoy the scenery. From the stop in Franzensfeste, the holiday region Brixen Südtirol is easy to reach...

Some call it the most beautiful way to travel. Get on the train and enjoy the landscape. From the Klausen stop, the Brixen Südtirol holiday region is easy to reach...

Some call it the most beautiful way to travel. Get on the train and enjoy the landscape. From the Mühlbach stop, the Brixen Südtirol holiday region is easy to reach...

Whether from the north or the south: the fastest way to Brixen Südtirol is via the Brenner Motorway A22.

Whether from the north or the south: the Brenner motorway A22 is the fastest route to Brixen Südtirol.

Fly to Bergamo and continue north: Bergamo Airport is an ideal starting point for traveling to Brixen Südtirol.

By plane directly to South Tyrol: Sky Alps flies to Bolzano from many European cities. Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, London...

Fly to Innsbruck and continue south: Innsbruck Airport is an ideal starting point for your journey to Brixen Südtirol.

Fly to Milan and continue north: Milan/Malpensa Airport is an ideal starting point for traveling to Brixen Südtirol.

Travel by plane to Munich and continue south: Munich Airport is an ideal starting point for your journey to Brixen Südtirol.

By plane to Treviso and then continue north: Treviso Airport is an ideal starting point for traveling to Brixen Südtirol.

Fly to Venice and continue north: Venice Marco Polo Airport is an ideal starting point for your journey to Brixen Südtirol.

Fly to Verona and continue north: Verona-Villafranca Airport is an ideal starting point for your journey to Brixen Südtirol.

Two peaks, one great sense of freedom. The Gitschberg Jochtal cable cars open up a wide summer panorama for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers.

Two peaks, one great sense of freedom. The Gitschberg Jochtal cable cars open up a wide summer panorama for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers.

Brixen's local mountain in summer. The Plose cable car takes you high up – to hiking trails, bike paths and a Dolomites view that alone makes the ride worthwhile.