Summer 2016
ALPE
Alpe di Siusi Magazine
CASTELROTTO · SIUSI ALLO SCILIAR · FIÈ ALLO SCILIAR · ALPE DI SIUSI · TIRES AL CATINACCIO
Peter Fill
There’s nowhere like home
Noble grapes
Wines with character
Tradition
Church Day in San Vigilio
South Tyrol
welcomes you.
www.suedtirol.info
Photo: TV Kastelruth/Helmuth Rier
Editorial & Contents
Dear guests!
Page 4
The Berglertafel
in Tires al Catinaccio
Page 6
Church Day in San Vigilio
Action, adventure, Alpine living: whether hiking,
climbing, running and biking, paragliding, swimming, enjoying a typical snack or taking a relaxing hay
bath, in the Alpe di Siusi holiday area holiday ideas
are endless.
Taking the spotlight this issue, we see Kitzbühel
champion and downhill World-Cup winner Peter Fill.
The skiing sensation talks to us about his daily training routine in the Alpe di Siusi holiday area and reveals the source of his energy. From love of sport to
stylish creativity, our path leads on to a meeting with
the Erlacher brothers who have made a name for
themselves in the golf and leisurewear industry with
their label, Chervò.
Church beadle Max tells us all about the legends
and myths surrounding the curiously-situated little
church of San Vigilio. The Church Day is celebrated
in style by the whole village with a high Mass and a
procession followed, naturally, by rousing music and
celebratory Saint’s Day Krapfen.
It’s not just the refreshing summery cocktail Hugo
that offers pleasure at its most pure; a glass of fine
wine is also in store. In Wines with Character, we
will be introducing you to six winemakers from the
area of Fiè allo Sciliar who share a common goal:
the production of authentic wines. The Lunger family also share the bounty from their garden at the
Monte Cavone Mountain Hut, where both the views
and the nettle omelette are legendary. The Stangler
Farm is committed to principles of simplicity at their
Buschenschank tavern, where the traditional merges
with the contemporary in a departure from cliché.
Page 8
Interview to San Vigilio
beadle, Max Plunger
Page 12
Peter Fill recharges
his batteries at home
Page 16
On the Monte Cavone
Page 22
ALPE wishes to be your daily guide through your Alpe
di Siusi holidays. Apart from important information
regarding public services and interesting events, it gives much advice regarding the best restaurants, inns
and clubs as well as many attractive shopping possibilities in the villages of the plateau and its surrounding areas. This magazine also contains the highlights
in our events calendar. Should you decide to participate, your holiday album will be full of unforgettable
happy moments.
We wish you a happy and relaxing holiday of wellness
und unforgettable moments.
Manfred and Peter Erlacher:
Italian Style with Siusi Heart
Page 28
Summer Drink Hugo
Page 30
Wines with Character:
Fiè allo Sciliar Vineyards
Page 36
Departure from Tradition
at the Stangler Farm
Page 42
10 places to visit
Page 44
Highlights Summer ’16
Page 48
Winter Preview ’16/’17
Eduard Tröbinger Scherlin – President
Page 50
for Alpe di Siusi Marketing and the Tourist
Offices of Castelrotto, Siusi allo Sciliar, Fiè allo
Sciliar, Alpe di Siusi and Tires al Catinaccio.
Around & About
Sommer
Summer | ALPE 3
The Wishing Table
Text: Katja Sanin
Photo: SAM/Helmuth Rier
4 ALPE | Summer
Every year in July, 170 guests are invited to the Berglertafel
mountaineers’ banquet at the Proa Meadow in Tires just above the
Bagni di Lavina Bianca, where a long, elegant table is set out facing the
Catinaccio Mountain. The participants all sit to one side of the table
so as to savour the gourmand specialities while looking out over the
mesmerising play of light as the Catinaccio glows red at sunset.
Summer | ALPE 5
The ceremonial procession
into the church is accompanied
by prayer and music.
Church Day
in San Vigilio
On the banks of a river valley, surrounded by woodland, lies a jewel
of architecture - the quaint little church of San Vigilio of Castelrotto.
T
Text: Rosa Maria Erlacher
Photo: Helmuth Rier
6 ALPE | Summer
“The real festival”, says Anton, farmer from the
Simmele Müller Farm, “is actually St. Vigilius’ Day
on the 26th of June”. But that was long ago, in the
days when religious festivals took precedence over
work. Times change though, and with them, customs and traditions. Over time, haymaking and
the work in the mountain pastures became more
important for the farmers than celebrating the patron saint on a work day, and the priest brought
the Saint’s day forward to the second Sunday after
Easter, the day of the Diocese Patrons and the
saints to whom the bells in the church tower are
consecrated, St. Cassian and St. Vigilius.
High Mass and Procession. And what a procession! All three bells ring out as one when a section
of the Siusi allo Sciliar band, mainly made up of
musicians from San Vigilio (the Pfilgener Musicians
as they are known locally), strike up at the entrance to the church. Headed by the cross-bearer »
Summer | ALPE 7
The Cult Site in the Sciliar Shadow
Max Plunger from the Malenger Mill is the beadle of the San Vigilio Church,
and knows all of its stories like the back of his hand.
Max, the church
consecrated to St. Vigilius,
is situated in a particularly
unusual spot, hidden
in a woody hollow beside
the Freddo River.
Yes, we imagine that at one
time it was the site of a preChristian cult site. Today there
is still a spring just beside the
church and just a few hundred
metres up, at the Rungger Egg,
a sacrificial site has been discovered. The spring could have
served for ritual ablutions.
Is the spring still in use today?
No, it doesn’t flow all year
round. It appears a long time
after the snow has melted,
8 ALPE | Summer
normally around St. Vigilius’
Day towards the end of June,
and runs dry again shortly
afterwards.
The church lies at
the foot of a massive
landslide. Where did the
landslide come from?
From the Alpe di Siusi. According to dating analysis of a tree
trunk, it probably happened
around the mid-13th century.
The San Vigilio Church was
first referenced in a letter of
indulgence in 1353, which
would lead to the question of
whether the church withstood
the landslide or if it was built
at a later date.
What do we know about this
landslide?
There is no scientific evidence,
but many legends speak of it.
One, for example, tells of a
large city which extended out
from Siusi to above San Valentino. A beggar was in search of
lodgings, and nobody would
open their doors to him. Only
when he had reached a farm
above San Valentino did a farming family offer him a ladleful
of water. In a fit of rage, he
flung the water out of the
window, and in that instant the
large, majestic city was flooded.
But the San Vigilio
Church remained?
According to legend, yes. St.
Vigilius raised his crook in front
of the church, and the river of
debris and detritus stopped in
its tracks. The church was
damaged but not destroyed
completely, and was renovated
in the 15th century.
In this mystical cult site…
Yes, it is quite mystical. It is
directly in the line of the Sciliar
Shadow between the Punta Santner Peak and the Rungger Egg.
What do you mean
by the Sciliar shadow?
The Sciliar shadow is a local phenomenon: When the winter sun
is at its lowest, it disappears
Max from the Malenger Mill
is the beadle of the San Vigilio
Church and knows all of its
sagas and myths.
intermittently behind the large peak
of the Sciliar, today known as the
Santner Peak, and the area at the
foot of the mountains is completely
overshadowed. The widest shadow is
on the 21st of December, winter solstice, when the sun reaches its
lowest point.
When does this
phenomenon begin?
This is particularly interesting. On
the 23rd of September, when day and
night are the same length, the sunlight hits the Santner Peak first, creating a narrow shadow which leads,
straight as a die, over the tower of
the San Vigilio Church towards Rungger Egg. The last shadow of the
Santner Peak appears on March 21st,
which is, astronomically speaking,
the first day of spring.
at the front of the procession and the church flag,
the Schützen rifle troop delegates from Siusi and
Castelrotto and the fire brigade from Siusi march
into the church bearing their flags, followed by the
Siusi church choir and the many worshippers from
all around the region. The celebratory Mass and the
procession which follows are accompanied by the
church choir and a wind ensemble. During the procession over streets and field, the Simmele Müller
farmer tells me, the group reads a passage from
the Gospel at four altars situated at the Kranebitt
Farm, the Kompedell Farm, the wayside shrine at
the Rungghof Hotel, and lastly, in the church.
An unusual church. Not even Anton is sure why
this unusual spot, in a woody valley on the banks »
What can we make of this?
That the choice of this location as a
cult site was no mere chance, but followed precise observations, and that
the Santner Peak was in the remote
past a sundial. That would also
explain why the San Vigilio church is
situated in such an unusual spot.
That seems plausible.
Is there any other evidence
of prehistoric cult rituals?
Yes. There is an image of a salvan, a
wild man, in one of the corners of
the church. This would have been
depicted to ward off the spirits and
demons which were so feared in
pagan times.
Is the church open to visitors?
The church is only open for church
services. You can see inside it from
one of the windows, though. We
have just recently chopped down
some trees surrounding the church
and built a path around it. Trail no. 7
from Siusi will take you to the church
- it’s well worth stopping off to take
a look at it.
The whole village joins in
the Saint’s Day festivities.
Summer | ALPE 9
by the first settlers. What we do know is that the
San Vigilio church was first built in 1353. Legend
tells that it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt in late Gothic style in the 15th
century thanks to the donations of a generous benefactor. The 1878 winged altar is well worth a look,
as are the lancet windows and doors, the Lords
of Wolkenstein and Court of Renon coats of arms
and the image of a “Wild Man” depicted in one of
the corners. As church beadle, the farmer from the
Malenger Farm on the other side of the valley is custodian of the key. The corn mill of his farm dates
back 500-years and is still in use to this day.
of the Freddo River, was chosen for the church. Given that there is a spring just in front of the church,
and archaeologists have discovered the remains
of a sacrificial site not far above the church, it may
well have been a cult site used for ritual ablutions
Old traditions live
on in the church.
10 ALPE | Summer
Parish fair. Accompanied by the band, the churchgoers head for the nearby Örtl Farm after Mass
for the festive part of the celebrations, with lively
music, animated chat, food and drink and celebratory Saint’s Day Krapfen. “We Pfilgeners cherish our
church”, a farmer’s wife tells me. Masses, memorial services and weddings are often held here, and
the Rorate Advent Mass is a particularly festive occasion. Around 20 years ago, the church was given
a new roof of larch shingles and was de-humidified
and repainted. «
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Your real estate agency
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Immobilien · Immobiliare · Real estate
Via O. v. Wolkenstein 14/1
I-39040 CASTELROTTO (BZ)
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T. +39 0471 707248
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Office hours:
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+39 348 3832788
12 ALPE | Summer
2016 has been a phenomenal
year for Peter Fill. He gathers
his energy at home in Castelrotto.
There’s nowhere
like home
This year, Peter Fill has not only triumphed in the Kitzbühel Streif, the
most challenging ski race in the world, but has also won the overall title in
the downhill World Cup. He finds the peace and mental strength for his
extraordinary achievements at home, training in the mountains that he loves.
Peter Fill with his
two skiing trophies:
the Crystal Globe
and the Kitzbühel
Chamois.
P
Peter Fill doesn’t get the chance to spend much
time at home; that’s maybe why he spends the
time that he does have here so intensively. In 1999,
Peter Fill, not 18 years old at the time, took the
gold in all 4 skiing disciplines at the Italian Junior
Championships. His World Cup debut followed in
2002, and since then the skier from Castelrotto
has been travelling the length and breadth of the
globe. Two years ago his son Leon was born, he got
married, built a house in his hometown, and went
on to have the season of his life. Time and again he
reached top ranks, closing with a coup on the legendary Streif. As the wild conditions on the Hahnenkamm slope threw out the other top favourites, Peter Fill hurtled to the lead in a breakneck
race towards victory. An enormous triumph which
he went on to top in March, as the first Italian to
win the crystal globe in the downhill World Cup. »
Text: Rosa Maria Erlacher
Photo: Helmuth Rier
Summer | ALPE 13
Tips from Peter Fill
Mountain bike
Racing bike
Running
Hiking
Laurin Hut:
Castelrotto > Tiosels > Passo
Pinei > Bulla > Monte Piz > Panorama > Laurin Hut > Spitzbühl >
San Valentino > Castelrotto
San Valentino > Castelrotto
> Passo Pinei > Roncadizza
> Ponte Gardena > Chiusa
> Val Gardena > Passo Pinei
> Castelrotto > San Valentino
Laranza Loop Route:
Telfen > Laranza Forest > King’s
Vantage Point > Telfen
Sciliar Tour:
Compaccio > Panorama
> Forcella dei Denti di Terrarossa
> Alpe di Tires > Sciliar > Monte
Petz > Tourist trail > Saltner Hut
Tschapit > Compaccio
The Milk Roas:
Compaccio > Panorama > Rosa
Alpina Hut > Molignon Hut
> Saltria > Rauch Hut > Hotel
Ritsch > Gostner Hut
> Compaccio
Laghetto di Fiè Lake Trail:
Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
valley station > Tschurtsch Meadows > Laghetto di Fiè Lake >
Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
Alpe di Siusi Half-Marathon:
Compaccio > Hotel Icaro
> Ortisei Cable Car mountain
station > Hotel Ritsch
> Rauch Hut > Rosa Alpina Hut
> Panorama > Laurin Hut
> Compaccio
Home again. I meet Peter at his home. He’s just
back from South Korea, and the jetlag has yet to
wear off. He’s glowing with joy, nonetheless, and it’s
not hard to see how happy he is to be home with
his family. He shows me the wonderful views over
the Dolomite Mountains, the Sciliar with the jagged
14 ALPE | Summer
pinnacles of the Santner and the Euringer, and the
snow-blanketed peaks of the Denti di Terra Rossa
with the Spitzbühl beyond, at the outer reaches,
the Alpe di Siusi at their foot. “When I’m not racing
or training with the team, I follow my daily workout training program at home,” says Peter, showing
The successful ski racer hones
his physical and mental energy
in the countryside.
me a fully-equipped training studio with strengthtraining machines of all and every kind. He begins
every day with intensive strength training exercises
under the guidance of his personal trainer.
nearby Laranza Forest and runs a loop-route in the
shade of the pines, where the uneven wood trails
provide perfect coordination and balance training
conditions.
Daily Training Regime. Peter draws his inner
peace, his steady serenity, his mental strength,
his reflexes and stamina from the nature and the
countryside around him, in a land which seems
to have been created with endurance training in
mind. The Alpe di Siusi lies at an elevation of between 1,800 and 2,300m, optimal for high-altitude
training; in winter, men’s cross-country teams
from all over the world come here to train, while
in summer, the plateau, which offers 180km of running trails distributed over 20 trails in a variety of
lengths and difficulties, is a favoured destination
for international long-distance runners.
Rest and Relaxation. The 33 year-old athlete is a
bit of an all-rounder, and counts football, golf, motorcycling, hiking and climbing amongst his hobbies. “I can just switch off and have fun when I play
a game of football with my friends or a round of
golf with my dad,” he says. With the 18-hole San Vigilio golf course situated just under Siusi, the location also fits in perfectly with his training sessions.
But Peter is never more enthusiastic than when he
talks of his climbing expeditions and hiking tours.
He’s conquered all the classic climbing tours and
ascents in the area: the Punta Santner, the Monte
Castello Ridge, the Sasso Piatto Via Ferrata routes,
the Santner Pass. And he loves heading out in the
early morning darkness to enjoy the first rays of
the morning sun at the summit cross of the Sciliar.
“I love having this Running Park right on my doorstep”, adds Peter. Here, he can enjoy some down-
time with his family, and then head out of the door
on a cycling trip to Gardena and the Isarco Valley,
tackling narrow passes and country roads on a series of ups and downs that would bring out a sweat
in the best of athletes. Or, alternatively, he takes to
his feet across the sweetly scented hayfields to the
“Hiking and climbing; that’s what real fun and relaxation is all about,” he enthuses. That’s when he
clears his mind, and revels in the stillness of the
mountains, the challenges and the power of nature. And that’s when he draws renewed energy,
in body and in soul. «
Peter Fill and his cousin
Denise Karbon are both World
Champions: She triumphed in
the 2007/2008 Giant Slalom,
while he is the 2015/2016
Downhill World Cup
champion.
Summer | ALPE 15
Josef and Bernadette Lunger
put heart and soul into looking
after their hiking guests, who always
look forward to stopping off here.
On the Monte Cavone
The Monte Cavone Hut between Fiè allo Sciliar and Tires al Catinaccio
has been run by the same family for three generations. It is one
of the many spots shrouded in myth and legend in the Alpe di Siusi
holiday area, and is a wonderful destination for a day out.
B
Text: Katja Sanin
Photo: Helmuth Rier
16 ALPE | Summer
Between a land and its people, there is a mysterious
affinity, an unseen link that breathes life into the
legends and sagas which mankind has told since
time immemorial. Their origins are a mystery, and
it is fascinating to see how the demons of nature
and the sense of being at their mercy have worked
their way into our consciousness as friendly and
helpful – or wicked – witches, mountain maidens,
fiends or dwarves. At the Monte Cavone, legend
tells of a “Good Old Man”, who would remind the
farmers of the area, in no uncertain terms, when
it was time to start ploughing the fields. In this
particular legend, we can see the shadow of a benevolent, pre-Christian god of fertility to whom
the farming population would offer prayers and
sacrifices. Who knows if this was the same “Good
Old Man” who whispered down to where Josef
Lunger stood, at these heights of 1,737m, calling
him to plant a herb garden? Josef and his wife Bernadette run the hut together with their two sons
Michael and Georg, just as Josef did before them
together with his own parents, Michael and Josefa.
During the summer, all three generations worked
together over the years until autumn 2015, when
Michl Prentner, as Josef’s father was known locally,
passed away and his wife, known as Seffa, who had
spent the last few years with him in the valley, handed the kitchen sceptre to her daughter-in-law
Bernadette. And now, slowly but surely, the third
generation is taking the reins.
»
Summer | ALPE 17
18 ALPE | Summer
Fresh and prepared
with love: The climb up
to the Monte Cavone
is well-rewarded with all
manner of tasty delicacies.
History and family history. The Völsegg peak
above the Monte Cavone is known as the “Sacred
Mountain” and, although the facts remain unconfirmed, it is believed that it was at one point a sacrificial site. Günther Niederwanger, archaeologist
specialising in the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age,
around 9600 to 4500 B.C.) in the Dolomite region,
unearthed several finds here; the most noteworthy discoveries of the 1980’s excavations included
an arrowhead and some decorated shards. Most
probably, when Stone-Age herders took the goats
or sheep up to the mountains in early summer and
brought them back down in autumn, they would
have offered a part of their flocks, crops or fruit to
a deity. The Monte Cavone has always been a favoured pasture. “It doesn’t happen anymore, but
in the past around 250 sheep would graze at the
Monte Cavone in May. Even as far back as 1900,
there was a hut for woodworkers and shepherds,”
recalls Josefa Lunger. A number of families from
Tires al Catinaccio lived at the Monte Cavone off
and on until the start of the 1950’s when the Lunger family exchanged a grazing pasture of the
Messner Farm with the Municipality of Tires, and
the Monte Cavone passed into the hands of their
family. Michl and Josefa first began running it in
summer 1955. For the first three years they carried
everything up on their own backs, and then with
the help of a mule. In Easter 1965, Michael Lunger and his wife drove to the Monte Cavone for
the first time in an off-road Steyr-Puch Haflinger.
The family have opted to keep the five rooms of
the Monte Cavone simple in style, and to this day
they are lit by candle and furnished with washbasins in place of lightbulbs and taps. “We got running water at the Monte Cavone Hut for the first
time on the 17th July 1970,” says Josefa Lunger. With
the boom in tourism in the Dolomite region in the
70’s, there were plans for a chairlift from Bagni di
Lavina Bianca up to the Monte Cavone, but Michl
Prentner argued against the proposal. Fortunately,
in hindsight; Hosts aside, even today the Monte
Cavone can only be accessed on foot, and when
you arrive in this idyllic spot surrounded by larch
woods at the end of your walk you can relax in utter peace as you enjoy the spectacular views over
the Catinaccio.
At One with Nature. It seems as though time
stands still at the Monte Cavone, in this rustic
world where life moves at a slower pace. The
hut is unassuming in style: orders are taken
down on a notepad and everything, down to the
house speciality of nettle omelette, is cooked in
a wood-fired oven. Josef and Bernadette live a
lifestyle of bygone days, in times when hunters
and foragers would roam and forage in search
of wood, mushrooms and berries. Once the
guests have been fed and watered, Bernadette
enjoys heading out with her husband in search
of wild herbs and fresh berries. In the kitchen,
she and their son Michl create mouth-watering »
Hiking trails to
the Monte Cavone
From the Bagni di Lavina Bianca
to the Monte Cavone Mountain
Hut and the Völsegg Summit
Take trail 4A from Bagni di Lavina
Bianca to the Wuhnleger Lake and
further on to the Monte Cavone Hut.
Trail will lead you from the hut
to the Völsegg Summit.
Walking time: Around 1.5 hours
Difficulty level: Easy
From the Laghetto di Fiè Lake
to the Monte Cavone Hut
Take trail 1 from the Laghetto
di Fiè Lake towards the Tuff Hut
and the Hofer Hut, and then
follow trails 7 and 7B to the
Monte Cavone Hut.
Walking time: Around 3,5 hours
Difficulty level: Medium
Loop trail to the Monte
Cavone with start
at Schönblick Restaurant
Take trail 6 from Schönblick
Restaurant to Völsegg and then
follow trail 4B to the Wuhnleger
Lake, where trails 4 and 4A will lead
you to the Monte Cavone. The
return trip follows trails 4 and 7A
to the Schönblick Restaurant.
Walking time: Around 3 hours
Difficulty level: Medium
Summer | ALPE 19
dishes using everything that nature and the
herb and vegetable garden provide.
In the evenings, everybody sits down together
to sort and wash the berries, make jam, and
clean the mushrooms, nettles and goosefoot
for the following day. There is a clear division of
labour here at the Monte Cavone: Bernadette is
the chef in the kitchen, Josef works the garden,
Michael makes the desserts and Georg and his
The house speciality:
nettle omelette.
wife Barbara take care of the guests. “The Monte
Cavone is open to the public from Easter to AllSaints,” says Josef, as he shows me the tiny radish seeds which he harvests from the plants in
autumn, dries and sorts together with Bernadette in winter, and replants in the vegetable
garden in spring, along with lettuce, cress, arugula, sorrel, beetroot, leeks, celery, Swiss chard
and parsley. The garden behind the house is a
feast for the eyes, not to mention Josef’s pride
and joy. Every morning, he spends two hours watering the plants after milking the cows for the
Monte Cavone butter and curd cheese; up here,
even the Speck and Kaminwurst (dried, smoked
sausage) are salted and cured by the Lunger family over Christmas.
20 ALPE | Summer
Hiking Tips. You can get to the Monte Cavone from
the Fiè side and from the Tires side: From the Laghetto di Fiè Lake, the 3.5 hour walk takes you past
the Tuff Hut and the Hofer Hut below the Croda
del Maglio along trails 7 and 7B. From the Bagni di
Lavina Bianca, passing the Wuhnleger, it takes 1.5
hours. In the small Wuhnleger Lake, the Catinaccio
Peaks and the Vajolet Towers are mirrored. From
here, you can choose between the steep forest road
and the somewhat less steep walking trail. The walking trail is slightly longer, but the countryside is
more beautiful and you can always find a pleasant
spot to stop off for a break en-route, with spectacular views over the surrounding mountains and
the Tires Valley. Setting of from the Schönblick
Restaurant, a beautiful loop-trail (around 3 hours)
will take you past Völsegg and the Wuhnleger Lake
up to the Monte Cavone. The most difficult of all the
routes to the Monte Cavone is a 5.5 hour uphill walk
and 1 hour downhill, crossing the Croda del Maglio
ridge. The set-off point for this walk is the car park
at the Bagni di Lavina Bianca near Tires. The ascent
takes you up through the steep Gola dell’Orsara to
the Sella del Cavaccio (2,070m) on trail no. 2. When
you’re on the ridge, sure-footedness and a head for
heights are an absolute must. Then follow trail no.
9 in the direction of Croda del Maglio–Monte Cavone. The varied climb, boasting incredible views
and secured with steel cables, leads partly in front
of and partly behind the mountain peaks of the
Cima di Mezzodì, Monte Nicola and the Croda del
Maglio towards the Monte Cavone Hut.
For untiring mountain climbers, a 20-minute hike
also leads from the hut to the nearby Völsegg
Peak (1,834m). The peak consists of two rock spurs,
where you can admire the far-reaching views over
the Brenta, the glaciers of the Adamello, the Ortler Massif, the Venosta Alps, the Breonie Alps, the
Catinaccio, the Latemar, the Corno Nero and the
Corno Bianco Mountains. The summit cross was removed by the Alpine Volunteers of Tires and Aica
di Fiè and works on the foundations began. In early
1997, 15 people lugged 1,200 kilos of cement, 200
litres of water and iron poles up from the Monte
Cavone Hut to the Völsegg Peak, where the new
summit cross, made from larch and donated by the
town of Tires, was erected. Unfortunately, it did not
remain there for long: It was destroyed by a storm
shortly afterwards, and was replaced in 2003. «
Photo: SAM/Laurin Moser
The fascinating
landscape of the Dolomites
is particularly suggestive
thanks to the strange rock
formations and the
unmistakeable colours.
The myth of the Dolomites
In South Tyrolean extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner‘s words, they are “the most
beautiful mountains in the world“. The incomparable beauty of the Dolomites is widely
renowned and for many they are synonymous with excellence in summer holidays.
The mountains of the Dolomites
can be thought of as a fossilised coral reef arching up into the sky in
spectacular fashion. Thanks to their
monumental beauty as well as their
geological and geomorphologic significance, the so-called Pale Mountains were awarded UNESCO World
Heritage status in 2009. Divided into
nine areas and forming part of the
Sciliar-Catinaccio Natural Park, the
Euringer peaks, stands out as one of
the signature landmarks of South
Tyrol. The Catinaccio massif, with its
numerous peaks, is also known far
beyond the country’s borders. The
most striking part of the massif is the
Catinaccio D’Antermoia peak, which
stands at a height of 3,002 metres.
The natural park also includes the
mountain forests around Siusi, Fiè
and Tires, and the Ciamin Valley. «
Dolomites are considered one of the
most beautiful natural landscapes in
the world.
Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park:
South Tyrol’s oldest natural reserve,
a 7,291-hectare park, is situated in the
western Dolomites and was founded
in 1974. The Sciliar is an impressive
mountain range whose emblematic
outline, that includes the Santner and
Bruneck
Brunico
Südtirol
Brixen
Bressanone
Meran
Merano
Lienz
Toblach
Dobbiaco
St. Vigil
S. Vigilio
5
St. Ulrich
Kastelruth Ortisei
Castelrotto
Seis am Schlern
Seiser Alm
Siusi allo Sciliar
Alpe di Siusi
Völs am Schlern
Dolomites
World Heritage
UNESCO
1
Pelmo, Croda da Lago
2 Marmolada
3 Pale San Martino, San Lucano
Dolomiti Bellunesi, Vette Feltrine
4 Friulian and d’Oltre Piave Dolomites
6
Auronzo
Corvara
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Fiè allo Sciliar
Bozen
Bolzano
Tiers/Tires
7
Canazei
2
8
Alleghe
Pieve
di Cadore
1
4
Zoldo
Cavalese
Agordo
3
Longarone
Cimolais
Pordenone
Madonna
di Campiglio
Fiera di
Primiero
9
Trento
Belluno
Udine
Belluno
Feltre
Trentino
Ampezzo
Pordenone
5 Northern Dolomites
6 Puez-Odle
7 Sciliar Catinaccio, Latemar
8 Bletterbach
9 Brenta Dolomites
Summer | ALPE 21
An unlikely pair of brothers: Manfred (right)
and Peter (to the left of the picture) Erlacher.
Italian style
with a Siusi Heart
“Chic-Tech” is the word of the day, and it encompasses all that is comfortable, casual
and elegant. With the “Chervò” label, Manfred and Peter Erlacher, brothers from Siusi,
have made a name for themselves in the golf and casual clothing sector the world over..
M
Manfred and Peter Erlacher are as different as any
brothers could be. While Manfred could easily pass
for a sailor, Peter has the distinct look of an English
squire. The Captain and the Squire are, respectively manager and designer. And the one thing
that they do have in common is golf. In Chervò
Golf & Sportswear, the brothers have found their
life’s passion, and have worked their way tenaciously to the top of the sector.
Text: Elisabeth Augustin
Photo: Helmuth Rier
22 ALPE | Summer
The Erlacher brothers’ parents ran a hairdressing
salon in Siusi allo Sciliar, and always encouraged
their sons to travel. Manfred, born in 1947, studied Economics in Florence while Peter, five years
younger, attended a sports academy in Rome. After he graduated, Manfred managed concrete and
ballast works together with a partner while Peter
made a name for himself as trainer of the Italian
Ski Team. In 1980 Peter began to import sports
clothing from America and Switzerland to Italy,
taking the first step into a difficult sector. His elder brother made the move with him – Creativity
needs a good head for business at its side. Both
brothers have the “do-it-yourself” gene and it was
not long before they began to produce their own
line of socks in 1982, with the label “Caribou”, followed shortly afterwards by other outdoor and ski
clothing. Peter’s sports apparel line revolutionised the business; a blend of outstanding technical
properties with casual, fashionable style, it stood
out from the other labels. And from one day to the
next, exclusive designs and new cuts were gliding
over the slopes. All very chic and très cool.
From Caribou to Chervò. When the Erlachers discovered that the Caribou label was already under
trademark in the US, they decided to change the
name to “Chervò”, a play on the Italian “cervo”
(deer). After many years of working together with
Ellesse, clothing manufacturer in Perugia, the
Erlachers made the move from ski-clothing to golf
and casual apparel at the beginning of the 1990s,
thus setting their path. The Erlacher brothers wanted to revolutionise the world of golf clothing, make
a break with the all-prevailing dress code of the time
and win over the market with a style which would
blend Italian panache with innovative fabrics.
“We have developed numerous innovative fabrics
with Chervò and trademarked them with the company name” explains Peter Erlacher. “Chervò-Tex”
is a label which guarantees that clothing has been
produced using all-weather fabrics. “In order to
offer quality clothing with the maximum of wearcomfort, we have always been committed to research and development to create materials and
fabrics which can stand up to the harshest of weather conditions, have been tested by golf pros on
the course and undergone lab tests,” says Manfred.
Peter, the creative member of the enterprise, is
not only responsible for innovative design, but also
takes meticulous care in choosing these materials. »
Summer | ALPE 23
24 ALPE | Summer
The headquarters of the world-famous
golf and leisurewear company are
in Costermano on Lake Garda,
where the heart of Chervò beats.
Manfred describes Chervò’s success as a “significant goal. Through untiring work and state-of-theart technological advances, we have created distinctive chic-tech clothing and ensured the label’s
presence on golf courses the world over.”
In front of the 2-hectare company premises in
Costermano, an oversize golf ball can be seen for
miles around; it has long been THE address for
golfers. Chervò Golf & Sportswear’s operational
headquarters are near Lake Garda, 25km northwest of Verona and around a 1.5 hour drive from
Bolzano. “This was the best possible location for
our company,” says Manfred. The fiscal office remains, like the brothers’ hearts, in Siusi allo Sciliar. The brothers have been commuting between
homes at the lake and in the Dolomites for years
now, inhabiting two completely different worlds.
At home in Siusi, they are both passionate skiers
and enjoy the slopes of the Alpe di Siusi in winter
and the mountains and the challenging golf course
at the foot of the Sciliar in summer. At the lake, on
the other hand, they relish the southern climate,
the Mediterranean style and, last but not least, the
company that is so important to them.
At the company headquarters, the brothers’ offices are at the two opposite ends of the building,
“so we can cool off at a distance,” jokes Manfred.
Their roles in the company are clearly divided, but
all big decisions are taken together and in consultation with their top-level management. Manfred
might be in the middle of his morning rounds to
see what’s going on in the various departments,
while Peter can be found in his office, surrounded
by cushions in a variety of fabrics and designs, in
the graphics department.
Peter has always been the visionary. He says
that his radar is over-tuned at times: “It’s not always a good thing when decisions are taken quickly,” he says. And so, the brothers don’t always see
eye to eye. Manfred is responsible for the economic side of things - Peter says that he has a hard
shell but a soft heart. Either way, the financial success of the company is, ultimately, in Manfred‘s
hands. The creative mind of Peter emphasises that
over the years, it’s no easy task to create the new,
time after time. And that takes no small amount
of nerve either. “There are so many doubts where
creativity is concerned,” says Peter. “You always
have to look at what has already been done, and
finding something new is a constant challenge.”
Creativity certainly brings colour and joy to his life.
A good understanding of fabrics is fundamental,
however, as is a bold approach to creativity, experience and specialised skills. “Our ultimate goal is
to blend the sporting functionality of the Chervò
collection with the trends of the moment, to create golf clothing which is both functional and stylish,” says Peter. “Naturally, we work in line with
fashion shifts and trends. We don’t want to swim
against the current. If you’re too out of synch with
the times, there’s a risk that nobody will understand you. It’s important to put our signature to
our line, so that the client can see the character
in our clothing, the character that distinguishes
Chervò from other labels.” Manfred says that working in the fashion industry is a mixed blessing;
“It’s too much stress. You always have to work on
four collections at once. But I do think it keeps you
young.”
“Chervò” now counts seven shops, plus the flagship store and an outlet at the factory premises
in Costermano. There are 17 employees in these
new shops, while 35 people are employed in the »
Summer | ALPE 25
MANFRED ERLACHER
PETER ERLACHER
tells us what these things mean to him …
tells us what these things mean to him …
Lake Garda ...
Relaxation, good food, golf.
Siusi allo Sciliar ...
Peace, beautiful area,
and golf again.
Mountains ...
My yearning.
Sea ...
Freedom, diving.
Golf ...
Good job, good sport,
my business.
“Made in Italy” ...
Creativity, good
design, quality…
Trends ...
You shouldn’t always
follow them blindly…
Green ...
On the golf course,
the last putt before
the hole.
Risk ...
Something that a
businessperson has to take,
but with a solid appraisal.
Jet Set ...
People who think
they’re important
(I’m not one of them).
Models ...
Male or female, they
are an important part
of what makes fashion
interesting. A hard job.
26 ALPE | Summer
Progress ...
For me it means keeping
your eye on the ball so you
don’t get stuck in a rut.
Lake Garda ...
Beautiful scenery.
Profit ...
Necessity of the job.
Siusi allo Sciliar ...
Homeland.
Sport ...
Challenge.
Profit ...
Guarantees a company’s
survival.
Mountains ...
Fascinating.
Motivation ...
Should never
be absent.
Sport ...
Should be a part
of everybody’s life
to some extent.
Motivation ...
Important. It’s the engine.
Homeland ...
The harbour of
every person.
Snow ...
Something special.
When it snows,
my heart rejoices.
Sea ...
Never-ending vastness.
Golf ...
Fun and games.
“Made in Italy” ...
Creativity.
Trends ...
Fleeting.
Green ...
Where the game
is played.
Risk ...
Breathtaking.
Sciliar ...
My muse. I see it every
day from my front door.
Allure.
Jet Set ...
Cliché.
Alpe di Siusi ...
Where I learnt to ski
and where I spend
a large part of my free
time in summer
and winter.
Progress ...
Indispensable.
Good fortune ...
Health, family and work,
all of which I love.
Models ...
Fragile
Homeland ...
Nest.
Snow ...
An element that
I wouldn’t want
to be without.
Sciliar ...
My parents always
pointed it out to
me from Siusi: the
Santner and the Mull.
Alpe di Siusi ...
Skiing and relaxation.
Good fortune ...
Welcome.
The avid golfers always
come back home
to Siusi allo Sciliar.
headquarters. The new collection is presented in the large showroom twice a year to
around 80 distributors from all around the
world – China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, the US, Russia and South Africa. When
the models advance across the showroom,
the wholesalers seated in the white chairs
decide which fashions are going to be setting the scene on the fairways and the leisure
scene next season. Chervò is present in over
30 countries around the world and a fixed
“big-name” with golf retailers. At the Chervò
headquarters in Garda, clothing lines are
managed, designed and distributed, while
production is divided between Italy, Portugal, Tunisia, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldavia.
„There are 65 million golfers around the
world,” says Manfred, “25 to 27 million of
them are in the USA. In Europe, around 4.5
million people play golf, and the strongholds
are England, Scotland, Ireland and Sweden.”
Golf is a sport, not a mere game for Manfred.
Of that there is no doubt. For Peter, on the
other hand, it’s a bit of both, and that is the
beauty of this leisure activity. This is a distinction which could be discussed ad infinitum on a round of golf or at the 19th hole.
Peter and Manfred have been playing golf
since the late 1980s. Manfred says that he
started too late to ever become a really good
player. But the fact remains that, for the
Erlacher brothers, a life without golf is unimaginable. One place where Manfred and
Peter can often be found is on the south
banks of Lake Garda. The Erlachers are also
partners of the San Vigilio Chervò Hotel
Spa & Resort in Pozzolengo, although they
are not involved in it to any great extent. It
was their innovations and experience which
were used for the concept together with the
renowned name of Chervò, to the mutual advantage of both. The elegant hotel, with a 36hole golf course, is set between the moraine
hills and is one of the most exclusive addresses on Lake Garda. Manfred is President of
the Golf Club. So the staunch Siusi man can
safely say, by now, that he has been accepted
as a local in his second home too. «
Summer | ALPE 27
28 ALPE | Summer
Five vintners,
one shared goal:
to produce
authentic wines.
Wines with
Character
From the mountain peaks to the vineyards
W
With 35 hectares of vineyards, the mountain community of Fiè has grown to be a small, but outstandingly sweet, winegrowing area over the last
few years. Five ambitious winegrowers - Markus
Prackwieser from the Gump Farm, Otmar Mair
from the Besserer Farm, Christoph and Andreas
Mock from the Wasserer Farm, Stephan Pramstrahler from the Grottner Farm and Patrick Planer from
the Prackfoler Farm – are making a name for themselves far beyond the confines of their land. For
a few years now, some of them have been bottling their own wine, which has been well-received
on the market. And to add to the merry band of
five, a sixth winegrower from the other bank of
the Isarco Valley has just joined the group: Florian
Unterthiner from the Ebner Farm in Campodazzo.
The lowest-lying point of Fiè is at 315m, way down
in the Isarco Valley. From here, the land stretches
ever-upwards to the peaks of the Sciliar at 2,653m.
Winegrowing looks back on a long tradition here
on the slopes of the Isarco Valley, in Novale di Presule, Novale di Fiè and Passo, at an altitude of 300650m, and it is here, nestled in the steeply sloping
vineyards, that the Fiè wineries are located. Sauvignon heads the list at 8 hectares, followed by Pinot »
Text: Herbert Taschler
Photo: Helmuth Rier
Summer | ALPE 29
Blanc at 6.5, Müller Thurgau (4 hectares), Kerner
(3.7 hectares), Gewürztraminer (2.6 hectares) and
Chardonnay and Silvaner, with 1 hectare apiece.
Pinot Noir heads the reds at just over 4 hectares
followed by Trollinger, at 2.
MARKUS PRACKWIESER’S
GUMP FARM
The best-known of the Fiè winemakers is Markus
Prackwieser from the Gump Farm. The vineyard is
located in Novale di Presule on the steep slopes
at the entrance to the Isarco Valley, at an altitude
of 350-550m. Markus produces Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Trollinger and Pinot Noir
on the five hectares of vineyard, with an incline of
50-70%. The young vintner took the vineyard over
from his father in 2000, and has been pressing his
own wine ever since. The wines from the Gump
Farm are acclaimed both nationally and internationally, and the Praesulis line – the name comes from
the nearby Prösels Castle – is particularly popular.
From the very outset, Markus Prackwieser aimed
to produce “Wine with character, wines that I myself can identify with one hundred percent”. The
successful vintner strives to balance tradition and
innovation and to offer his clients “exciting wines,
which say something about their origins and about
the winemaker”.
A WIDE RANGE
AT THE BESSERER FARM
At the Besserer Farm, in the immediate vicinity of
the Gump Farm, Otmar and Rosmarie Mair have
been producing their own wines since 1998 together with their sons Philipp and Hannes. From
30 ALPE | Summer
modest beginnings, the vineyard has increased
production to 40,000 bottles per year. On the four
hectares of steep slopes, the Mair family work with
untiring commitment to produce high quality, natural wines.
The unusual microclimate and the properties of
the soil here provide the perfect conditions for a
wine with character. All day long, the vineyards are
exposed to the Mediterranean climate from the
Bolzano valley basin, while at night they are aired
by the cool winds of the Isarco Valley. A wide variety of grapes are grown here: Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Kerner, Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Golden
Muscat and Chardonnay as well as Trollinger and
Zweigelt.
NEW LIFE AT THE
WASSERER FARM
The Wasserer Farm in Novale di Fiè has a long and
eventful history behind it. It dates back to 1366,
and was no longer farmed when the Mock family
from the Mumelter-Farm in Coste, Bolzano took it
over in 1996. Twin brothers Andreas and Christoph
took on the laborious task of renovating the old
walls and transforming them into a winery and tavern. Andreas is the cook, Christoph is the farmer and cellar master. His goal – to produce “decisive, beautiful wines” is mirrored in the design
and furnishings of the winery. “W” is central to
the theme: “W” for Wasserer, for Wine, for Wonderful cuisine and, last but not least, Wholesomeness. Since 2013, a Sauvignon and a St. Magdalener from the Coste parcels have been pressed at
the Wasserer Farm.
Proud of their wines:
(From left to right) Markus
Prackwieser (Gump Farm),
Otmar and Rosmarie Mair
(Besserer Farm), Christoph Mock
(Wasserer Farm), Katharina
Pramstrahler (Grottner Farm),
Patrick Planer (Prackfol Farm)
and Florian Unterthiner
(Ebner Farm).
THE GROTTNER – VINEYARD
WITH AWARD-WINNING
CUISINE
The somewhat higher-lying Grottner vineyard also
dates back to the 13th century. Stefan Pramstrahler,
restaurateur from Fiè and award-winning chef at
the Romantik Hotel Turm, purchased the farm a
few years ago, and transformed it into a historical gem. The old barrels are still housed in the
ancient vaulted cellar, as testimony to long-gone
days. Stefan Pramstrahler has been one of the Fiè
winemakers ever since, and on the new plots of »
Summer | ALPE 31
Superb wine grapes
thrive on the fertile
slopes leading all the way
up to the Isarco Valley.
Fiè allo Sciliar
Winegrowers
at a glance
Besserer Farm Vineyard
Otmar Mair
Novale di Presule, 10
phone +39 0471 601011
www.bessererhof.it
Ebner Vineyard
Florian Unterthiner
Campodazzo, 18
phone +39 0471 353 386
www.weingutebner.it
Grottner Farm Vineyard
Stefan Pramstrahler
Piazza della Chiesa, 9
phone +39 0471 725 014
www.hotelturm.it
Gump Farm Vineyard
Markus Prackwieser
Novale di Presule, 8
phone +39 0471 601 190
www.gumphof.it
Prackfol Farm Vineyard
Patrick Planer
Aica di Sotto, 10
phone +39 0471 601 532
www.prackfolerhof.it
Wasserer Farm Vineyard
Christoph Mock
Novale di Fiè, 21
phone +39 0471 724 114
www.wassererhof.com
the Grottner vineyard, he has been planting Sauvignon, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Pinot
Noir with great success, naming them with exotic
Latin names of birds: Sauvignon Bubo, Gewürztraminer Tetrix, Pinot Blanc Pica and the Pinot Noir
Corax. The Pramstrahler family have created a perfect merger of the 800 years of tradition at the
Grottner Farm with modern design and innovative
cellar techniques.
HOME-GROWN WINES
AT THE PRACKFOL FARM
Patrick Planer‘s Prackfoler Farm is located near
Aica di Fiè on the sunny side of the Tires Valley,
at an altitude of 600m, in a mild spot where fruit
and wine grapes thrive. Marked temperature differences between day and night, and the moraine
soil atop the Bolzano volcanic quartz porphyry,
provide optimal conditions for the top-quality wines which have been produced at the Prackfoler
Farm for generations. The Leita and Rachtl parcels
stretch over the steep slopes facing the southwest and enjoy the warm winds from the Bolzano
valley basin. Three hectares of Sauvignon, Trollinger and Pinot Noir are planted here and, since
2013, Patrick Planer has been bottling his own wine
under the vineyard’s own label of “Weinhof Prackfol”. They are available for purchase in the farm
32 ALPE | Summer
shop alongside home-made jams, elderflower and
raspberry cordials, herb cushions and lavender
pouches.
EBNER FARM VINEYARD
AND TAVERN
The Ebner Farm vineyard lies at the foot of the
Renon Mountain Plateau on a sunny ledge at 500m,
overlooking the Sciliar and Fiè. Florian and Brigitte
Unterthiner run the vineyard and the traditional
Buschenschank tavern with great commitment, treating guests to a home-made wine that is laden with
character and farmhouse cuisine with a sophisticated twist. The red varietals of Pinot Noir, Trollinger and Zweigelt grow on the warm, south-facing
volcanic slopes, while the whites - Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon
- thrive on the on the breezy south-east facing parcels, totalling 4.5 hectares, some growing on vines
of over 40 years old. Since the 2013 harvest, the
Ebner Farm has been bottling 20,000 bottles per
year, wines which are appreciated across the board
for their full-bodied character and length, juicy, minerality, elegance and inviting freshness. “Sustainability, quality and authenticity are not just qualities that we perceive. We live them first hand, and
are delighted to pass them on to our guests,” says
Florian Unterthiner with pleasure. «
n-project.com - mendinidesign
2.000
More than
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TASTING & RETAIL
Bolzano - Z. Prod. Cardano 5
Near to the motorway exit for Bolzano North - Tel. +39 0471 642106
ENOTECA WEINDIELE
Fiè - Via del paese 7 - Tel. +39 0471 724030
Hugo
Summer Drink
15 cl Prosecco
2 cl Lemon balm syrup
or elderflower syrup
Dash of mineral water
Mint leaves
Combine all ingredients
in a wine glass, add two
or three ice cubes and
stir gently.
So how did such a refreshing cocktail
come by such an old-fashioned name?
Well, pure chance, as it happens - and
it certainly hasn’t stood in the way of
success! In the 10 years since Roland
Gruber, barista from South Tyrol, first
set out to mix a light “ladies” cocktail,
the Hugo has shot to the heights of popularity – and not only with women.
The Hugo is a slightly alcoholic cocktail made with prosecco, lemon balm
or elderflower syrup, mineral water and
mint leaves.
Text: Barbara Pichler-Rier
Photo: Helmuth Rier
34 ALPE | Summer
HOTEL VILLA MADONNA
restaurant
...and enjoy your meals!
gluten & lactose-free
products available
Via Ibsen 29
39040 Siusi allo Sciliar (Bz)
tel. +39 0471 70 88 60
info@villamadonna.it
www.villamadonna.it
h o t e l
v i l l a
madonna
restaurant
& bar
Mountain and farm:
a breathtaking communion.
Departure from Tradition
at the Stangler Farm
A traditional South Tyrolean Buschenschank farm-tavern mirrors the rural traditions of the area.
What, then, if the farmer in question doesn’t conform to the image of a dyed-in-the-wool
South Tyrolean lifestyle? At the Stangler Farm in San Costantino in Fiè, the transformation from
summer-retreat to smallholding is an ongoing process, with masses of open space for experimenting
and new ideas. And where’s the journey leading? Well that story, as yet, remains to be written.
E
Text: Sabine Funk
Photo: Helmuth Rier
Ever since it first opened, the Stangler Farm in
San Costantino has been a hit with locals, especially for weddings, birthdays and special occasions. Set in an enviously idyllic spot at the foot of
the Sciliar Mountain the location itself is a crowdpuller, and the classic-minimalist design of the
barn-turned-bar and the inspired, progressive cuisine are no less appealing.
Cuisine and Culture. Heinrich Mayer Kaibitsch,
called Heiner, and his young family, who have just
welcomed their second daughter, have taken the
»
36 ALPE | Summer
Summer | ALPE 37
38 ALPE | Summer
Heiner and Clara Kaibitsch
are drawn to the simplicity
of the mountains.
“long road” back to the place where he spent practically half of his childhood. The Stangler Farm has
been in their family for over 100 years; over the
years, it has been run almost exclusively by the
family, who split their time between Bolzano and
San Costantino. While Heinrich was growing up,
he had no particular ambitions of an agricultural
bent, and it was only while studying journalism
and history in Vienna that he discovered cookery
and began to take an interest in the historical and
social dimensions of cuisine. Before he had even
graduated, Heiner had signed up for a year-long
course in Parma where he graduated as Master in
Food Culture at the University of Gastronomical
Sciences. Founded by the Slow Food organisation,
the course focussed on the cultural perception of
food and the production of quality foods rooted in
local culture. These highly intense – and intensive
– studies have made their mark in the style of the
Stangler Farm today.
After Heiner and his wife Clara, from Austria, had
spent time living and travelling around Europe,
the US and Africa, the time was ripe to settle in
the picturesque farm in San Costantino. It soon
became apparent that the flexibility of a Buschenschank style farm-tavern would allow for the most
sensible use of the land in terms of production
and preparation of food. The renovation of the
old barn was planned by an architect friend, and
the building was insulated with straw. And the result? A bright, spacious dining and events room
with a generously-sized kitchen area. In summer
2012, they catered for their first wedding and the
Buschenschank was thenceforth in full service, with
a regular events programme to boot. The Stangler
Farm also doubles up as a summer residence for a
number of contemporary artists, who display the
results of their works on-site.
The Stangler Farm cuisine is one of regional products, high-quality farm produce, and a healthy touch of fusion; and all without signing up
to the Slow Food movement. The Stangler Farm
conforms to no dogma regarding the upkeep of
culinary traditions. Tradition is a value to be “savoured” with care – who decides, at the end of the
day, when a tradition is “worth” upholding? Who
draws the boundaries? Heiner is not on a crusade
here at the Stangler Farm; it’s the diversity that
he loves, working on the farm, cooking and, at the
same time, challenging himself in terms of method and technique. He loves having the chance
to close the gap between home and work, an opportunity which the Stangler Farm has given him.
And the fact that, in his own words, “You can do
anything with a farm”. Heiner’s goal is, naturally,
to produce ever more food himself and to cook
whatever grows here. It’s irrelevant, on principle,
whether it’s traditional Knödel dumplings or Thai
curry on the menu; tradition and local values are
defined by the content, not the “packaging”.
Slow Food principles
reign supreme at
the Stangler Farm.
Authenticity, not facade. Tradition – but which?
And what does “authentic” really mean anyway?
The seemingly “traditional” is often nothing more »
Summer | ALPE 39
Hotel Città in Bolzano, to made-to-measure tables
from their own wood and discreetly retro minimalist stacking chairs. Even the bar counter has been
repurposed from the Hotel Città.
The Stangler Farm
departs from cliché in a
captivatingly idyllic location.
than a facade. At the Stangler Farm, there is no
trendy reinterpretation of Alpine style, as so many
people are doing today. The renovation of the barn
was designed to create a contemporary feel, foregoing the traditional checked curtains and farmstyle furniture, and the faceless mass-products of
gastro-furnishings or party tents. All the furniture
and decor has either been created by local hand
workers or bought second-hand. This blend gives
the whole space an urban-eclectic feel: From stylish 50’s-armchairs to the furniture from the old
Not everything is running like clockwork at the
Stangler Farm as yet, but there is a lot of space for
creative ideas and off-the-cuff interpretations, including a modern-style 2-floor house on wheels,
used as accommodation for artists in residence
which can be opened out and called into service
as a concert stage if required. The little house was
originally designed as a mobile sheep pen, which
the sheep studiously ignored. Heiner Kaibitsch is
not the kind of man who plans too far in advance,
which is probably the greatest of his blessings. “If
I had planned all the costs and calculations beforehand and carried out extensive research, it would
very probably never have got off the ground,” he
says.
“Province is not a place; it’s a state of mind”.
The culinary trademark of the Stangler Farm is the
blackcurrant, first planted on the farm by Heiner’s
grandmother. Since then, the orchard has become
home to over 6,000 plants. The focus of the farm
reaches out in all directions, from sheep rearing
to experiments with unusual agricultural produce
including artichokes or edible water plants. From
early summer to autumn, the Stangler Farm caters
for, and organises, family weekends and celebrations. Opening times are posted in facebook or on
the website. The events programme is still being
fine-tuned, but aperitif and film evenings already
been established for every Thursday in summer
and in June, the Stangler Farm will be hosting a
small music festival with funk music and a host of
DJ’s and bands in the line-up.
The Stangler Farm for the moment is still an experiment with an open-ended destination, and cannot yet claim a long history of success. However,
there’s certainly no law against curiosity and experimenting. Heiner, Clara and their two daughters
will never become a traditional Provincial farming
family. But is all this pigeon-holing helpful anyway?
A linen cross-stitch which hangs on the wall of the
guest area, says it all wonderfully: “Province is not
a place; it’s a state of mind“. «
40 ALPE | Summer
Foto: Brimi, Helmuth Rier
sh
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“Local, unique, authentic ...”
The new supermarket Coop in the heart of Castelrotto offers you a wide range of first quality products. In the specialities‘ corner
you will find unique culinary delights from local farmers, from biological origin and from fair trade. At the selling desk there is the
famous butcher Heinz of the renowned Butcher Shop Silbernagl offering you typical Speck from Castelrotto and Helga, the soul of the
Bakery and Confectionery Shop Burgauner, who will contribute with the “Schüttelbrot”. Why don‘t you come around?
Burgauner
BAKERY · CONFECTIONERY
MARKT
silbernagl
butcher’s
Food - Butcher - Bakery - Confectionery - Hardware - Gardening - Agriculture articles
Famiglia Cooperativa di Castelrotto · via Panider, 24 · phone 0471 706 330 · www.konsummarkt.com
Opening hours: From Monday to Saturday from 7.30 to 12.30 a.m. and from 3.00 to 7.00 p.m.
Summer | ALPE 41
10 places to visit in the
Alpe di Siusi holiday area ...
Historical town centre of Castelrotto
The character of the village of Castelrotto is shaped especially by the baroque
tower that can be seen from afar. However Castelrotto’s landmark is also
surrounded by an impressive classical parish church, architecturally interesting local
council offices, colourfully painted houses and a hill of porphyry, the so called Colle.
The best way to get a bird’s eye view of the village is to climb the 298 steps
of Castelrotto’s 82-metre high church tower. From here you have a stunning
view of Castelrotto and its surroundings.
Marinzen
The Marinzen Mountain Pasture is located at about 1,500m and is a popular hiking
destination in summer. The hiking trail leads past the valley station of the Marinzen lift,
at first through meadows then woodland up to the Marinzen Mountain Pasture.
Alternatively Marinzen can also be reached in a few minutes by chair lift.
There is a petting zoo at the mountain pasture for your children, an adventure
playground and a fish pond for fishing.
Duration of the hike is about 2 hours.
Nature park house Tires
The nature park house Sciliar-Catinaccio is located at the entrance to the Ciamin Valley. Here
you can get information about the nature park’s conservation area, its geology, flora and
fauna. It is situated in the former Steger sawmill, where a Venetian saw has been restored
and is once again fully operational. The sawmill and the living quarters of the master sawymiller have been conserved as evidence of traditional alpine craftsmanship and culture. The nature park house is open from 7 June to 15 October 2016, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 9.30am
to 12.30 noon and from 2.30pm to 6pm and also on Sundays in the summer months of July and
August. The old Venetian saw operates every Wednesday at 11.00am, 3.00pm and 4.30pm.
Oswald von Wolkenstein trail and Hauenstein Castle
Oswald von Wolkenstein lived high above Siusi allo Sciliar at Hauenstein Castle.
On the Oswald von Wolkenstein trail hikers can discover how the poet and knight
and his countrymen lived back in the 15th century. The adventure trail takes hikers
past Salego Castle and Hauenstein Castle and presents anecdotes from the times
of knights and damsels, their table manners and their town criers.
This discovery path informs and entertains at the same time; and not only children.
Duration of the hike is about 2 hours.
Königswarte
The scene from the Königswarte (King’s Vantage Point) with its box-seat view over the Isarco
Valley and the Renon plateau was once cherished by King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony.
On his sojourns to the Dolomites around 1900, the illustrious guest and Dolomites devotee stayed in Siusi allo Sciliar on several occasions, and from there he would often set out on
walks through the Laranza Forest. For the locals, the vantage point in the Laranza Forest soon
became known as the Königswarte, the King’s Vantage Point. The view that hikers will find here
is also royally good. Duration of the long loop tour of the Laranza ist about 2.5 hours.
42 ALPE | Summer
Sciliar and Monte Pez
Symbolic mountain of South Tyrol, meeting place of the Sciliar witches, petrified coral reef:
the Sciliar has many names. The Monte Pez (2,563m) is the highest peak of the Sciliar.
For thousands of years, at any time of the year or day, whether overcast or shrouded
in mist, in bright sunlight or in the twilight, the Sciliar captivates people. Several trails,
some many centuries old, lead to the Sciliar. Fiè allo Sciliar, Siusi, Tires al Catinaccio,
Castelrotto and the Alpe di Siusi (path for tourists) can be considered
as starting points for tours on the Sciliar.
Prösels Castle
Who was Leonhard of Fiè? And when was the last “witch” put on trial in Prösels Castle?
All those interested in our history will find answers to these questions on a guided
tour through the impressive castle complex. The collection of arms in the pillar hall
and the castle chapel of Saint Anna are highlights of a guided tour of Prösels Castle.
Prösels Castle is open for guided tours from 1 May to 31 October 2016.
Ciamin Valley
Ciamin Valley is a wild and romantic valley between the Sciliar and the Catinaccio.
The hike through the Ciamin Valley begins above San Cipriano and continues via the
Dosswiesen and the Schwarzer Lettn to the Erste Leger. It goes on to the source
of the Ciamin and changes within a few metres from a dry creek bed into a lively
mountain stream. The destination of the hike is the Rechter Leger, a beautiful vantage
point and rest area with a view of the Principe Towers and the Ciamin Peaks.
Laghetto di Fiè Lake
Swimming at 1,056m: the Laghetto di Fiè, South Tyrol’s
most beautiful swimming lake, has been commended several times by the
Italian environmental organisation Legambiente for the high quality of its water.
The water temperature of about 22° C entices hikers to take the opportunity
to take a refreshing plunge. The short walk around this popular swimming
lake is also suitable for families with small children and prams, senior citizens
and the disabled.
Bullaccia tour with witches’ benches and Engelrast
Bullaccia not only offers the most beautiful vantage points with a 360° panorama,
but also accommodates places of witchcraft. The Bullaccia tour leads to Engelrast
and from there via the Filln-Kreuz to the witches’ benches. The trail then leads on via
the Goller-Kreuz. Tip: Just like the Sciliar witches take a break at the witches’ benches.
Duration of the hike is about 3 hours, starting from Compatsch.
Summer | ALPE 43
Photo: Oswald-von-Wolkenstein-Ritt/Helmuth Rier
Summer Highlights ’16
> 3 May to 12 July 2016
> 22 May 2016
> 10 to 12 June 2016
> June – July 2016
Hikes for
Flower Lovers
Giro d’Italia: Mountain
time-trial stage from
Castelrotto to Alpe di Siusi
Oswald von Wolkenstein
Riding Tournament
Open-air Gourmet
Extravaganza
Three days, four locations and 36
teams: in tribute to knight and minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein, the
three villages of Castelrotto, Siusi
and Fiè allo Sciliar organise a historical riding tournament at its very
finest. From June 10th to 12th 2016,
visitors to the Oswald von Wolkenstein Riding Tournament can leap
back in time to the 14th century and
experience life in the Middle Ages,
admire the masterly horsemanship
and the feel the warmth of the hospitality in the Dolomites. No other
riding tournament has the good
fortune to be able to offer this kind
of culture, tradition, history, sport
and folklore all rolled into one single
event. www.ovwritt.com
With three unusual open-air gourmet events on the cards, the Alpe di
Siusi summer promises to be
something of a culinary experience.
First up is Tabbla Toò on the Alpe di
Siusi itself, where an 8-course meal
cooked in wood-fired ovens will be
served accompanied by a 360° view
of the Alpe di Siusi. The Berglertafel
(Mountaineers’ Banquet) in Tires al
Catinaccio is legendary, not only for
its culinary finesse but also for its
spectacular views over the legendary
Catinaccio. The Mountaineers’ Banquet is traditionally held on the third
Thursday in July. The gourmet events
draw to a close at the Krausen Banquet in Castelrotto, where the
Monte Calvario hill will be providing
the historical backdrop for the evening.
Approximately 790 flowering plants
and ferns of highly varied appearance and origin can be seen around
Sciliar Mountain over the course of
the year. Typical Alpine flowers but
also botanical rarities flourish on the
alp mats, in meadows and wheelbarrows. The nature reserve authorities
organize about 30 guided hikes
every year in cooperation with the
tourism associations of the nature
reserve communities with experienced nature reserve hiking guide Riccardo Insam.
10.8 kilometres, 784 metres of elevation difference and a gradient of up
to 11% on May 22nd, when the 15th
stage of the Giro d’Italia will be
speeding its way from Castelrotto to
the Alpe di Siusi. The individual
mountain time trial is part of this
year’s Giro d’Italia, and the Dolomite
mountains will provide the backdrop
for the race against the clock as the
best athletes in the world put themselves to the test. The Castelrotto-Alpe di Siusi stage is particularly
demanding, and a decisive stage of
the Corsa Rosa.
Tabbla Toò: 19 June 2016
Berglertafel: 21 July 2016
Krausentafel: 29 July 2016
44 ALPE | Summer
Photo: SAM/Helmuth Rier
> 1 July 2016
> 3 July 2016
> 6 to 25 July 2016
> 11 July – 22 August 2016
Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto
Adige: Max Andrzejewski‘s
Hütte & Choir
Alpe di Siusi
Half Marathon
Semper Music
International Festival
Summer Classics
in Siusi allo Sciliar
21 kilometres, 601 metres of elevation gain and 700 participants: these
are the characteristic numbers of the
4th Alpe di Siusi Half Marathon on
3 July 2016. Surrounded by the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, the
Alpe di Siusi Half Marathon is a
unique experience and sporting
challenge for both professional and
amateur athletes.
The Semper Music International Festival – like the previous ones – provides a unique opportunity to experience concerts by many well-known
and famous musicians in the Alpe di
Siusi holiday area.
For lovers of classical music, Siusi
offers an extraordinary series of concerts. Artists will perform the works
of great composers. The „Summer
Classics“ of Siusi represent a high
level of musical talent and have long
since become an integral component
of our summer cultural program. Both
locals and visitors will be enchanted.
„New Sounds - Fresh Perspectives“,
this is the new moto of the Südtirol
Jazzfestival Alto Adige, which will
hold a concert on the Laghetto di Fiè
Lake on Friday, 1st July 2016.
Max Andrzejewski‘s band, Hütte,
and a mixed choir will kick off the
jazz evening on the Laghetto di Fiè
from moored boats. This prelude is
reminiscent of the famous performance of Georg Friedrich Händel’s
‘Wassermusik’ on 17 July 1717 on the
Thames, London, when the Royal
Orchestra accompanied the play on
boats. Sadly, Fiè won’t be hosting a
similar baroque experience but the
music is just as sumptuous. Six
South Tyrolean singers (these will
take part in a tailored workshop
before the concert to guarantee an
extraordinary performance) will
complement the choir performing
with Andrzejewski. The actual concert will take place on the same
evening, yet performers will delight
the audience by playing on dry land
near the lake.
www.suedtiroljazzfestival.com
The starter‘s gun for the running
event with start and finish in
Compatsch is fired at 10.00am.
running.seiseralm.it
On the festival program, besides the
international competitions, master
classes and workshops, there are
about 35 afternoon and evening concerts with renowned music professors and young artists from North
and South America, Asia and Europe
participating.
All concerts, master classes and
workshops are open free of charge
for guests and locals. Admission fees
apply only for the star concerts. The
celebrated musicians Liana Isakadse,
Mikhail Voskresensky and Alexander
Rudin cater for musical pleasure of
the highest level.
www.schlernmusicfestival.eu
> 24 July 2016
Bolzano Danza:
Voluminosité
Conquering a mountain summit and
dancing in dizzying heights are not so
very different from each other, as Fabrice Guillot knows. Formerly a mountaineer himself, he is now the scenographer and choreographer of sensational aerial-acrobatic performances.
His dance company Retouramont
explores boundaries and flies in the
face of gravity, as does his aerial dance
show Voluminosité, which will be featuring on the Bolzano Danza program
in the Alpe di Siusi holiday area. The
show’s two dancers and circus-trained
aerial acrobats will be performing on a
large anthropomorphic construction,
with spectators seated in a circle
around them. www.tanzbozen.it
Summer | ALPE 45
Photo: Helmuth Rier
Summer Highlights ’16
> 5 to 7 August 2016
> September-October 2016
> 1 to 31 October 2016
> 7 to 9 October 2016
Prösels Castle
Summer Festival
WW – Walking Week,
Wonderland
The “Kuchlkastl” – Culinary
Festival in Fiè allo Sciliar
“Kastelruther Spatzen”
Music Festival
In 2016 the atmospheric venue of
Prösels Castle, steeped in history,
will be hosting the first-ever “GLM
Allstars” festival weekend. Four concerts and three rousing concerts will
be putting on a magnificent panorama of sounds, ranging from world
music through to upbeat jazz. Flamenco Virtuosos “Cafe del Mundo”,
outstanding vocalist Stefanie Boltz &
Band and the “Quadro Nuevo” musicians will be taking the stage.
schloss-proesels.seiseralm.it
WW stands for Walking week and
Wonderland, but also for Wakening
and Word Choice. The group walks
with contemporary European artists
will be weaving their way through
the countryside of the Alpe di Siusi
holiday area. During the five walks in
the villages of Castelrotto, Siusi, Fiè
allo Sciliar, Tires al Catinaccio and on
the Alpe di Siusi itself, participants
will have the opportunity to experience contemporary art and open-air,
minimalist performances. The guided
tour on the Alpe di Siusi is taking
place as part of the Transart Festival
program.
The Kuchlkastl Culinary Festival in
Fiè allo Sciliar is a well-kept secret
among gourmets and friends of
„down home“ cooking, alike. Since
1978, the innkeepers and restaurant owners in Fiè have been inviting visitors to partake in the „Gastronomical October“. At the close
of the season, the best chef cooks
of Fiè will do their utmost to astonish and enchant you with new
variations of traditional dishes –
dishes prepared with passion and
enjoyed with fine appreciation. If
you are in search of original dishes
(based on time-honoured recipes,
but with a modern accent), you
ought not to miss this month-long
culinary festival in Fiè allo Sciliar.
www.voelserkuchlkastl.com
Celebrating, spending pleasant evenings together, experiencing the
“Kastelruther Spatzen” live: the Spatzen-Festival in Castelrotto is amust
for every fan. Surrounded by the
unique scenery of the Dolomites the
seven “Spatzen“ enchant all friends
of traditional music.
46 ALPE | Summer
Komma Graphik - Foto: Helmuth Rier
without auto-mobile
85.00 Euro
Valid for 7 days (after first use) · 11/06 - 09/10/2016
& Surnam
Michael W
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Combi Card 7
trasferab
Gold
Com
bi Ca
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le.
ohn
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Senior - 85
,00 Euro
Carta Nu
mero: 02
42
22 luglio
2016 - 8:3 4
6 Uhr
You
> unrestricted use of the Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway and the Alpe di Siusi Express (route 10)
> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 15),
the Almbus (route 11) and the Bus Piz (route 14)
> unrestricted use of the Bullaccia Aerial Cableway, the Aerial Lifts Spitzbühl,
Panorama, Florian (Alpe di Siusi) and Marinzen (Castelrotto)
39.00 Euro
e. Card not
bile
52.00 Euro
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Combi Card 14
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Your Name
Combi Card 3 in 7
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with the Combi Card or the Seiser Alm Card Gold
Seiser Alm Card Gold
bil - senz
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Seiser Alm
Card
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ohne auto-
Gültigkeits
Periodo di zeitraum: 7 Tage
ab
Value peri validità: 7 giorni dall Erstentwertung.
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use.
Foto
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Affordably and conveniently
to the trekking wonderland
ble.
76.00 Euro
In the course of 7 days (after first use)
Valid for 7 days (after first use)
Valid for 14 days (after first use)
> 3 times to the Alpe di Siusi and back,
with the Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
or the Alpe di Siusi Express (route 10)
> unrestricted use of the
Shuttle Bus Service (routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 15),
the Almbus (route 11) and the Bus Piz (route 14)
> unrestricted use of the
Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
and the Alpe di Siusi Express (route 10)
> unrestricted use of the
Shuttle Bus Service (routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 15),
the Almbus (route 11) and the Bus Piz (route 14)
> unrestricted use of the
Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
and the Alpe di Siusi Express (route 10)
> unrestricted use of the
Shuttle Bus Service (routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 15),
the Almbus (route 11) and the Bus Piz (route 14)
The Combi Card and the Seiser Alm Card Gold are not transferable! Children (born after 04/06/2008)
and persons on wheelchairs ride free of charge. Juniors (born after 04/06/2000) pay only half fare.
*The Holiday area Alpe di Siusi Live Card, which is not available for purchase and is issued free of charge to the guests
by the accomodation, includes a price reduction for the Combi Card and the Seiser Alm Card Gold.
Multi-storey car park in the package with purchase of a Combi Card or Seiser Alm Card Gold: 1 day: 3.00 Euro, 3 days: 8.00 Euro, 7 days: 11.00 Euro, 14 days: 17.00 Euro
Alpe di Siusi Aerial Cableway
39040 Siusi allo Sciliar · Via Sciliar, 39
Tel. 0471 704 270 · Fax 0471 704 269
www.seiseralmbahn.it · info@seiseralmbahn.it
Winter Preview ’16/’17
> December 2016
> December 2016
> 15 January 2017
> 10 February 2017
Christmas
in Castelrotto
Children’s Winter Festival
with Nix the Witch
Traditional country
wedding of Castelrotto
Südtirol Moonlight
Classic Seiser Alm
In December, the inhabitants of
Castelrotto will unveil the secrets of
their Christmas traditions and allow
others to participate in them. Beside
the little Christmas market, local farmers’ wives will offer their cookies,
Christmas logs, pastries, and other
authentic goodies for sale. On 9 and
10 December, the well-known
„Kastelruther Spatzen“ folks music
group will present songs and tunes
in keeping with the „Feast of Love“.
The 2016-17 winter season will be
getting off to a sparkling start with
the second Kids’ Winter Festival on
the Alpe di Siusi with Nix the Witch.
Nix is calling all kids to join in the
party, and will be transforming them
into witches and wizards for the
occasion. It will be an entire day of
entertainment, games and winter
fun, where children can also ski or
learn to ski in a playful manner.
The Country Wedding in Castelrotto
has already become a tradition. It‘s
the authentic reproduction of a historical farmer‘s wedding like those
celebrated since time immemorial at
the foot of the Alpe di Siusi. The
throngs of participants wear their
traditional garments with great pride
– one of the reasons why the event
has developed into one of South
Tyrol‘s most spectacular pageants.
The moon will be astounded when
it peeks over the Dolomites.
Because that’s when the starting
pistol will fire for a cross-country
marathon of a most unusual kind.
At 8 p.m., namely, several hundred
cross-country skiers will shove off
from Compaccio and glide on their
narrow skis in the light of their
forehead-mounted lamps through
the luminescent night-time winter
landscape. They’ll follow the route
for 15 or 30 kilometers, finally
returning to their starting point.
But the „South Tyrol Moonlight
Classic Alpe di Siusi“ is a fantastic
experience not only for the participants, but for the spectators, too!
www.moonlightclassic.info
Apointments
3 to 4 December 2016
8 to 11 December 2016
16 to 18 December 2016
23 to 25 December 2016
48 ALPE | Summer
Photo: Helmuth Rier
> 12 February 2017
> March 2017
> 19 to 26 March 2017
> March 2017
Winter Golf Tournament
on the Alpe di Siusi
Dolovino on Snow
on the Alpe di Siusi
Swing on Snow
Winter Music Festival
Children’s Winter Festival
with Nix the Witch
Play golf on snow and enjoy a wonderful winter landscape: for the 9th
time in a row, the winter golf tournament is held on the Alpe di Siusi.
It is played over 9 holes, from 61 to
1150m long. On skis or snowboard
the participants move from hole to
hole. The fairways are white instead
of green, the greens whites and the
golf balls stand out thanks to their
bright colours. Food and music along
the golf course will be provided.
Dolovino on Snow invites you to
celebrate the theme of “Top Alto
Adige wines at the foot of the Dolomites” on a wine-tour across the
Alpe di Siusi. South Tyrol is not just a
paradise for skiers and hikers, but
also an internationally renowned
wine-growing area. Connoisseurs
can sample outstanding wines from
the local area in numerous bars and
restaurants around the area, while
the Alpine huts on the Alpe di Siusi
will be serving culinary delights to
round off the event to mouth-watering perfection.
Jazz in the mountain huts, soul on
the slopes and traditional tunes in
the restaurants in the evenings:
musicians from all over the Alpine
region will be performing from morning to night in the Alpe di Siusi
holiday area for the Swing on Snow
festival. Bands and singers will be
setting the tone on the slopes and
getting old and young, winter sports
visitors and music lovers alike, into
the party mood.
Towards the end of the winter season, Nix the Witch is calling all kids
to join in the party, and will be transforming them into witches and
wizards for the occasion. The festival
is guaranteed to be fun: games, an
arts and crafts corner, a treasure
hunt, good music and masses of surprises to bring a shine to the eyes of
every child. And, of course, the
chance to learn how to ski or
improve your technique with ski instructors. Nix the Witch also has a
whole lot of tricks to teach for safety
on the snow.
The modern interpretation of traditional folk music with jazz, soul
and pop reflect the musical culture
of the Alps; listeners can swerve in
time to the beats and rhythms, and
weave their way downhill to the
sounds of the tuba, bass, dulcimer
and accordion. Concerts will be
played on the slopes of the Alpe di
Siusi in the mornings, afternoons
in the huts and evenings in the villages of Castelrotto, Siusi, Fiè allo
Sciliar and Tires al Catinaccio.
www.swingonsnow.com
Summer | ALPE 49
Around & About
Red and Blue Training Camp. In July 2015, Bologna Football Club held their summer training camp in Castelrotto for the first time.
Daily training sessions were held at the Laranza sports centre, alongside running sessions around the Laghetto di Fiè Lake and
a number of friendly matches. 2016 will see Bologna FC back in Castelrotto once again, preparing for their upcoming Serie A season.
Water and Snow
The Alpe di Siusi is famed for its optimal high altitude training
conditions, not only for runners and cross-country skiers. The Swedish
rowing national team spent this last winter on Europe’s largest
mountain pasture – and were equally impressed by both the land and
the people: “The indescribably beautiful countryside, the mountains
and the friendliness of the people make our training here an absolute
pleasure,” enthused Cecilia Lilja.
Oswald Ride and Super G
Verena Gasslitter, the young ski racer from Castelrotto,
is not just an ace skier but also an accomplished horsewoman: Riding with the Kastelruth Telfen team, she
triumphed in the 2015 Oswald von Wolkenstein Riding
Tournament. At the Europa Cup she crowned her ski
season with a Super G victory, and will be making her
World Cup debut in the 2016/17 season.
IMPRINT. ALPE: Reg. Court Bolzano / Bolzano, n. 9/2002 R.St. Published by: Alpe di Siusi Marketing, 39050 Fiè allo Sciliar, Via del Paese, 15,
Tel. +39 0471 709 600, Fax +39 0471 704 199, info@alpedisiusi.info, www.alpedisiusi.info. Editorial Team: Elisabeth Augustin (Responsible Editor),
Rosa Maria Erlacher, Sabine Funk, Barbara Pichler Rier, Katja Sanin, Herbert Taschler, Michaela Baur, Daniela Kremer, Romina Glira;
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Werbemitteilung / Messaggio pubblicitario
Ich vertraue dem, bei dem ich
ein Leben lang gut beraten bin.
Posso fidarmi di chi sa consigliarmi
bene in ogni momento della vita.
Die Raiffeisenkasse begleitet mich bei allen wichtigen Entscheidungen, wie z.B. bei der Familiengründung, beim Wohnungskauf oder beim Pensionseintritt. Sie berät mich verantwortungsvoll und
bietet mir die passende Lösung.
Die Bank meines Vertrauens.
www.raiffeisen.it
La Cassa Raiffeisen mi affianca in tutte le decisioni
importanti, per esempio quando formo una famiglia,
o acquisto un appartamento, o vado in pensione.
Mi consiglia con buon senso offrendomi sempre la
soluzione più adatta. La mia banca di fiducia.
Kastelruth­­-­St.­Ulrich
Meine Bank
La mia banca
Schlern-Rosengarten