Country Wedding in Castelrotto

This wedding party is considered as one of the most splendid costume shows throughout the region - a journey back to the 19th century

Various dumplings are among the typical dishes at the weeding: Here you can see cheese dumplings with Parmesan cheese and melted butter.
Foto: MS, © Peer
Sweet baked apples with cranberries and butter: They can also be prepared with sugar and cinnamon, nuts, marzipan or raisins.
Foto: MS, © Peer
Milk mash, Milchmus in German, prepared in its own pan, consists of Musmehl flour, semolina, sugar, salt, milk and melted butter.
Foto: MS, © Peer

Every odd year, on a Sunday in mid-January, a peasant wedding is re-staged, as it was usual in the Alpe di Siusi area in the past. At that time a wedding was usually held in winter, as the warm months were reserved for hard work on the farm and in the fields. Between 15 and 25 richly decorated horse-drawn sleighs start around 2 pm from San Valentino through the snow-covered countryside to Castelrotto. Once arrived in the village centre, the wedding party presents itself to the spectators, who in the meantime are pampered with local delicacies by the local farmers.

The wedding party, 17 couples in their traditional costumes, is absolutely worth seeing. The historical costumes all come from the respective private possession. From the village square the wedding party then moves to a hotel to enjoy the wedding banquet which is called "Hoazetkuchl" in local dialect. Around the Castelrotto Country Wedding the corresponding Speciality Weeks take place: The restaurants present typical wedding dishes from the past in a new dress such as dumplings with game stew, "Bauerngröstl", typical desserts and a good grappa.

The programme includes the wedding-eve party the previous evening, music and culinary delights and a guided tour at the Museum of Traditional Costumes, while waiting for the wedding couples. Another similar event takes place in the Gardena Valley: "Val Gardena dresses to the nine".