Cologna

There must have been countless cranberries here in earlier times in Cologna: "Glan", a word still used in the Val Passiria today, means nothing else than cranberries, and the German name Glaning means "place with cranberries". Today you can still find the tiny shrubs with the bright red berries in the surrounding forests, or at the Schupfen Festival in the form of jam on the delicious Strauben. The former place of pilgrimage of Cologna is rather known for its panoramic location.

From here, on the southern slope of the Monzoccolo highland, the view opens up on the valley basin and on the town of Bolzano. On the outskirts of the village sits the neat Curacy Church of St. Martin, guarded by mighty chestnut trees. Most of the chestnut trees in South Tyrol grow in this area. The sweet chestnuts are also processed and are served at the traditional Toerggelen in autumn. Roasted and with butter melting on the hot chestnuts, they round off the Toerggele afternoons and evenings in the wine taverns on the farms and in the inns.

A themed trail is dedicated to the church patron saint of Cologna, St. Martin: The St. Martin's Path is suitable for children and designed close to nature. Along this trail and the Castelronda Castle Path, it is worth making a side trip to Grifo Castle ruins, which became known as the "Pork Castle". The name derives from a legend. During the second besiegement by Frederick IV "with the empty pocket", a trick was used in the castle in times of need: The besieged threw their very last provisions, a pig, to the occupiers from the castle. So they thought that the besieged must still have plenty of provisions if they were so lavish with them. And they went off.