Discover the North Tyrolean mountains in South Tyrol’s Val di Vizze valley, east of Vipiteno
Image gallery: Val di Vizze
East of Vipiteno stretches the Val di Vizze towards the Zillertal Alps, a municipality covering the entire valley and one of South Tyrol's northernmost areas. In the Upper Valle Isarco, many pristine valleys beckon with peace and unspoilt nature. Alongside the Fleres Valley, and the Ridanna Valley, the Val di Vizze is a true paradise for those who love summer freshness and powder snow. The area is framed by the Zillertal Alps, with the majestic Gran Pilastro as its highest peak.
The valley stretches for 23 kilometres, from Prati via Vizze di Dentro (Inner Vizze) up to the high-alpine landscape of the Passo di Vizze. This elongated high valley also has much to offer culturally. Worth seeing - unfortunately only from the outside - are the 14th-century Palù Castle and the stately Wiesenheim Residence, with its striking oriel tower.
Both are located in Prati, the main village at the valley entrance. Today, the venerable walls of the castle house a retirement home. The valley's history is also fascinating: Once, a large lake covered the rear part of Vizze. A rockslide about a thousand years ago transformed the landscape and made the valley, already known in Roman times, habitable.
Today, the alpine surroundings are ideal for mountaineers. The renowned long-distance hiking trail "The Trans-Alpine Crossing" leads from the Bavarian Lake Tegernsee to the Austrian Zillertal, and continues over the Passo di Vizze to the South Tyrolean town of Vipiteno in Italy.
Other appealing options for exploring the mountains include the Landshut High Route, the alpine hike to the Gran Pilastro Hut, or a mountain bike tour to the Vizze and Fundres Passes. At lower altitudes, cosy alpine huts invite you to stop for refreshments, including the Vipiteno Hut, the Lafitz Mountain Hut and the Prantner Hut. In winter, when the Val di Vizze usually lies beneath a thick blanket of snow, activities such as ski touring, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing beckon.
