Three hamlets form the northernmost district of Vipiteno - the Castello della Strada castle watched over this old Brennero route
Image gallery: Novale di Vipiteno
Novale di Vipiteno (Ried bei Sterzing) lies between Vipiteno and Colle Isarco. More precisely, the farms of Lurches (Lurx), Novale di Sotto (Unterried) and Novale di Sopra (Oberried) make up the village on the eastern bank of the Isarco River. The small villages stretching up the slope are connected via the Vipiteno Circular Path and path no. 21. At the bottom of the valley, where the first houses stand, the railway line, the main road and the Brennero Motorway run parallel.
First Lurches comes into sight: It is an old customs station with a church, today home to a sports hotel with Steakhouse. Then the houses of Novale di Sotto follow. The most striking building there is the Church of St. Stephen from the 17th century. The portal and the church tower, however, are still remnants of the older building and date back to around 1400. Today, these parts form a single unit and create a pretty village church with an onion dome. A small road then leads to Novale di Sopra. The ruins of the Castello della Strada, which date back to the 13th century, are enthroned above it. At that time, the hilltop castle, barely secured on its hill, guarded the old Brennero route.
Excursion destinations in the surroundings include Vipiteno, which offers one of the most beautiful small old town centres in Italy, the hiking areas on the Monte Cavallo and in the nearby side valleys of Fleres, Ridanna, Racines and Vizze. Above Novale, just below Mt. Cima Novale and Mt. Cima Bianca (2,714 m a.s.l.), the highest point in the village, are the Platz Hut, Gallina (or Hühnerspiel) Hut and Prantner Hut. In winter, a sledge run leads from there down into the valley.
