places of interest in the Antholz valley

Exploring the Antholz valley

Thema!

If you are interested in a comprehensive experience of culture and tourism, then Thema! is what you are looking for! Over the last few years, this project has been launched in order to enhance both the natural and historical heritage of the Antholz valley. Among these, the following cultural sites are of particular interest:

The historical bridge, originally built in 1847, is situated to the side of the archaeological area called "Windschnur" (an important burial ground which dates back to 500-800 B.C.) and presents three eras of road and bridge construction in the Pustertal valley.
The ruins of the castle of Altrasen/Rasun Vecchia go back to the 13th century. Since the castle had already fallen into decay in the 17th century, today only the remains of the keep, the curtain wall and the castle court can be seen. A visit of the castle ruins located on the eastern slope above Niederrasen/Rasun di Sotto is a rewarding trip, as history seems to be close enough to touch in this unique atmosphere.
The Lords of Rasen built the castle of Neurasen/Rasun Nuova around 1200. Like the castle of Altrasen, it fell into decay at the end of the 17th century due to the frequent change of ownership. To this day, parts of the keep, the curtain wall, the bailey and the main gate have been preserved and invite visitors to travel back in time among the remains of its walls.

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A journey into history: castles & museums

Numerous castles and museums characterise the Pustertal valley and its side dales as places of history. For a moment, they allow us to forget the here and now and invite us to embark on an imaginative journey into the past. Here in the Antholzertal valley itself, you can be guided back in time by the captivating atmosphere of the Altrasen/Rasun Vecchia castle ruins in the town called Niederrasen/Rasun and the Neurasen/Rasun Nuova castle ruins in Oberrasen/Rasun di Sopra.

But there is plenty to discover in the surrounding areas as well: In the city of Bruneck/Brunico, the cultural centre of the Pustertal valley, you can visit the picturesque historic centre and the imposing castle called “Schloss Bruneck”, where the MMM Ripa museum about mountain cultures is located. Two more castles worth visiting are Schloss Welsperg, built in the 12th century, situated at the entrance to the valley called Gsieser Tal/Val Casies, and Burg Taufers, built in the 13th century, which lies in the Ahrntal/Valle Aurina valley. If you are interested in exploring the museums of the Pustertal valley, we recommend a tour to the Kronplatz/Plan de Corones summit, where two museums invite you to a visit: the LUMEN Museum for Mountain Photography and the MMM Corones, which is the highest located museum in South Tyrol and provides fascinating insights into alpinism and the life of mountaineers. Last but not least, the South Tyrolean Folklore Museum, located in the town of Dietenheim/Teodone, offers a unique glimpse into the former everyday life of our region’s rural population.