Alto Adige: hikes to the alpine pastures to discover the region's most interesting quality products
2 minutes
Numerous paths invite visitors to hike to the alpine pastures, especially to the mountain peaks of the Vinschgau Valley, which is full of them. Walks of varying degrees of difficulty in a magical setting that always end with a tasting of typical Alto Adige products that will leave you breathless and reward all the effort.
Alpine pastures in Vinschgau: an oasis of peace
Against the idyllic backdrop of the Alpine panorama, at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres and covering an area of around 37,000 hectares, the Vinschgau alpine farmsteads offer the ideal atmosphere to enjoy a well-deserved summer rest.
Where the work on the farms becomes more intense, because it is in the summer that the cows, sheep and horses are transported to the mountain pastures and hay is stocked for the winter, you will find a picture-postcard landscape.
There are many malghe open to the public, offering refreshment possibilities for hikers. Rustic buildings, made of stone or wood, where you can refresh yourself after a long walk. Easily accessible, they are a popular destination for families and those seeking peace and relaxation.
All pastures are accessible both in summer, through green forests and multi-coloured meadows, and in winter, when you can traverse the snowy landscape on exciting toboggan rides.
Products: typical tastings
A visit to the Alto Adige malghe gives the opportunity, most of the time, to taste on site or buy the quality products produced on the farms.
The menu is not very varied, but will satisfy palates, firstly with the alpine cheese, winner of numerous awards at home and abroad. Needless to say, all natural dairy products are worth tasting, from butter to yoghurt, from cream to topfen, the Tyrolean cottage cheese. Top quality dairy products, accompanied by fresh bread and speck boards
Don't forget to try typical Alto Adige dishes, such as dumplings and Kaiserschmarrn, the delicious sweet omelette.
Return from the alpine pasture: a local festival
Grazing has followed strict rules for centuries. Transhumance has even older traditions.
If you are lucky enough to be in Val Senales in mid-September, don't miss the spectacular return from the alpine pasture. It is a real celebration, for farmers and others, to celebrate the return of the cattle to the valley.
After their spring migration to the high mountain fields, the animals return “home”, and their procession is greeted by songs, music and applause. A celebration that has become a tradition for villages and a tourist attraction for visitors.
