The Land of Pale Mountains - calm and quiet Dolomite valley

Here in the beautiful Villnösser Tal (Val di Funes), where Reinhold Messner spent his childhood and youth, you will find peace and relaxation in one of the quietest of the Dolomite valleys.

Fabulous countryside, wide green meadows, numerous hamlets, farms, and larch forests, whose colours shine beautifully in the late autumn. An unforgettable mountain experience ... the Puez-Geisler (Puez-Odle), the high Alpine pastures around Villnöss (Funes) and the rocky regions of the Dolomites are the protected habitat of rare flora and fauna, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Geisler (Odle) Massif is an unmissable landmark.

Villnöss (Funes) can be reached by turning east off the road between Brixen (Bressanone) and Klausen (Chiusa). The village of Gufidaun (Gudon) and the castle of Schloss Summersberg are enthroned on the summit above the valley. The gentle upland terraces of the Eisacktal (Valle Isarco), where excellent vineyards still thrive, lead down to the impressive rock massifs of the Dolomites: the Aferer Geisler (Odle di Eores) in the northeast and the Villnösser Geisler (Gruppo delle Odle) in the southeast, the Kleine and Große Fermeda, the Mittagsscharte, the Sass Rigais, the Furchetta and the Kampiller Turm. St. Peter is the main village in the valley and includes the hamlet of Nafen and the parishes of St. Valentin, St. Jakob and Teis, which is known for Teiser Kugeln, amethyst quartz.

Holidays in the Villnösser Tal offer plenty of variety in both winter and summer: walking, hiking, paths along the typical local Waal irrigation channels, trekking, guided mountain tours, hiking adventures, themed hikes, mountain hikes, mountain pasture hikes, cultural walks, fitness walks, sunset walks, herb hikes, climbing, climbing lessons, nature trails, Puez-Geisler (Puez-Odle) Nature Park, Nordic walking, cycling, mountainbiking, golf, horseriding, rafting, swimming, summer and winter tobogganing, toboggan hikes, winter hiking, snowshoe hikes, ice skating, children's parks, skiing, skiing lessons, ski safaris, ski tours, cross-country skiing and more.

Several ski resorts and 25 km of perfectly prepared cross-country skiing trails are virtually on your doorstep and in the immediate vicinity, e.g. Gröden (Val Gardena) - Sella Ronda (25 mins), Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) (35 min), Plose (43 min), Gitschberg-Jochtal (Rio Pusteria) (40 min), Kronplatz (Plan de Corones) (50 min), Obereggen (50 min), Rittner Horn (Corno del Renon) (50 min) ...

Nature Park House

The aims of the South Tyrolean Nature Park's concept include protecting nature and the countryside, scientific research and landscape conservation, environmental education and promoting understanding of nature and the countryside. The Nature Park Houses are the linchpin of this educational work. These points of contact provide visitors with information on the park region, its inhabitants, habitats and the indigenous flora and fauna, as well as what the nature park itself has to offer.

Puez-Geisler (Puez-Odle)Nature Park is the only one of the seven nature parks in South Tyrol currently without a Nature Park House. The seventh Nature Park House will therefore soon be built in St. Magdalena / Villnöss. The Nature Park House is to be the central point of information for the Puez-Geisler (Puez-Odle) Nature Park and the Villnösser Tal (Val di Funes). The intention is that it will help people to better understand the nature park's wealth of geological, biological and cultural treasures and awaken and maintain the enthusiasm of both young and old for the beautiful valley at the foot of the Villnösser Geisler (Gruppo delle Odle). The fact that the Nature Park House can be planned together with schools opens the way for an innovative project that can be used for managing and supporting synergies in environmental education work.