Alta Pusteria Almanac winter 2014/15

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Almanac Alta Pusteria

photo: photogruener

Winter . Nature . Dolomites

Available free of charge at tourism associations and member companies in the Alt a Pusteria valley

New since July 2014

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www.apparthotel-germania.com

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photo: H. Oberhofer

» Prato Piazza/ Plätzwiese high plateau in Braies

DOLOMITEN Alta Pusteria

Dear Readers, it is our pleasure to welcome you in our beautiful winter paradise.

The holiday region Alta Pusteria is linked to winter sports since its origins. In our fabulous natural landscapes in the middle of the world famous mountain ranges everyone, young and old, will surely get their money’s worth. Skiing, cross-country-skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, tobogganing or ice-skating, we promise pure fun framed by the stunning U N ESCO world heritage scenery.

Especially in the area of the winter sports no. 1, skiing, the present winter season is about to open an authentic superlative chapter.

The connection of the two ski areas Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa contributes to a limitless ski and snow fun experience in the Sextner Dolomiten. Highly modern infrastructures and 93 kilometres of linked pistes make a dream in the Alta Pusteria valley come true.

And there is more to come. The opening of the new railway station Versciaco-Monte Elmo and the corresponding train connection “Ski Pustertal Express” offers the possibility of easy travelling between the two famous ski resorts Sextner Dolomiten and Plan de Corones. With over 200 kilometres of slopes, dear guests, you will have a new linked skiing dimension of South Tyrol.

Silvia Wisthaler Director of the Alta Pusteria Tourism Association

In the present winter edition of the “Alta Pusteria Almanac” you will find further information about this unique winter experience. Moreover, the present magazine offers interesting tips and ideas, important information concerning the events programme and exciting stories about the Alta Pusteria valley.

We hope you will enjoy the reading and wish you a pleasant stay and a wonderful holiday experience in our Alta Pusteria valley!

Yours sincerely, The Alta Pusteria Tourist Board

Parkhotel Sole Paradiso**** Via Sesto / Sextnerstr. 13 I-39038 San Candido / Innichen www.sole-paradiso.com info@soleparadiso.com

Hotel Villa Stefania**** Via al Ponte dei Corrieri / An der Botenbrücke, 1 I-39038 San Candido / Innichen www.villastefania.com info@villastefania.com

www.altapusteria.info

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Winter 2014/15

In this edition

A dream is coming true The connection of the traditional ski resorts Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa ������������������������������������������������������� 8–12

Mobility and tourism In the Hochpustertal valley

The war is about to begin Summer 1914

All you need to know about “Krapfen”

����������������������������������������������������� 24–27

A very old tradition

The Dolomites

���������������������������������������������������� 34–37

Geological history “engraved” in the rocks

Summer preview

���������������������������������������������������� 28–31

����������������������������������������������������� 38–39

���������������������������������������������������� 14–19

A fabulous winter experience

Ice-cold passion

8 terrific reasons to look forward to the winter in the Alta Pusteria valley

���������������������������������������������������� 20–23

���������������������������������������������������� 32–33

The newly developed steam power

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34–37

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photo: photogruener.com

A dream is coming true

Stefan Herbke Author Is frequently on the move for professional reasons, hiking or mountain biking in summer, skiing or tobogganing in winter.

Good things come to those who wait. This principle is true for the connection of the ski areas Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa, both rich in tradition, planned a long time ago. For many years big efforts have been made to connect the two important ski resorts of the Sextner Dolomiten area with lifts and slopes. Finally this winter time is up.

Sometimes patience is the key word. And lots of it, as the cable-cars of Sesto experienced in the past years. With the development of the Monte Elmo in the 70ies already the first ideas of a lift and slope connection with the opposite located ski area Croda Rossa arose, six years ago plans were being made more concrete and realistic and then, when everything seemed to be ready starting with the winter season 2011–2012, a sudden interruption stopped the entire project.

Despite all permits released and green light given by the provincial government, >>

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photo: Christian Tschurtschenthaler 2

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Zehner (Croda Rossa/Sextner Rotwand), Cima Undici/Elfer, Croda dei Toni/Zwölfer and Cima Uno/ Einser, their bold crests which together form the worldwide biggest sundial, is just extraordinary. Moreover, all the other well-known and distinctive peaks as the Baranci/ Haunold or the wide mountain stock Croda dei Tre Scarperi/Dreischusterspitze complete the panorama–a first class view.

This picture accompanies all DREI ZINNEN SEXTNER friends on every turn on the sports DOLOMITEN TRE CIME slopes along their winter safari through seven ski areas between Braies/Prags and Comelico, forming 93 kilometres of pistes in total.

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There is a big selection for any level and any taste, starting

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from very easy tracks nearby Braies/Prags to family friendly rich in variety at the Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa offering also black marked pistes to satisfy even ambitioned ski fans. The broad variety of the ski areas can be explored while doing the “Giro delle Cime” (tour of the peaks). The ski safari increased in popularity and starts at the cable car station in Versciacco/Vierschach leading through Monte Elmo, Croda Rossa, Passo Monte Croce and to the ski area Val Comelico. Having a glance at this stunning panorama, only very attentive observers may notice that within this considerable frame the most famous peaks of the Dolomites are missing: the Drei Zinnen (“Three Peaks”). Just for now, as the connection of Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa leads over the wide back of the Hahnspiel mountain from where you get a perfect view of the Sextner Dolomiten’s flagship.

>> M

1096 C

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837

2137

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and open areas at the Baranci/Haunold to enjoyable areas

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Un unexpected damper was put on the longstanding effort to connect the Alta Pusteria’s biggest ski areas Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa and to offer ski and snowboard fans even bigger attractions as far as comfort is concerned. From the point of Bview of the landscape skiing in the Alta Pusteria has always been outstanding. Skiing in the Dolomites is something really special, skiing in the Sextner Dolomiten absolutely unique. Only the view of the sunny slopes of the mountains Cima Nove/Neuner, Cima Dieci/

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1253

1900

A one objection was successful and B the scheduled connection of both ski areas set back again.

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1453

» Sextner Dolomiten – a top-class view

The view of the Dolomites while skiing

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1882

883

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SEXTNER

DOLOMITEN

STIERGARTEN ORTO DEL TORO

» The new 8-seater "Orto del Toro" cable car

Two becoming one Following the motto “everything can be improved” and considering hazardous and protected areas, the project’s cable cars were rearranged completely over the past two years. The eight-seater cable car from Signaue to the 2100m Stiergarten station remained carrying the name of the Tre Cime/ Drei Zinnen. For a further connection towards Monte Elmo an eight-seater cable car with middle station is constructed instead of a drag-lift and a chairlift, where the slope coming from Stiergarten ends. For the gap towards the Helmhanghütte hut the cable car has to be used in both directions. “Hence the hydrological and geological dubious area around the Villgraterbach stream can be avoided”, explains Alfred Prenn, marketing manager in chief of the Sextner Dolomiten AG. “Although the costs rise from the initially calculated 20 up to 28 millions of Euro, the new project has gone through all the necessary authorizing steps immediately, including the environmental impact assessment.”

With the connection of the ski areas Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa for many ski fans a dream is coming true. The enlargement of the slopes offer includes enjoyable, medium difficult descents as well as a stunning view from the back of the Hahnspiel peak, one of the most beautiful spots in the Alta Pusteria valley, on the “Three Peaks” which is considered to be the most exciting “side effect”. The most special thing of the new ski circuit in the eyes of Alfred Prenn, however, is “the landscape experience with the always new perspective of the unique Dolomites’ peaks. Other ski areas may offer more kilometres in slopes, but our magnificent panorama of the Dolomites is simply unique.” «

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photo: Giuseppe Ghedina, Cortina d'Ampezzo; Thomas Franchi’s collection - TAP

Mobility and tourism in the Hochpustertal valley:

Starting from the middle of the 19th century in the then Crown land Tyrol an economic recovery began leaving the misery conditions of the Napoleonic Wars behind. >>

a 150-year-old story of success

MA Curti Covi Author MA Curti Covi, resident in San Candido/ Innichen, historian and political scientist.

In addition to diverse fields of activity in the consulting and research area he develops tourism development strategies from the point of view of local history and culture for the area of South Tyrol.

Âť The Dolomites Railway nearby Landro

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photo: Emil Lotze; Eisenbahnfreunde Lienz’s collection - TAP

» Train station under construction in Innichen, 1871

photo: Emil Lotze; Eisenbahnfreunde Lienz’s collection - TAP

» Train station in Toblach, 1871

The newly developed steam power enhanced the construction of railway lines in the whole Europe which led to new inputs for the economy and the rising industry and moreover encouraged private initiatives. St arting from 18 6 9 also in the Pustert al valley the “Pustert al-B ahn” train was built by the imperial-royal private Südbahngesellschaft railway company which already had

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constructed the railway line from Vienna passing through Graz and leading to the Adriatic Sea.

On 20 th November

1871

the railway line through the Pustertal valley was ceremoniously inaugurated. The railway connection revolutionized life in this valley from many points of view: suddenly the big wide world was not so far anymore, you could now start from Lienz and reach

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Franzensfeste before noon. For the same distance using horse and cart you had to calculate at least three times as long. The horse and cart business, however, was among the losers of the new railway epoch, it could survive only in the serving of

1887

in the Südbahnhotel (later on called Grand Hotel) was inaugurated in Toblach and enlarged almost double in size just a year later thanks to its positive business results.

The takeover of the hotel by the Überbacher couple, first as tenants and soon as owners, was considered to be a lucky strike for the whole surrounding area thanks to their entrepreneurial skills. In line with the health care and summer retreat tourism of the Belle Epoque soon prominent guests arrived at the Grand Hotel in Toblach as well as at the luxurious Wildbad in Innichen. In autumn 1887 also the German heir to the throne Friedrich von Hohenzollern spent his holidays there. This important visit unfolded a huge advertising effect. After the holiday of the heir to the throne financial moguls, princes and even kings followed. The glamour of European metropolises hence also reached Toblach – even if it would not be for long, the First World War was just about to begin. In the short time until its beginning, however, an entirely new settlement was created called “Neutoblach” (new Toblach) built around the newly arisen hotels as the Germania, Bellevue and Union.

In the course of the First World War a railway from Toblach to Calalzo was constructed for military rea-

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sons, after the war it was amplified and electrified. The so called “Dolomites Railway” played an important role for the tourism which was slowed down in the period between the two world wars also because of the economic world crisis and the fascism which was then re-emerging. The biggest climax for the railway line was during the Olympic Games of winter 1956 in Cortina.

Because of the difficult traffic situation the holding of the Olympic Games was made possible thanks to this railway line.

Despite the good utilization of this stretch during tourist seasons the railway could never really be exploited profitably, a fact that rapidly led to its closing after the zenith in

1956 The Pustertalbahn in the meanwhile enjoyed continuous progress, it reached an important status as being a corridor train (i.e. with privileged transit traffic) during negotiations on autonomy between Austria and Italy in post-war period.

Since

1985

that line was electrified and the last steam locomotives transited until 1986.

The still circulating diesel locomotives and Littorine, however, were not supposed to last for long, the freight transportation was completely called off upon the completion of the international route Villach-Venice in the first 1990ies.

photo: Wassermann

lization the Südbahngesellschaft railway company st arted serious tourism promotions:

press: Stengel & Co., Dresden; Monika Weissteiner’s collection, Municipal Archive of Bruneck - TAP

secondary roads and smaller valleys. The connection to the Sextner valley, for ex ample, was maint ained exclusively with the cart business until 1920, until the First World War other means of transport were not allowed at all: even a noble Archduke, who happened to pass this valley by car, had to get off his vehicle and use the train, as described extensively in Claus Gatterer’s biography “Schöne Welt, böse Leut” (beautiful world, bad people).

The farmers had to get used to the new landscape. The raised railway road had sust ainably changed the until then well known terrain. Generally speaking the train services, however, had a profit able effect on most of the population. Not only landlords who had sold their plots of land for good money to the Südbahngesellschaft railway company, but also the entire local economic cycle made its benefits. The until then modestly growing tourism experienced undreamed growth thanks to the better connection of the Pustert al valley to the outside world.

Soon new guest houses and hotels were built everywhere in the region and already existing ones renovated. Nowhere else than in Toblach, however, the new development was that impressive.

Around the newly constructed train st ation in Toblach, which was located far from the village’s centre at the entrance of the Höhlensteint al valley, soon new homes and t averns were built.

One of the first hotels nearby the st ation was the Hotel Ampezzo, even if very soon a magnificent hotel construction in the surroundings would overshadow everything existing so far. In order to rise the line’s capacity uti-

» Neu-Toblach (1243 m.), around 1925

» Train station in Niederdorf

In 200 8 the South Tyrolean provincial administration took over the local transport section which led to a modernisation of the line, its structures and means of transport.

Today highly modern trains produced by the Swiss company St adler called Flirt run in part every half hour from S an Candido/ Innichen to Fortezza/ Franzensfeste. The future of the Pustert albahn also seems to be more than secure: in addition to the current offer the Flirt train will soon run also to Lienz, Austria. The train st ation under con-

struction in Versciacco/Vierschach, which docks directly to the ski resort Monte Elmo, represents the cornerstone of the Ski Pustert al Express together with the st ation in Perca/ Percha linked to the Plan the Corones/ Kronplatz ski resort by offering all ski fans to reach the ski resorts in a comfort able and environment ally friendly way.

The idea of the Ski Pustert al Express is unique in its sust ainability in line with the modern Zeitgeist: within the European context one will hardly find such a successful integration of local public transport and winter tourism. The mobility concept around the Pustert aler B ahn shall continue to be amplified: the municipality of S an Candido/ Innichen is already planning to transfer the train st ation to the village centre in the following years in order to make it possible for passengers to get off directly in the pedestrian zone. As a contribution for the easing of traffic as well as for modern st andards regarding environment al compatibility and traffic planning the new Pustert aler B ahn can surely envis age the dawned century with the s ame vigour as during its pioneer period! «

The Tyrolean Archive of Photography originated 2011 from an INTERREG project between South and East Tyrol aiming at the collection, the cataloguing as well as the offer of historical photographical material stemming from the whole Tyrolean area.

It is located in the offices of Lienz and Bruneck.

The historical pictures of this article were made available by TAP. For any further information visit http://www.tiroler-photoarchiv.eu

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When Elettra is circling over the ice surface her dancing appears incredibly light and elegant. She seems to float on a track that is invisible to the spectators’ eyes while she draws an enchanting icy picture. Every move is in harmony with the music, the jumps masterful and secure, the sequence and pirouettes seem to be obvious pieces fitting into a larger whole. However, what apparently looks simple and easy, graceful and carefree in reality requires hard work, training and self-discipline. While other girls of her age appreciate their student life, go out with friends and enjoy their youth, the 18-year old Elettra follows hard training sessions every day for years already. Nevertheless she doesn’t have the feeling to miss out anything, it was her own decision to commit herself to this life and she cannot think of anything better than ice skating.

The pretty and shy Elettra discovered her passion for dancing on ice at the age of three during a figure-skating course in Dobbiaco. Already back then she particularly liked the jumps. In line with her bubbly character the hours spent on ice have always been her favourites: “It was good fun and I really liked it”, she remembers. Throughout the years she followed her dream persistently and with determination: after the years of compulsory school in Villabassa and Dobbiaco she spent her high school years at the Realgymnasium Albert Einstein in Merano, as there were better training conditions. “There I started to be successful”, she says, “and I qualified for the Italian national team.” In Merano she also met Carolina Kostner and the girls connected not only professionally but also became friends.

Ice-Cold Passion

Elettra Olivotto from Villabassa left her family and home town to devote herself completely to figure-skating. Her enthusiasm for this sport is linked to many good memories experienced in the Alta Pusteria valley. » 8-year-old Elettra

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Over the years of high school the young sportswoman moved to Oberstdorf, Germany, and while spending a year abroad she also found ideal training conditions at her German school: ”I sent an e-mail to Carolina’s coach in Oberstdorf to ask him if I could do some training with him and I actually didn’t expect any answer at all. But he was very friendly and he invited me to a short probationary period to Oberstdorf.” After a few training days and talks held with her parents a clear decision was made: Elettra would stay and participate in the training sessions of Coach Michael Huth together with Carolina Kostner and Tomas Verner.

B ack to South Tyrol only a few months ago Elettra successfully completed the high school in Merano while heading back to her adopted domicile in Oberstdorf right afterwards.

Since autumn 2014 she has been living and working there. After her A-levels she is now able to focus completely on sports.

Her times as a student and sportswomen were impressive: “School times were very tiring, after classes I went directly to the ice rink and in the evening I did my homework.” Now she is able to distribute her training sessions over the whole day without having any other obligations. >>

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Martina Pfeifhofer Author She is from Sesto and has made her own profession following her enthusiasm for anything linked to sports and mobility.

She has got a sport science degree of Innsbruck University, Austria. The Alta Pusteria valley is her ideal place in winter as well as in summer in order to dedicate as much time as possible to out-door sports activities.

More breaks during the single units and sufficient recovery are now made possible and considering the daily workload also necessary. Elettra works for 5–6 hours every day: 3–4 times per day she dedicates herself to 50-minutes-units on ice and she is busy with ballet classes, fitness trainings and also yoga lessons on a weekly basis. Moreover preventive visits at the physiotherapist, including massages and loosening-up exercises, are scheduled regularly.

Hard work is the basis of her precision of movements and absolute body control on highest levels and the only way to make very difficult elements apparently very easy for the spectator. This principle is decisive in figure-skating. “Bounce, speed, endurance, gracefulness, elasticity, concentration, balance, coordination”, these qualities are simply necessary for this kind of sports Elettra discusses expertly.

Her best moments so far were the qualification for the Italian national team, the perfect 3rd rank at the Italian youth championship and more very good classifications, including also a 1st rank, of diverse international competitions. A pleasant

distraction to all this was an advertising campaign worked on last year together with Carolina Kostner. In general the versatile young woman with diverse interests likes “bubbling” events. This is also a reason why she really loves her life among different international sportsmen and women in Oberstdorf. The fact of being far away from home and her family is something she learned to deal with. The initial homesickness is now gone and she is in contact with her parents, her two younger sisters and friends via WhatsApp and Skype. Family and friends are also her biggest fans and admire her at competitions whenever possible. Elettra made also new friends within the figure-skating circle.

The talented sportswoman has faced great efforts in her young life so far in order to be able to

practice figure-skating and continuously keep on developing her art and style. The reason for all that becomes “ice-clear” when she starts being enthusiastic about her life: “In my eyes figure-skating means freedom, I’m able to move freely and float in harmony with the music and fly like a bird. In particular back home in Dobbiaco at the ice rink I experience very special moments… with snow falls… then I have an even stronger feeling of freedom and moving on the ice while snowflakes are falling and the ice is crackling below the blades is just great.”

Her great enthusiasm will surely help Elettra to envisage her future targets: many national and international competitions are waiting for her and maybe – fingers crossed – we will also see her on TV one day soon?! «

« A training session with coach Michael Huth

« With Carolina Kostner at the Kiss&Cry Gardena Spring Trophy

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s t s i r u o t e Th – g n i v a e l are t u o b a s i r the wa to begin In the middle of the peak tourist and harvesting season on 28th July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia and the beginning of the First World War was set.

The innkeepers and mountain guides of the Hochpustertal valley had hoped to envisage a good season and to leave the weak year 1913 behind. However, the news about the assassination of the heir to the throne Franz ays r h o li d Ferdinand and his wife on 28th June 1914 in umme s n te o x e n is ts re of S a « To u r u q Sarajevo was reason enough for many tourists s post a t th e to interrupt their holidays in the middle of July 1915, the last guests left the Hochpustertal valley at the beginning of September.

The living conditions of the military service were new to the soldiers and they still had to get used to them. A few hours on duty per day were not enough work for everybody and in fact this condition led to some complaints:

“[2nd Nov 1914] extremely boring […] I can read, write or lie down the whole day and the biggest task is to eat [… ] if this goes on, we completely lose the habit of working.“ The daily routine at work along the railway line of the Pustertal valley was characterized by security guarding or drilling and patrolling along the railways:

“17th Sep [1914] Thursday, midnight went patrolling, feet hurt a lot because of too much walking, 12 hours of marching along the railway as it often happens.” “[31st Aug 1914] Monday one exercise at the Helm, departure at 6 o’clock, arrival at the hut or Helm peak at 11 o’clock, no water there, the hut was closed, the landscape and the view wonderful. Descent towards Sexten at 12 o’clock, one hour rest with water and bread at the Tschurtschenthaler Inn, but nobody was allowed to go inside for a beer; the area of Sexten is beautiful.”

« O c to ber 1 9 14: S e o a d m in is ff ic ia ll y d e s ig x tn e r K a is e rj ä g e r in ned by tr a ti o n fa n tr y ) o f th th e Im re g im e e p 1 e st s ri a l a n d t Im 1 A lt e n ts p e ri a l R rn a te C a n d R o y a l T o y a l m il it a ry ompan y ro le a n y, K in ig R if le s , er S ec ti o n , In n s b ru c k

It g o t q u ie t in A ll m e the va n s u it a ll e y. b le f o r t h e m il s e r v ic e it a r y r e c r u it ed dur genera in g t h e l m o b il is a t io n f a m il ie le f t t h e s b e in ir g sent to and Se G a li c ia r b ia : a s T ir o le jä g e r ( r K a is e Ty r o le a rn emp eror hu Lande s s ch ü t nter), z e n ( r if Lands le m e n ) türmer or ( m il it ia ) . momen From t t onwa h a t rds ha any ot rvests h e r k in a nd d of w ork ha be don d t o e by w omen and c h il d r e n and men n r e c r u it ot ed for the wa r.

Along the railway line of the Pustertal valley the first railway security soldiers appeared already on the first days of August 1914. Their arrival aimed to secure the strategically important railway line supplying the Eastern front and Serbia. During the first year of war these soldiers did not get in touch with the actual battles and experienced quiet times.

Some soldiers made notes in their war diaries like the then 34-year-old Karl Außerhofer, a mountain farmer stemming from Luttach-Weißenbach in the Ahrntal valley. The following cuttings provide an insight into daily life during war times in the hinterland.

Sigrid Wisthaler Author Bachelor in History and German Philology; she has been collaborating for several years with the association “Bellum Aquilarum” of Sexten on projects related to the First World War and is a German and History teacher at the Technical High School in Bruneck.

p h o to : E O b e rm g a rt e r C h ri s ü ll e r, S to p h ’s p ri v a te e x te n

c o ll e c

ti o n ,

Some of these soldiers changed their regular place of work continuously within the Hochpustertal valley and had to adapt to the new working conditions, colleagues and differences in accommodation and food. It was not always easy to get used to these conditions:

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“[14th Oct 1914] Now that everything is nicely set, it is hard to leave again. […] we marched towards Vierschach […] don’t like it anymore, in a different place you are put off a little, I meet different people and have different tasks.”

« K a rl A u ß e rh

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o fe r’ s w a r d ia ry

p h o to : F a rc h iv a m il y A d o lf e, Obe A rs c h ö ll u ß e rh o fe r’ s b e rg , L p u tt a c h ri v a te

c s c o ll e n Tri x l’ a n A n to u ) m re fo Tri x l; rc h iv.e A n to n o le r- p h o to a ir p h o to : (w w w.t P A T –

ti o n

Summer 1914

Soldiers guarded the railway line

the prayer of the Rosary “In the evening instead of itary party wanted prayer of there was dancing, the mil preferred dancing, the Rosary, the civil party 12 o’clock midnight, obviously we danced until the rhythm until 11 o’clock, children were shouting to barn and the chambers of as you have to sleep in the always hear the children the barn are connected, you shout.”

The soldiers’ free time

uai ntuse d to visi t frie nds and acq Sho rt hol ida y bre aks we re of our hoo d. At the beg inn ing anc es sta tion ed in the nei ghb to h hac ofe r we nt from Vie rsc Sep tem ber 191 4 Kar l Auß erh Tob lac h:

intances also in To“[...] there are more acqua lidays and have a strictblach, they don’t get any ho Toblach everything is er service than we have, in more, only 135 men at the beautiful, no strangers any t no military force.” railway security for the res inn s and gue st hou ses we re The che erfu l eve nin gs at the a sor row and con sid ere d to be a dis trac tion from the dai ly g yin pla t. The com bin atio n of stre ngt hen ing mo ral sup por effe ct. app are ntly had a “he alin g” car ds and drin kin g alc oho l 3rd ed dat ms from the eve nin g An exa mp le of the latt er ste e in Vie rsc hac h: Oc tob er 191 4 at the inn Löw

to the host to drink “[...] In the evening I went ke me up […] and then Schnaps (spirit) which wo and afterwards I didn’t played Watten (a card game) w what to do if I don’t feel ill anymore, now I kno feel well.”

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« In th e m id d le p ic tu ri n A u ß e rh o g K a rl fe r. In 1 s ta ti o n e 914 he d a t th e was s e c ti o n ra il way sec in th e H u ri ty o c h p u s te rt a l v a ll e y

photo: Family Alois Furtschegger’s private archive, Scheterer, Innichen

s, the refo re in itar y acc om mo dat ion opt ion The re we re not eno ugh mil act ) enl iste d eis tun gsg ese tz (wa r pow ers acc ord anc e wit h the Krie gsl ses : at farm s, to be hos ted in priv ate hou me n and offi cer s had als o we re est abl ish ed. els offi ces and gua rdr oom s gue st hou ses , inn s and hot s at lea st a littl e riat e com pen sat ion wh ich wa rop app ed eiv rec ts hos The sol die r Kar l in the se diff icu lt tim es. The add itio nal inc om e for the m Vie rsc hac h ed tem por aril y at a farm in Auß erh ofe r wa s acc om mo dat nin gs, as for als o som e ent erta inin g eve wh ere the re hap pen ed to be th 4: ins tan ce on Aug ust 29 191

ph ot o: S ig rid W is th al er ’s pr iv at e ar ch iv e,

Private accommodation for soldiers

B ru ne ck

« Innichen: Procession with Roman crucifixion ensemble;

Religion In the first months of war more processions, devotions and dedications were held. On 8 th September 1914 the celebration of the Birth of the Virgin Mary took place in Innichen:

“[...] Today many processions passing, from Bruneck to Abfaltersbach, in every municipality until Innichen, there a big cross was carried, 24 men were carrying it.”

The Franciscan monastery in Innichen was also getting ready for the wartimes. Since the mobilisation almost every Sunday and public holiday it was available for confessions and until the end of 1914 also every workday. Rosaries and pennies were distributed for free and militarists got soup and other food at its front entrance. Moreover at the monastery also military curates were hosted. The following is a cutting from the monastery’s chronicles: “At the beginning of August the military curate Anton Vitti was sitting at the table with the confreres for about a fortnight enjoying the hospitality. Also military curate Kurz did the same from the middle of October until All Saints. From that day on the latter chose another table, as the order’s fasting began; however he stayed at the monastery until December 21 st ."

The Hochpustertal valley became an immediate front line battle area o The off- dut y per iod s we re als e som use d by sol die rs to ma ke ext ens ive wa lks. In No vem ber sta 191 4 Kar l Auß erh ofe r wa s for a tion ed in Tob lac h and we nt es: tim l wa lk to Nie der dor f sev era

“On Thursday I went to Niederdorf, visited the h church, a beautiful churc with two graves, also the village is pretty; judging from the houses there are lots of tourists in summer I guess.” “On Saturday morning I went for a walk to Maistadt [Bad Maistatt] in the surroundings of Niederdorf, had a bath, beautiful view, a church, in ) the Stube (Tyrolean lounge there was a parrot that drank from a glass of wine.”

On 23 rd May 1915 Italy declared war on the Austrian-Hungarian Empire: suddenly the villages of the Hochpustertal valley found themselves placed directly at the mountain front area. In the meanwhile some soldiers of the railway security section had been turned into militia battalions and were now marching towards Sexten, initially stationed in the valley for patrolling. Among them there was also the soldier Karl Außerhofer who wrote the following lines into his diary on 21 st June 1915:

“[...] In the morning we were 15 men patrolling up to the Kreuzberg mountain, 2 officers went with us, our lieutenant and the cadet, but both don’t understand anything, first we went up for 1 hour on the shady side and then back down and then again 2 hours up on the sunny side and there we saw the Italians […] there were loads of tents and the Pölz [Italians] did some trainings nearby and suddenly they started shooting, but not in our direction.”

Starting from the end of June 1915 for those soldiers the hard war routine started at the mountain front.

Another three and a half years of war followed until the soldiers were allowed to go back home enjoying peacetimes. «

DoloMythos Museum shows peace in times of war

This year, the DolomiteMuseum DoloMythos located in San Candido/ Innichen, is dedicating a special exhibition to all those simple and ordinary people who lived in the mountains during the First World War and who tried everything in their means to stop violence within that conflict.

An exhibition about peace in times of war.

Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. www.dolomythos.com/en/

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photo: Rotwild - Shutterstock

UNESCO World Heritage On September 4th the first permanent exhibition related to the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage opened at the Drei Zinnen Nature Park visitor centre. It is located in the newly constructed 250 sqm underground hall. The exhibition is divided into two sections: the first one informs visitors about the UNESCO sites in general as well as about geology and geomorphology in the Dolomites in particular. The second section accompanies visitors on a time travel back to the origins of the Dolomites..

Opening hours: from 30 th December until 28 th March 2015; Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 – 6:00 p.m.

FREE ENTRY!

geological history “engraved” in the rocks

Here they are the stone giants and using the Austrian alpinist Hermann Buhl’s (*1926 – † 1957) expression, they “stretch their heads in the sky as if they didn’t belong to mother earth anymore”.

Verena Larcher Author Graduate studies in Geology at Innsbruck University, Austria Geologist at the Department of Geology and Examination of Building Materials in Kardaun, South Tyrol since 2010 Main focus: Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, modelling of mass movements, emergency operations in case of rock falls and landslides on roads and settlements, hazard and risk zoning.

These are the Dolomites: since 2009 they proudly present the U N E SCO World Heritage award which crowns their natural uniqueness and exceptional nature all over the world. They are actually the remains of an antique sea bed marked by islands created hundreds of millions of years ago in the tropical sea nearby the equatorial areas. Today these giants tell the endless seeming story of the long passing of time, the activity of immense forces which submerged the antique sea bed and its island slowly down the waters from where it arose again towards the sky. Snails and shells populated these rocky sculptures and the latter were clenched, bent, folded, stacked, buried by the glaciers’ ice and here they are now reaching the stars with their pinnacles and crests and letting themselves be touched by a multicolour variety of light reflections.

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Everything started about 250 millions of years ago when the supercontinent Gondwana (Africa) in the South and Laurasia (Europe) in the North deposited different sediments layer by layer and stacked them on top of one other. The ocean called Paleo-Tethys was created in the course of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean which then flooded over wide distances of the continental coastal regions forming the area on which the Dolomites were created.

A big fauna variety populated this antique sea whose traces witness the then existing habitats in almost forgotten worlds still today. Characterized by the change in space and time the former was also confronted with continuously evolving ecosystems: in particular some volcanic eruptions paralysed more than once

the development of life on earth in the Dolomites’ sedimentation, a fact that can be retraced in the mass extinctions documented within diverse layers of rock. The earth’s clock of evolution was not only stopped, its hands were also set to 00.00 again.

However, as much as the animals’ and plants’ world was exposed to massive stress, the wheel of life never stopped running. On the contrary, new species appeared and developed themselves in the most diverse forms, built reef structures and found their home on the sea bottom or within the free water columns.

Later on, 80 millions of years ago, the Southern African plate was pushed northwards. The heavier oceanic crust of the Tethys Sea submerged in the course of >>

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Temporary exhibitions: 30 th December 2014 28 th March 2015 – Dinomiti: reptiles, fossils and dinosaurs in the Dolomites

photo: Renè Riller

The Dolomites

Information: ph: +39 0474 973 017 F 39 0474 973 974 info.dz@provinz.bz.it www.provinz.bz.it/naturparke

photo: Rotwild - shutterstock

The Dolomites’ development history

gravity (plate tectonics) into the earth’s mantle and was finally “swallowed” entirely. Two continents – Africa and Europe – collided, the giant layer packages were lifted from the sea, broken, stacked, bent and folded. From the originally horizontal rock strata some partially oblique, intensively twisted forms arose. Today’s rocks of the Dolomites rise up to a maximum of 3,000 m.

A new characterizing process was started with the rose from the sea and thus the exposure of these rocks: the weathering. Wind and water shaped and polished the edges, back then as well as today.

Narrow channels became wide canals, rock ledges were levelled as if by hand of plane. From the moment the towers were exposed the breakdown started immediately. The stonecutter called erosion formed an extraordinary landscape made of towers, pinnacles and cols and left scree as a waste product at the foot of his works.

About 200 millions of years ago it started to get cold, very cold: a massive ice shield covered the young mountains several times, changed the shape of V-valleys into U-valleys, provided the last touch for the landscape until about 10,000 years ago when the warm period dominated this area and forced the glaciers back to the highest peaks.

Today woods and valleys divide the landscape as the sea inlets did with the rock islands. The then

today created riffs we find as mountain peaks today in the exact same position as about 200 millions of years ago, they are simply situated much more in the North compared to the times of their sedimentation.

This whole slow process of events is written down in the rocks and fossils of the Dolomites. They tell us about what happened at the bottom of that tropical sea, what no human being has ever seen and in times when dinosaurs still wandered around in the mud of the beaches. They are the stony screenplay of life itself and tell about the birth and death of many habitats having the creation of an outstanding landscape as its happy end.

Schematic illustration: The creation of the Dolomites The section from the Langental valley to the Pordoijoch pass shows the development of the diverse stone stratification starting from the sedimentation to its unfolding.

This is probably the most unique evidence of geological history, but it’s also the myth, the fascinating forms and shapes of these pale mountains which reflect as a mirror the lights of hundreds of colours and which persuaded the World Heritage Committee to include them into the world natural heritage. Today they reach out for the clouds and the sky even more proudly in order that anyone can see their UNESCO crown! «

Illustration: How did the shaping of the Drei Zinnen take place?

The shaping of the Drei Zinnen has primarily a tectonic reason, i.e., the erosion could start on the vertical fractured surfaces between the single towers.

Following the “hard over soft” principle the main dolomite, based on soft Raibler layers, has been cracking and crashing little by little conferring the today’s towers eventually their shape.

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A fabulous winter experience

6.

We all know the famous peaks, but in winter? Well, precisely in winter they seem to reach out for the sky from the deeply snow-covered winter landscape even more strongly and it is possible to experience them without hustle and bustle. With a mountain guide the ascent from the Val Fiscalina valley up to the Rifugio Locatelli hut from which you have a stunning view enjoying the top just for yourself is simply fantastic.

8 terrific reasons to look forward to the winter in the Alta Pusteria valley

Because we do have the most beautiful slopes and cross-country ski trails directly at our front door

2.

7.

Because we love

winter romance

instead of traffic

queues and stressful situations

1.

Georg Weindl Author The freelance journalist lives in Chiemgau Bayern, Germany and travels quite frequently through South Tyrol for reports on behalf of daily newspapers, magazines as well as guidebooks.

True, we are situated a little bit outof-the-way in the Alta Pusteria valley. There are no airports, no highways and no subways. However, our guests usually don’t mind travelling for some miles. They enjoy the journey through the Dolomites and know perfectly well why to be looking forward to reach the Alta Pusteria valley. No queues, no parking problems, no noise, but nice and friendly country hotels instead of concrete skyscrapers and wonderful nature just at the front door. Romantic winter walks, cross-country skiing tours and relaxing excursions by bus or by train. At some point they completely forget about their car which is parked somewhere nearby. This is definitely a good way of living in the deceleration mode.

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Day in day out our guest enjoy a relaxed and carefree stay in the Alta Pusteria valley. Why not? No stress in the morning as the pistes and crosscountry-ski trails are only a stone‘s throw away. Guests stay directly at the ski resort or the cross-country-ski trails are just a few steps away.

3.

Because children have fun and this makes parents happy

Children want to have fun. Parents usually agree on that point, but on top of that parents want to avoid stressful situations. The Alta Pusteria offers ideal conditions to fulfil both requirements. The ski resorts are multifaceted and children are simply thrilled. At the same time the ski areas are also clearly structured in order to help parents to always know where their juniors are. For the very young guests there are some smaller and very easy lifts, ski kinder gardens and smooth descents on the enchanted carpet.

Because in winter the “Three Peaks” are absolutely worth the trip

4.

Because also reindeers feel comfortable here

The fact that guests rub their eyes as soon as they get off the cable car at the Croda Rossa summit station has surely something to do with Rudi.

Reindeers in the middle of the Dolomites? Nobody actually expects to see a reindeer here. Thus Rudi and his colleagues are truly considered to be a highlight and they have big fans indeed. Reindeers at the Croda Rossa feel visibly comfortable and, by the way, visitors also do. They watch these animals stemming from the far North while they are fed for example. Another unforgettable experience is the trip with the horsedrawn sleighs along tracks at about 2,000m through the picturesque winter landscape.

Because even cross-country

skiing is

enjoyable here

5.

A wide open mountain meadow at 2,000m, an alpine plateau with a 360 degree panorama: this is the Prato Piazza. In cross-country sets this is THE place. Where else do you find such a spectacular, promising and blessed with guaranteed snow cover cross-country ski trail?

Well, in the Alta Pusteria valley you do. Cross-country skiing is made of special quality here, there are famous trails in the romantic Val Fiscalina or in the Val di Landro valley between Dobbiaco and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Finally, at the end of the day there is always a cosy inn which easily attracts everyone passing by with its delicious local cuisine.

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Because we have got the steepest piste

Winter sports fans simply adore the Alta Pusteria valley. This is the home country of the “Three Peaks” and the Sextner Dolomiten and the Dolomiti di Braies which also in winter offer real challenges. The steepest piste in South Tyrol, for example, is located here at the Croda Rossa. The Holzriese descent is 720 m long with 304m of height difference and a maximal inclination of 71%. Obviously it is always best groomed and there is also a smooth drive round available.

8.

Because we are terribly old-fashioned

They are far from being beautiful, they are quite loud and still very popular: the “devils from Dobbiaco” (Toblacher Krampusse) are surely a highlight and the “Krampus run” at the beginning of December is one of the biggest and oldest events of its kind. About 250 devils (Krampusse) and other scary characters roam around the night wearing wild masks and a heavy fur disguise.

Originally this used to be a pagan custom with which the evil winter spirits would be driven away. And this is the case also today. «

photo: SMG - Frieder Blickle

photo: Rotwild - Shutterstock

All you need

When and where are these tasty rural delicacies made?

to know about

‘‘Krapfen”

A deeply old story Krapfen have a quite long story.

Which kind of foodstuffs were available for the farmwomen in the past centuries? Milk, eggs, flour of different cereals, quark and cheese, vegetables only in summer, cabbage, potatoes, pork fat, yeast, honey, different grains and seeds: the ingredients for the Krapfen. The famous “Wiener Faschingskrapfen” (Vienna’s Carnival Krapfen) were mentioned already in the 15th century and Hans Sachs, the famous Mastersinger of Nuremberg, in 1540 wrote the Shrovetide play “Das

a very long Tradition

Krapfenholen” (Getting Krapfen). The latter used to be a very old custom, almost forgotten nowadays, according to which the landlords of religious orders invited their tenants for dinner at Shrovetide as a reward for delivering their tithing. In the German-speaking area, where this tradition comes from, it was common to get the “Fasnachtskiechle” directly at the presbytery or from rich neighbours. The same tradition was held in South Tyrol where this custom lasted up to the 17th century. In Kiens, a small town in the lower Pustertal valley, at Whitsun the dove arose as a symbol of the Holy Spirit floating over the high altar and then it started “raining” Krapfen from the church’s ceiling.

Krapfen three times a year

Except from big events in life, as weddings or ordinations to the priesthood, in the valleys of Western Tyrol in general Krapfen were made three times a year: for Christmas, for Shrovetide and for “Kirchtag” (fair) often held on the harvest festival’s day. >>

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Everybody who knows the term “Krapfen” immediately thinks of the traditional round deep-fried dough. In South Tyrol, however, there are many deep-fried sweet or salty specialties carrying this name and they can be divided into three main groups: “Blattln” » small flat dough-cakes “Küchl” » yeast dough without filling “Krapfen” » specialities with filling 34

experience

Toblach Dobbiaco

Innichen San Candido

Heinfels

enjoy

Lienz

15 min. from Dobbiaco Panzendorf 196 – 9919 Heinfels – Austria

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shop

Angela De Simine Author Freelance journalist and nonmedical practitioner. She published several books on naturopathy and participated in diverse conferences related to herbal medicine, aromatherapy, flower remedies and traditional Chinese medicine. Her passion is linked to nature, children, animals, books, history and traditions. She lives in Dobbiaco closely at the forest’s edge.

Krapfen as wages Krapfen were a very substantial type of food, often filled and baked in oil and thus important for the nutrition in times when most of the work was manual and a big amount of calories had to be supplied. The “Krapfen as free gifts” were part of the servants’ wages and widely spread at the farms and even considered almost mandatory. Already in 1709 the nun in charge of the kitchen at the Sonnenburg monastery, close to Bruneck, counted 5 types of Krapfen being part of the servants’ wages: Krapfen made of wheat flour for the festival of the patron saints, for Christmas and for Easter; “Ruspan”-Krapfen made of rye flour and sourdough; wide-shaped Krapfen made of sourdough, also called “Taschkrapfen”; small Krapfen as “Niggelen” made of

photo: Rotwild - shutterstock

In the Eastern valleys, especially in the Pustertal valley, Krapfen were made at the bigger farms and until the beginning of the First World War 16 times a year, on the so called “Krapfen days”: for Christmas, Catholic festival of Candlemass, Shrovetide, festival of the patron saints, sowing festival, harvest festival, thresh festival and All Saints. The Krapfen made the evening before the festivals were distributed among the farmhands as free gift and the number of them was decided according to the servants’ ranks and the festival’s importance.

rye flour; long-shaped ones also called “Wetzsteine” (whetstones).

Krapfen for the poor souls Solemn moments characterized All Saints and All Souls’ day, when faith and superstition created a connection between the poor souls in the purgatory and the poor people. Again, this was a special occasion for the Krapfen, the so called “Zeitenkrapfen” (time Krapfen), which were put on the window-sills as gifts for the souls in the purgatory who would come back to visit their relatives in the night of All Saints. For All Souls’ day the migrant craftsmen and day labourers got a “supplement”, i.e., gifts in the form of bread, wheat, poppy seeds and Krapfen.

What are real Krapfen?

As we have seen Krapfen is a general term which stands for very different types of preparation, several shapes and types of flour and have a different name depending on the place they are baked. It could be made an attempt to call Krapfen only the pastry with filling, however there would be too many exceptions: “Blattln”: small round flat doughcakes popular in the whole South Tyrol, made during fasting period or on working days.

“Küchl”: generally made of yeast dough without filling. To this category pertain “Knieküchel” or

Storytelling by a farmwoman

photo: Rotwild

photo: SMG - Frieder Blickle

Traditional “Strauben“

“Niggelen”, as they are called in the Pustertal valley. On the first Sunday during fasting period it was common to eat “Kassunti” deriving from “Käsesonntag” (cheese Sunday).

Filled with cheese they introduced the time of abstinence and remorse.

The “Ruspenen Krapfen” of the village festivals in the Pustertal valley are made without any filling, as well as the “Knieküchl”, which contain at most poppy seeds. Passing over to another specialty: “Türtl” or “Tirtl” or “Tirtlan”, round shaped flat Krapfen with filling, which up to a few decades were considered an everyday meal served on Wednesdays for lunch, on Saturdays and the day before holidays for dinner: filled with quark and spinach, potatoes and spinach or simply with cabbage.

A specialty imported to the Hochpustertal valley: “Strauben“

» Krapfen: Delicacies with filling

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Their origins from the Zillertal valley or from South Tyrol are doubtful, however the tasty “Strauben” are made in the Hochpustertal valley since the beginning of the 20th century and are also known in Kurtatsch, in the Southern part of the Bolzano Province. They are sprinkled with icing sugar and served with cranberry jam.

"My friend Renate Steinwandter Taschler, chairwoman of the farmers’ association in Toblach, told me that traditions were maintained more strongly up to the 60ies and 70ies at the farms and within the families compared to today. The everyday rhythm was characterized by some dishes, as “Tirtlan”, regularly served once a week for lunch together with barely soup. Krapfen filled with jam were served on important public holidays as Christmas and Easter, for the festival of the patron saints and for the harvest festival, while “Niggelen” were made in occasion of famers’ festivals, for weddings and funerals, without filling as well as with quark, poppy seeds and honey.

“Today” – Renate says – the diet has changed, as well as the farmers’ work.

Working at a farm is not so hard anymore, agricultural machines are a big help and people don’t burn so many calories as they did in the past. Doctors warnings of too fatty dishes are everywhere and thus our cooking style has changed.

However, the Krapfen keep on to be an important cornerstone of South Tyrolean tradition and we often bake them for our guests during summer festivals, for the inauguration of new buildings, in case of official ceremonies and for festivals in general. They continue to be homemade and every farmwoman has her own secret recipe for particularly tasty Krapfen that she would never ever reveal.” «

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in the Alta Pusteria valley

Credits Editor: Alta Pusteria Tourism Association Editor in charge: Michael Wachtler Grafics & Layout: Werbeagentur Rotwild (Brixen) – www.rotwild.it Editorial office & coordination: Alta Pusteria Tourism Association / Patrizia Hörmann Texting: Larcher Verena, Georg Weindl, Stefan Herbke, Martina Pfeifhofer, Covi Curti, Sigrid Wisthaler, Judith Steinmair, Angela de Siminie Translations: Kerstin Pramstaller Cover: photogruener Advertisement: Alta Pusteria Tourism Association / Patrizia Hörmann Printing: Longo SPA All information is subject to change!

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photo: T. Grüner

Summer

Alemagnastraße 4 | I-39034 Toblach T +39 0474 972 142 info@hotel-santer.com www.hotel-santer.com

Trachten Stüberl

Ihr Trachten- & Lodenfachgeschäft im Pustertal St.-Johannes-Str. 69 :: I-39034 TO B L A C H Tel. +39 0474 972 350