Discover the sights of the Vinschgau
Wow moments await at every corner
Do you know the abundance of fascinating historic landmarks around Reschensee lake? Culture lovers know just how much there is packed in to the small area of the Upper Vinschgau. First among the highlights: the submerged tower in the lake.
As the symbol of the region, it captivates visitors with its mysterious aura and moving story. No less fascinating is the little town of Glurns, where the Middle Ages remain very much alive in the present day.
Churches are not only inviting for a spiritual pause along the way, but also open up glimpses of the past with their paintings and frescoes. Marienberg abbey and evocative castle ruins spark curiosity and invite exploration.
Museums make the past tangible, while local artists look towards the future with roots firmly in their homeland. The diversity of sights is immense. Go exploring and be inspired.
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The tower in the lake
Lonely, fairy-tale like and peaceful. The submerged tower of Alt-Graun in the emerald-green Reschensee lake is South Tyrol’s most famous photo motif. Behind its popularity lies a moving story: the tower stands as witness to a tragic time. Despite fierce protests, Reschensee lake was dammed in 1950 for hydroelectric power. Some 150 families lost their homes in the waters.
Today, the tower in the lake symbolises the resilience and unity of the entire region. Beyond the emotions it stirs, its dramatic mountain backdrop makes it the number one destination in the Vinschgau region.
The town of Glurns
A medieval jewel straight out of a picture book. Its location between apple orchards and the mystical Tartscher Bühel adds an extra sparkle. With just 900 inhabitants, Glurns is the smallest town in the Alps. It is also the only one with its complete defensive walls intact. Ten-metre-high ramparts, ten guard towers and three mighty gate towers enclose the historic centre.
Glurns was already an important trading centre on the Via Claudia Augusta back in Roman times. First mentioned as a town in 1304 and largely destroyed around 1500, it was rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century - with the imposing city walls that still amaze visitors today
Churches and monasteries
On the trail of towers, bells, and frescoes. In Mals, the village of five towers, a stroll from church to church is a journey through centuries of history and well worth your time. The Carolingian church of St. Benedikt impresses with frescoes dating back to the 8th century and invites you to marvel and explore. For culture enthusiasts, another must is the Romanesque chapel of St. Veit, perched on the mystical Tartscher Bühel. It is one of the most mysterious sacred treasures of the region.
Visible from afar and immediately eye-catching, the imposing Benedictine abbey of Marienberg abbey rises above Burgeis. Those who follow the medieval “spiritual route” into the Münstertal valley will be rewarded at the UNESCO World Heritage site of St. Johann abbey with its renowned sacred art.
Castles & residences
Churburg Castle stands majestically above Schluderns and is home to the largest armoury in Europe. Romantic and mysterious, the castle ruins of Reichenberg and Rotund in the rustic Münstertal awake the imagination.
Throughout the region, ancient walls inspire fresh wonder. Castles and noble residences tell the stories of daily life, events and personalities from a bygone era.
Bunker & tank trap
The well-preserved bunker complexes of the “Alpenwall” in the Upper Vinschgau date back to the inter-war period and stand as silent memorials to a turbulent past. Guided tours through tunnels, passages and barriers bring the former defensive line vividly to life.
The Panzersperre tank trap at Plamort is also part of the “Alpenwall”. This fascinating relic, once built to secure the border and stop advancing tanks, is now a popular hiking destination offering unique panoramic views.
Museums
Museums bring the history and culture of the region to life. A museum tour in the Holiday region Reschensee lake is a journey between worlds: the world of the Benedictines at Marienberg abbey, the world of archaeology and ancient irrigation at the Vintschger Museum in Schluderns, and the world of caricaturist Paul Flora, whose works are displayed in his home town of Glurns.
The adventure world at the Graun Museum Vinschger Oberland tells the moving story of the flooding of the valley. Travel through the ages and let yourself be captivated by the stirring history.