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B26
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Schlernhaus / Rifugio Bolzano » Bozen / Bolzano
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Leave the Schlern high plateau and head along trail no. 1 to the South East. From the Sesselschwaige, the adventurous "Knüppelweg“ trail leads through the Schlernbach gorge, which must be followed until the trail forks off left to the Tschafon Hut, the next stage destination. From the Hut on the Tschafon (1,733m), follow the trail to Tiers, from where there is a regular bus service to Bolzano.
Detailed route description
Leave the Schlern tableland by taking the trail up 1,400m in altitude over the south-western ridge down to the traditional “Schwaige” of Sessel. This marks the start of a hazardous trail to Völs passing between the rock faces of a ravine. The so-called “Knüppelweg” trail built from wooden boards runs alongside the Schlernbach stream. At a crossing with a resting place, a trail turns left in the direction of Tschafon. Follow this flat woodland trail below the Hammerwand; the destination is the Tschafon Hut. First, follow the signs for trail no. 7, then the 4a signs on a gentle incline and finally trail no. 4, which then leads down to Tiers (1,015m). The Tschafon Hut (accommodation offered) is situated below the Tschafon at 1,733m. So there is still a descent of another 700m in altitude before reaching the main town of the Tiersertal valley. From the Tschafon, forest trails lead almost into Triers, and occasionally it is possible to take the short-cut marked as 4a. Due to the fact that there were scarcely any structures (signposts) and markings at the time when Via Alpina was being mapped out, the trail to Tiers is not clearly marked (although there are plans for improvement). It is therefore up to each individual hiker to decide on a route in the trail network using the map. The destination in this stage is in any case Tiers, from where there is a regular bus service with Bolzano. You can of course use this public transport to reach the provincial capital in the fastest way possible.
(Stefan Illmer, Karin Leichter, AVS)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Schlern nature park comprises a surface area of 6,806 hectares in three communities: Kastelruth, Völs am Schlern and Tiers. In the centre of the whole nature park stands the Schlern massif, which offers ideal preconditions that qualify it for special protection, such as the uniqueness of its flora and fauna and its geological structure. Furthermore, this is an area of great prehistoric, historic and thus cultural significance: the settlements here show clear signs of overlapping Ladin and German culture. The geological makeup of the nature park bears valuable and impressive witness to changes on the earth’s surface. The Schlern, for instance, used to form part of the sea bed of the primordial Mediterranean. At the Schlern, you can clearly see the structure of the primeval coral reefs and on the slopes of the Rosszähne peaks there are visible traces of volcanic processes. The flora and fauna and also the forms of human settlement are linked to the geological composition of the area. The entire area is extraordinarily rich in water, especially in streams, which run down into ravines and little valleys. From a landscape point of view, this abundance of water offers a spectacle of enchanting beauty. The clarity of the fresh clear waters and often picturesque little waterfalls are a magnificent sight. In addition to this, the high moorland represents a biotope of particular interest. There is a vast animal world, not least of all due to the strict protection regulations. The colour palette of the flora in the Schlern park is one of the most diverse in the entire alpine region. Both the individual forms and the plant communities that from a scientific viewpoint are unique are of particular interest. In the flowering season in the month of June, a gloriously lush green carpet dotted with white covers the Schlern plateau. The full bloom period for the various plant species lasts from mid-June until the end of July. People have lived in the nature park area since prehistoric times, as proven by numerous traces and remains of major cultural and scientific significance. Settlements, places of worship and heathen spring sanctuaries stem from the Laugen culture. This is another fact that increases the mysterious power of attraction of the Schlern. The Schlern is not called the “mountain of fate” for nothing.
(Stefan Illmer, Karin Leichter, AVS)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
Schäufelesteig and Knüppelweg trails.
Useful topographic maps
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Nr. 54 Bozen ~ Kompass (1:50.000)
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Nr. 029 Schlern ~ Tabacco (1:25.000)
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WKS 1 ~ Freytag & Berndt (1:50.000)
Websites relative to natural and cultural heritage
Last update : 2009-12-03
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