ALPE Winter 2025/2026

ALPE

Seiser Alm Magazine

KASTELRUTH · SEIS AM SCHLERN · SEISER ALM · VÖLS AM SCHLERN · TIERS AM ROSENGARTEN

Trend

Veganism? Snailed it!

Ice Age

Broomball, ice stock and more …

Olympics

Martin Fill was there, in 1964

The South Tyrol Sustainability Seal identifies destinations, accommodation and restaurants that actively contribute to conscious travel. Get to know which they are and walk with South Tyrol towards a sustainable future.

suedtirol.info/sustainable-holiday

Dear

readers!

It’s lovely to have you here! Perhaps this is your first time spending a relaxing break in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm, and you’re looking forward to new discoveries. Or perhaps you’ve been coming for years to enjoy a few liberating winter days in our snowy mountains, on the slopes, hiking, or simply basking in the sun in front of a mountain hut.

Whatever the case, we are delighted to share some entertaining stories from our holiday region and offer a few ideas for your stay. If you enjoy winter hiking you can look forward to over 60 km of groomed hiking trails on the Seiser Alm, most of which lead to beautiful starting points for further hikes. One such route is the circular trail to Tschapit. If you’re out and about on cross-country skis, on the other hand, you’re sure to encounter Matthias Höllrigl, Sheriff of the Trails. Now in his 80s, Matthias collects the trail fees, and is always happy to provide advice and assistance to cross-country skiers.

Martin Fill is another one of our seasoned personalities. A competitor in the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Martin has fond memories of his time as a ski racer. We also meet Veronika Rier, who looks

back on the history of local tourism. As key contact person in the tourist association, “Vroni” has helped shape the progress of tourism in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm for decades.

On the Seiser Alm, the hotel adorned with blue snails is home to a host of surprises: Veganism is the guiding principle of the hotel owners here, who have brought in a remarkable expert for the kitchen: head chef Aggeliki Charami, young, dynamic, and a rockstar of the vegan scene. Incidentally, Kloazn—the traditional dried-pear filling for Krapfen fried pastries—is also vegan.

The Rosengarten was once the realm of the mythical King Laurin, to whom we owe the magnificent Enrosadira glow at dawn and dusk. Though Laurin’s kingdom has long since vanished, the Rosengarten still enchants visitors today—and in Tiers, locals enjoy a wide variety of ice sports at the local ice rink. Although climate change now threatens the ice beneath the Rosengarten more than any legendary foe, the joy of outdoor activities is something nobody can take from us.

We wish you a happy and relaxing break.

Helmut Mitterstieler President of Seiser Alm Marketing in the name of the Tourist Offices of Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Seiser Alm, Völs am Schlern and Tiers am Rosengarten.

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Winter Music Festival Swing on Snow

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Lifestyle – Veganism? Snailed it!

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Winter hikes: The Tschapit circular trail Page 18

Vroni Rier and her life dedicated to tourism

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With Matthias Höllrigl, the Sheriff of the Trails

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Fun and games at Tiers ice rink

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Martin Fill remembers the Olympics Page 36

Enrosadira and the Legend of Laurin

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The Oswald von Wolkenstein Riding Tournament

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Kloazn – a delicious cultural heritage

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Recipe: Kloazn filling

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Highlights winter 2025/26

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Preview summer 2026

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Around & about

Swing on Snow

For over 20 years now, the Alpine Winter Music Festival “Swing on Snow” has filled the mountain air with the strains of authentic Alpine music. Over six days in March 2026, musicians will perform at a variety of venues in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm, treating audiences to a vast spectrum of sounds ranging from traditional folk to experimental compositions. With world-class bands blending folk, brass, soul, pop and jazz, Swing on Snow promises a unique musical experience that is absolutely unmissable.

Veganism? Snailed it!

Veganism may not be a mainstream lifestyle choice, but a growing number of people are opting for an animal-free diet. Among them are the Spögler family from Paradiso Pure.Living on the Seiser Alm, one of Italy’s first vegan hotels. Greek chef Aggeliki Charami, shooting star of plant-based cuisine, is the creative mind behind the innovative culinary concept.

With outsize electric-blue snails crawling over its facade, the hotel Paradiso Pure.Living on the Seiser Alm is impossible to miss. Created by Italian art collective CrackingART, the eye-catching exterior offers a hint of what guests can expect within: works by around 25 artists from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and Great Britain line the walls, all part of the Pure.Art Circle and available for purchase. Behind this conceptual project, which places contemporary art at the very heart of the hotel, are the passionate convictions of owners Alexander and Maximilian Spögler.

Gastronomy, furnishings, cosmetics—a holistic vegan concept

The artistic emphasis, however, is just one of the Paradiso’s many special features—the artwork on the facade also reflects the second core principle: Just as snails feed exclusively on plants, the hotel itself follows a holistic vegan philosophy. “Only a small handful of hotels in Italy have embraced a

similar approach,” say the Spögler brothers. Two of these are also owned by the Spögler family: their mother Valeria runs the Hotel La Vimea in Naturns, near Meran, which adopted an all-round vegan concept around ten years ago, arguably making it Italy’s first vegan hotel. Their sister Franziska and her husband manage the Vegan Agrivilla I Pini in Tuscany. Paradiso Pure.Living on the Seiser Alm became a vegan hotel in 2019 following its last major renovation.

“The holistic concept doesn’t end with the cuisine; every single aspect of the hotel is vegan, from the wines and spirits to the body-care products in the rooms and the furnishings themselves,” explains Alexander Spögler. “The path which led to our vegan hotels is one of personal conviction,” he adds. Alexander made the step from vegetarianism to veganism around 5 years ago, as did his brother Maximilian. “Our mother turned vegan over 20 years ago for ethical and health reasons. Our sister was a toddler in kindergarten when she made her own moral decision to stop eating animal-based food, 35 years ago—making her one of the first vegans in South Tyrol,” smiles Spögler. Over time, the family “decided to take the very radical step of transforming our business so that we run it like we run our lives.”

Pioneering ventures in the vegan hotel industry (l-r): Paradiso-Pure.Living head chef

Pioneering paths and hurdles

As is often the case with pioneering ventures, the transition was anything but easy: In the early days, a good number of guests struggled to get to grips with the vegan concept. Or, as Alexander puts it, “Fully vegan is not yet fully ready for the mainstream.” That’s why the brothers do their utmost to communicate exactly what the hotel offers, “so that we don’t attract the wrong guests,” Alexander explains. Nearly half of the Paradiso’s guests are neither vegetarian nor vegan, but have come to the area to ski, hike, or enjoy a relaxing spa break. “They have to know that we don’t offer vegan interpretations of traditional South Tyrolean dishes. Other people do that, and that’s the way it should be. Our DNA is different,” he emphasises.

Sourcing vegan ingredients and products presents another challenge, partly because the Paradiso sits at 2,000 metres above sea level, making it impossible to grow their own fruit and vegetables. “But we’ve learned how to organise ourselves: wherever possible, we source organic products from local and regional producers. In this respect, we are very lucky here in South Tyrol,” says Maximilian Spögler. “Other ingredients, however, are somewhat less local, such as the various seaweeds which our head chef Aggeliki Charami uses in abundance.” Seaweed, considered a superfood, is high in protein and an important part of a vegan diet. Mushrooms are another staple of vegan cuisine; the Paradiso menu occasionally features Chicken of the Woods, the common name given to sulphur polypore mushrooms. “They’re not easy to come by. A friend of Chef Aggeliki picks them for us in Greece and sends them over—it’s fantastic!” adds Maximilian Spögler happily.

Culinary flamboyance

Paradiso chef Aggeliki Charami is as unconventional and eccentric as the mushrooms she uses: in her mid-30s, with an engaging charisma, numerous tattoos, silver jewellery on arms and ears, and strikingly expressive eye makeup, she is the

“Aggeliki Charami is young, a woman, and a rockstar of the vegan scene; people from every corner of the world come here to experience her cuisine.”

very embodiment of flamboyance. Before Charami turned to the world of cooking, she says, she “worked nights as a bartender.” When she switched to a plant-based diet around seven years ago, for ethical reasons, she also changed careers. Rather than pursuing a traditional culinary apprenticeship, Charami read extensively, asked a lot of questions, experimented, and rose through the ranks with meteoric speed. Before coming to the Seiser Alm around two years ago, she worked at a 5-star vegan hotel on Mykonos, where she continues to oversee the culinary concept—a role she now also fulfils at La Vimea. “She is young, a woman, and a rockstar of the vegan scene; people from every corner of the world come here to experience her cuisine,” says Alexander Spögler.

“What Aggeliki Charami does in the kitchen is art—something completely different, and special.”

Charami is also an active ambassador for vegan cuisine beyond the Paradiso. Recently, she appeared as guest judge on the Greek edition of popular TV show “MasterChef,” and as a visiting chef at a luxury hotel on Crete, where she presented the 11-course vegan menu served at Paradiso’s gourmet restaurant, OMNIA Plant Based. She explains that the menu was inspired by her childhood. “I grew up on a small farm near the mountain—we had meat almost every day there, but less snow than here,” she grins. Now, Charami wants to demonstrate that a vegan diet can be imaginative, creative, and decidedly refined. “Chef Aggeliki does a lot of fer-

menting, even more smoking, and pickles a whole array of foods. She’s incredibly innovative, and combines tastes like few others,” Maximilian reveals. “What she does in the kitchen is art—something completely different, and special.” “The artistic and mystical ambience of the hotel makes it easier for guests to understand, especially non-vegans and non-vegetarians,” adds Alexander Spögler. “The creative design of our public spaces makes the creativity of our cuisine easier to understand.”

And thus, the circle of art and cuisine is complete— all snugly contained within the Snail House. <

Covering an area of 56 square kilometres, the Seiser Alm is the largest mountain pasture in Europe, and boasts the perfect conditions for winter sports and leisure.

Leisurely hikes through a magical winter landscape

A new circular trail is ready to be explored: The Tschapit Route over the mountain pass from Compatsch to the Gstatsch-Schwaige, and onward to the Spitzbühl

The Seiser Alm can rightly call itself the most beautiful high alpine pasture in Europe. Rising up on high at over 1,800 metres above sea level, it offers the perfect winter training ground for professional cross-country skiers, complete with magnificent views of the snow-blanketed Dolomites, the Zillertal and Ötztal Alps, and the distant Ortler peaks. Completing the alpine idyll is a superb climate blessed with abundant sunshine and endless

opportunities to find soul-nourishing peace and relaxation in secluded mountain huts, far from the bustle of the ski slopes.

State-of-the-art ski facilities, easy and challenging cross-country trails, sledging fun for the whole family, masses of pristine snow for snowshoe expeditions, set-off points for ski touring—and, of course, a vast network of groomed winter hiking

trails. The Seiser Alm is home to a good 60 kilometres of hiking trails, providing hiking enthusiasts with the fabulous challenge of completing all of them while on holiday. It is, needless to say, also an immense responsibility for the staff of the local Tourist Board tasked with keeping them in good condition day after day, and ensuring that they are all well groomed.

Tschapit. Last winter saw the addition of a new hiking trail that not only promises breathtaking views, but ventures even further into untouched landscapes: the Tschapit, a secluded area far from tumult and technology. Summer hikers on the Seiser Alm will already be familiar with Tschapit in its vestments of flower-filled meadows and pastures dotted with rustic mountain huts, where the broad gravel trail leads from the Spitzbühl towards the foot of the Schlern. The name Tschapit is derived from the Ladin place name “cepe.i,” in allusion to the fact that the entire Seiser Alm was at one time

inhabited and farmed by the original Rhaeto-Romance settlers.

There are two starting points for this circular trail: Compatsch, the village near the mountain station of the Seiser Alm cable car, or the car park at the valley station of the Spitzbühl chairlift. The Seiser Alm cable car provides access to Compatsch, while the Spitzbühl valley station is accessible by car until 9:00 am (paid parking and limited availability) or via the Seiser Alm Express bus (line 10).

Both of these starting points have their pros and cons. In short, the route entails approximately 400 metres of ascent and descent, takes around three hours to hike, and the destination is the GstatschSchwaige mountain hut in Tschapit. The hike is rated as challenging, which calls for a certain level of fitness and experience. If you’re setting off from the Spitzbühl car park, you can take the chairlift instead of tackling the long ascent on the winter trail.

After completing the Tschapit loop, you can either return to your starting point on the Spitzbühl lift, or make your way back to the car park on foot along the hiking trail.

Winter hiking map. If you choose the Compatsch route, the start of this hike feels more leisurely. Before setting off, it’s best to pick up a winter hiking map from the tourist office, then turn onto the road leading to the Alpenhotel Panorama. Shortly before the mountain station of the Panorama chairlift, keep right and continue towards the Laurin hut.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the slopes, tranquillity reigns supreme.

The hike over the pass is an absolute joy, and the panoramic views of the Dolomite peaks and the main Alpine mountains in the distance are a fabulous reward for the effort of the ascent. Beyond the Laurin hut, the trail then descends steeply to the Gstatsch-Schwaige. From this side of the Alm, hikers can enjoy magnificent views of the Rosszähne and the Schlern massif.

Eagles and marmots. And this brings us to the tale of a farmer who has since passed away, who grazed his sheep on the lush, grassy slopes of the Polen,

beneath the Schlern. “In autumn, when there were no marmots to be seen because they were hibernating in their burrows, I knew it was high time to bring the sheep back to the farm. Without the marmots around, the eagles would attack my sheep instead,” he said. Hunters confirm that a pair of eagles still nests in the Schlern rocks today. The marmots, for their part, give many a mountain-hut owner reason to lament: in the autumn months, before the snow falls, they dig out intricate tunnels beneath the huts for their winter homes and, in doing so, jeopardise the building’s stability.

This is unlikely to occur at the Gstatsch-Schwaige mountain hut, as it’s open practically all year round. Located roughly halfway along the circular trail, it is a wonderful spot to recharge both body and soul: a warm room, delicious local dishes to sate your hunger and drinks to quench your thirst. It’s also a great spot to take a rest before continuing on along the wide trail towards the Spitzbühl. At the top, at 1,975 metres above sea level, you reach a viewpoint that couldn’t be more spectacular. The rugged rocky faces of the Schlern and the Euringer and the Santner seem to be almost within reach, and on the terrace of the Spitzbühl hut you can bask in the sun and enjoy the welcoming hospitality of the hosts. Accompanied by views of the Langkofel and Plattkofel, the hike then leads past the Laurin hut and the Alpenhotel Panorama and back to the starting point in Compatsch. Alternatively, you can return from the Spitzbühl hut to the hiking trail and descend across the ski slope to the Spitzbühl car park, where you can stop for a breather at the “Olmstodl” mountain hut. From here, you can either take the Seiser Alm Express bus (line 10) back to Compatsch or all the way down to the valley.

Rest your eyes one last time on the alpine pastures you’ve hiked through, and you’ll leave with that wonderful feeling of having witnessed and experienced something truly magical: an area so secluded that, according to countless legends, even the witches of the Schlern never felt the urge to make mischief here. <

Safe winter hiking in South Tyrol

Over 60 kilometres of groomed winter hiking trails lead to the most beautiful panoramic spots in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm. Head out on the most picturesque winter tours in full safety by observing the following guidelines:

· Suitable equipment, clothing and winter footwear are essential.

· Remain on the tagged hiking tracks. No hiking on cross country skiing trails.

· Check out the weather forecast before starting a hike.

· Access to the winter hiking trails is at your own risk, and no liability will be assumed for any accidents or damage.

· Put your dog on a leash and avoid sensitive winter habitats for wildlife.

· Snow-shoe hiking in open alpine terrain only with appropriate safety equipment.

· Less waste, more nature. Due to the climatic conditions, decomposition processes in our mountain landscape are slower, and some waste is not going to be decomposed at all. In addition people and animals can be injured by littered objects.

· Please note that in case of heavy snowfall or considerable temperature fluctuations, care and maintenance of the trails is difficult and the grooming or reparation cannot be immediately guaranteed at the same time.

· For information about parking facilities, starting points, possibility of return by public transport and refreshment stops contact your host or the Tourist Offices.

· Respect the habitats of wildlife in winter.

· Emergency number: 112

Rooms free: Once upon a Sign ...

Tourism is more than just travel; it brings people, cultures, and industries together. And for decades now, “Vroni” has been shaping the progress of tourism in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm.

Veronika Rier is an institution in Kastelruth. There is hardly a guest who hasn’t met Vroni, as everybody calls her, at some point during their holiday. She organises, writes, phones, coordinates, informs, leads, manages projects, and is always there whenever an organisation has a problem that needs a quick solution. Born and raised in Kastelruth, Vroni turned 60 in April and has been working since 1984 for the Schlern Tourist Board, as it was originally called, back when it encompassed the Seiser Alm, Kastelruth and Seis am Schlern. Today, she can usually be found in the office of the Kastelruth Tourist Association in the beautiful Laechler manor in the Krausenplatz square. An early riser, she switches on the lights there at 6.30 a.m. every day, enjoying “working undisturbed in the early hours.”

As in most industries, tourist marketing has changed enormously over the past four decades. While most holidaymakers in Kastelruth are still looking for the same things—nature, peace and quiet, beautiful weather, good food, and a relax-

ing mountain experience—the organisation behind the scenes has transformed radically. Vroni remembers the countless enquiries that once arrived by post, answered with letters typed on a typewriter. The telephone was equally important, as many guests booked their accommodation for the next summer holiday by phone as early as November. “And every year, we packed tons of brochures in envelopes and sent them to interested guests or handed them out at tourism fairs at home and abroad,” Vroni tells us. “The first computer, in the 1990s, was massive, but it was an essential step towards speeding up the work at the tourist information office.”

Today, tourists book their accommodation online or directly with accommodation providers, and information about ski passes, recommended hiking tours and attractions is also easily accessible online. Yet the local tourist office is far from obsolete. “There’s nothing like a personal conversation,” says

Vroni. “Tourism thrives on personal encounters, and the stories that people share.” Since 2003 she has been running the tourist office in the Krausenplatz square where she and three or four other members of staff are never short of tasks. Their responsibilities include providing local information, assisting members, maintaining data for member businesses, organising and managing events, assisting guests, managing social media communications, supporting local associations and, last but not least, networking all the local “players.” The Kastelruth Tourist Association works closely with the tourism associations of the Seiser Alm, Seis am Schlern, Völs am Schlern and Tiers am Rosengarten. Together, they operate under the Seiser Alm Marketing umbrella organisation, which promotes

the Dolomites region Seiser Alm as a whole, coordinates and manages the tourism offering, and develops strategies to maintain the high quality of life in this popular holiday region.

The days when guests lined up in front of the tourist office for information are long gone. Computers have replaced typewriters, telexes, faxes and, to a large extent, even telephones. “In the past, we gave every guest who was looking for accommodation a list of hotels and guest houses with rooms available, and they could set off and try their luck themselves,” Vroni explains, “or we would phone every establishment individually to find a room for them.” Many people still remember the “Rooms Available” signs that once hung outside hotels and guesthouses. Although those signs have all but disappeared, the art of attracting guests still remains—now primarily via the internet. “Despite all the digitalisation, guests are often completely unprepared,” Vroni remarks with some surprise. “And unfortunately, they’re also increasingly stressed.” Vroni attributes this to shorter stays, with visitors trying to pack as many experiences as possible into a limited time. “Sadly, that leaves little time for true enjoyment and relaxation,” she says with regret.

For decades, most of the visitors to the Dolomites region Seiser Alm came from Germany and Italy. “Nowadays, our guests come from all over the world,” says Vroni. She has noticed a visible surge in American visitors ever since Kastelruth was named as one of Italy’s top destinations in a travel guide by American author and Europe expert Rick Steves. “Fortunately, Kastelruth isn’t really a hot spot,” she says—although, with its stately village centre, beautiful farmhouses, green alpine meadows and breathtaking Dolomite backdrop, it’s certainly “instagrammable.” Vroni is pleased to see that a growing number of young people are drawn to the mountains, now that hiking is back in fash-

ion. “Here, our guests have endless opportunities for hiking and climbing. The Dolomites region Seiser Alm is a truly privileged area. We’re lucky,” says the proud Kastelruther. The quality of the tourism offer is also crucial. “If guests feel comfortable here, they’ll come back,” she adds.

The Kastelruther Spatzen, a folk music band from Kastelruth with over four and a half decades of success, have a loyal fan base that congregates every autumn for the Kastelruther Spatzen Fest—a lively celebration of folk music and good cheer. “Our Spatzen have done a great deal to raise the profile of our holiday region and extend the season,” says Vroni. “When the weather is good and our mountains are bathed in golden light, there’s plenty going on here right up to the end of October.” Needless to say, Vroni herself has helped ensure that the festival runs smoothly for decades. After all, the tens of thousands of festivalgoers who come every year need to be well cared-for, both in and around the festival tent. “I grew up with the Spatzen,” she says enthusiastically. “It has always been a joy and

an honour to make the festival a success under the direction of our legendary Ritchie Fill.”

Much of what seems to be taken for granted today, Vroni points out, was hard-earned. Tourism doesn’t organise itself—the trust of guests must be won anew every single day. Since 1984, Vroni has helped shape the development of tourism in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm with dedication and passion. With all its ups and downs, as she says, tourism has been her life. Vroni’s days with the Tourist Association are now coming to an end. During the 2025/2026 winter season, Veronika Rier will retire. “And then I’ll be the one travelling,” she says with a smile. Travel is her great passion. “And, health permitting, I plan to be on the road a lot,” she says happily. Vroni is fascinated by other countries, cultures and ways of life. Yet every time she returns from a journey, she feels grateful to live here: “When I see the Seiser Alm, my heart opens every time.”

Whatever the future holds, we wish you the best of luck, Vroni! <

All roads lead to the tourist office. Even today, holidaymakers appreciate personal contact— something no internet can ever replace.

Veronika’s favourite places

These four places are where Veronika finds her favourite photo spots. “I love taking photos with my phone, not professionally,” she says, and never grows tired of the beauty of the local scenery.

The Puflatsch

“I grew up on the Puflatsch,” says Veronika Rier. She associates this part of the Seiser Alm with magnificent childhood memories, having spent a lot of time at the Arnika Hut as a child, and even helping out there. Popular with hikers, this hut was formerly run by Veronika’s parents. Today, her brother manages it.

The Scherer Platzl

If you walk from the village of Kastelruth to St. Valentin, you’ll pass the Scherer Platzl, a wonderful spot surrounded by vast meadows, and the perfect place to rest and enjoy magnificent views of the Schlern to one side and the village to the other. One particularly popular photo spot is the tree right beside the Scherer Platzl.

Kastelruth Village Square

Veronika has been working in the village square for decades, and every day she is inspired anew by the beautiful square with its splendid houses, the free-standing church tower with its distinctive onion dome, the restored Laechler manor, and the village fountain. Veronika is a part of this place.

The Laranzer Forest

The idyllic forest area between Seis am Schlern and Kastelruth is home to a spot with a very special energy: the Pilzeweg (Mushroom Trail). Life-size wooden mushrooms line the trail, and steps lead to a viewpoint platform with a beautiful panoramic view of the forest. The starting point for this circular trail is the Laranz sports field.

Respect the DolomitesRespect the mountain in winter

We all love sunny winter walks, perfectly groomed ski runs, fantastic cross-country ski trails, fun toboggan runs, idyllic snow-shoe hikes, ice-skating fun or romantic horse-drawn sleigh rides in a dreamy setting. The Dolomites region Seiser Alm, with Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Seiser Alm, Völs am Schlern and Tiers am Rosengarten, offers ideal conditions for relaxing and varied activities in a breathtaking natural landscape.

Help us to preserve the Dolomites region Seiser Alm as an attractive living space for everyone! Be respectful and work together with us to preserve our unique natural environment. Your support counts!

Less waste - more nature

Our mountain scenery is a delicate ecosystem. It is extremely important not to leave any rubbish behind. Even dog poop bags must not be discarded in the countryside. The best kind of waste is waste that is not produced at all.

Consideration for wildlife

Winter is the hardest time of year for wild animals. Snow, cold weather and lack of food mean they need to do all they can to save energy. But if they are frightened and stressed repeatedly, they lose too much energy and can also die from exhaustion. That’s why dogs must be kept on a lead.

Move safely - more fun

To ensure that every excursion becomes an unforgettable winter experience, it is essential to plan carefully, travel sustainably, be adequately equipped, and avoid dangerous areas. To preserve our unique natural landscape, it is important to respect the marked trails. Walking on cross-country ski trails is prohibited.

Further tips to make your vacation unforgettable in a sustainable way: www.seiseralm.it/sustainable

Matthias Höllrigl spends the entire winter on he cross-country trails of the Seiser Alm—it doesn’t seem to be doing him any harm!

The Seiser Alm sheriff of the cross-country trails

There’s no getting past him in winter on the Seiser Alm—not on cross-country skis, at least. Affectionately known as “Sheriff of the Trails,” Matthias Höllrigl has been working as the tollman of the trails for almost 20 years now.

If ever proof were needed that cross-country skiing keeps you fit and that fresh mountain air is good for you, Matthias provides it in resounding abundance. In Febuary 2025 Matthias turned 80—and once again completed a full winter season on the sun-kissed mountain plateau.

Between the end of December and the beginning of April, he sets off for the alpine pasture at 8 o’clock almost every morning, with a flask of tea and a sandwich in his backpack. “How can I have lunch up at the mountain hut when people down the mountain need something!” From updates on air and snow temperatures to trail reports and a quick waxing service when it’s needed, Matthias lends a helping hand to everyone.

When Matthias first started out, his job specs looked somewhat different: he had been hired by a group of cross-country instructors to manage course registrations. “Up to 1,000 cars used to park at the Hotel Ritsch every day. The cross-country skiers came by coach,” he recalls. Although the introduction of traffic regulations means that the far reaches of the Seiser Alm are considerably less frequented today, Matthias sees the congestion-easing measures as a positive development for the area.

When the cross-country ski toll was first introduced, Matthias began managing the sale of tickets. Anyone who has been cross-country skiing on the Seiser Alm in the last twenty years has almost certainly purchased a coloured wristband from him. For a long time, he was “stationed” in a glorified garden shed, right up until last season, when he moved into a modern new wooden hut. He raves with unbridled enthusiasm about the “warmth” of his new abode: It’s a constant 12 to 13 degrees here—all day long!”

“Sometimes the people in the village ask me ‘Are you still going up there to bother folk? Isn’t it time you stopped?’” But they don’t understand what it would be like for him if the days just slipped by without a job to do or a goal to accomplish. For Matthias, it seems, “retirement” has never meant “resting.”

Born in 1945 in Riffian in Meran as one of 11 children, Matthias Höllrigl moved to Kastelruth in the early 1960s. A newly-qualified electrician, he joined the power company ENEL and, for the first few years, lived in a small room at the Hotel zum Turm. And it was back then that he first discovered cross-country skiing. In the 1970s, Kastelruth was still hosting World Cup races, and his first cross-country

Matthias uses skating skis at work, so that he can get around swiftly and speedily.

skis were a pair of skis that had been retired from competition, gifted to him by German skiing legend Walter Demel. Matthias has vivid memories of the races between East and West German athletes—the Westerners stayed at the zum Turm and the easterners at the Hotel Lamm—and the revolutionary introduction of freestyle skating on the cross-country scene.

But before all of that began, Matthias discovered his passion for mountain running. Together with a friend, he regularly ran from the village to the Arnika hut, or across the Schlernboden to the Schlern—long before running, particularly mountain running, reached the popularity it enjoys today. And anybody who might underestimate him because of his age is barking up the wrong tree altogether: Matthias ran his first marathon in his mid-60s. For his 70th birthday, a group of friends gave him a ticket to run the Berlin Marathon—his fourth, which he completed in remarkable time. You can tell just by looking at Matthias that he has spent his life in motion: wiry and agile, with a supple litheness. Even now, he circles the head of the trail on his skate skis—always without poles.

Classic cross-country skis? “They’re more of a hindrance than a help here,” he says. “Here in front of the hut, I have to be swift and speedy.”

Everybody in Kastelruth knows him. For decades, he was an electrician for ENEL. “I’ve been in everybody’s house,” he says. A lot of locals still remember it well: “You were always there when lightning struck.” Sometimes, he was asked whether he liked the village, where residents are known for their hometown pride. “Everybody needs electricity. So everybody’s nice to you,” says Matthias drily.

Communicative skills came naturally to Matthias, even in his first job. Curious, friendly and chatty, these qualities come to the fore even more today, in his role as guardian of the trails. Every day he meets countless people, and his eyes light up as he talks of his many encounters along the way. However, the Trail Sheriff’s job doesn’t always make him friends. The introduction of the cross-country toll several years ago was met with considerable resistance, and many skiers were outraged. “Some people tore strips off me,” he says. But Matthias, with his matter-of-fact, direct manner, often man-

aged to calm things down. One particularly irate cross-country skier once returned the following day with two beers in his backpack, determined to share a drink with him.

Matthias knows all of the local cross-country skiers, and many guests who return year after year greet him like an old friend. He’s also well acquainted with the elite of the international cross-country world: the Seiser Alm, with its 80 km of perfectly-groomed cross-country trails, has long been a top location for high-altitude training. A never-ending stream of leading athletes from the top cross-country nations stay in the hotels on the Seiser Alm, and Matthias knows them all, from Petter Northug to Therese Johaug to the legendary Bø brothers. Denise Herrmann – a recently-retired world-class skier—gave him a very special gift by way of gratitude: a signed bib from her World Cup victory in Antholz. Matthias was visibly moved.

Matthias regrets one thing only: that his English isn’t better. “That would come in handy many a time – with the guests, and with the athletes.” <

Goodbye, Laura!

In the summer of 2018, ALPE interviewed the then 25-year-old Laura Dahlmeier. During our chat, the outstanding athlete from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, who had dreamt of becoming an Olympic champion since she was a child, spoke to us about her achievements. “It’s great to be so successful in sports, but I don’t think sport is the be-all and the end-all; it’s just one part of life,” she said. To the surprise of her fans, the two-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion in biathlon announced her retirement from professional biathlon in May 2019. She went on to devote her energies and passion to mountaineering, and became a state-qualified mountain and ski guide.

“I love to be outside in the countryside, where I can switch off. For me, no moments are more intense than when climbing,” Laura told us, adding that she particularly loved scaling vast mountain faces on multi-pitch aid-climbing expeditions with a partner.

During her biathlon career Laura often trained on the Seiser Alm, a place close to her heart. She loved the wide-open landscapes, the silence, and the special atmosphere of the snow-blanketed mountain plateaus. It was always a great joy to welcome her, and we look back on the time she spent with us with immense gratitude.

Tragically, the mountains that Laura loved so much proved fatal. In June 2025, during a descent in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan, she was struck by falling rocks and fatally injured.

The memory of Laura Dahlmeier lives on – as an extraordinary athlete and woman who has left her mark on the world.

In Tiers am Rosengarten, winter sports enthusiasts have been on the ice for generations.

Ice Age

During the winter months, the natural ice rink in Tiers am Rosengarten is a popular place to meet up for young and old alike. Set at the foot of the snow-capped Dolomite peaks, it offers fun and exercise against a spectacular mountain backdrop.

Alongside skiing, ski touring and snowshoeing, winter pastimes in Tiers am Rosengarten also include ice skating, ice hockey and ice stock, a sport similar to curling. “The ice rink with wooden dasher boards was built in the mid 1980s, in the hopes that it would last three or four years—and it held out for 17,” smiles Walter Mair, long-time President of the Broomball Club. At the time, broomball—a hybrid of field and ice hockey—was booming throughout South Tyrol, leading to the foundation of the Broomball Club Tiers in 1984. Broomball is played in teams of five field players and a goalkeeper, just like ice hockey, but with a ball instead of a puck, a stick (the ‘broom’) and special shoes with non-slip soles rather than skates.

In Tiers during the 1980s, broomball was all the rage. Every hotel and guesthouse had its own team, all of whom competed against each other. The clubhouse was a burned-out container, to which a new section was added every year, while the changing rooms were two former trade-fair stands belong-

ing to the Schreckbichl winery. The home-made old clubhouse held something of a cult status in Tiers until times called for new premises, and a few years ago, the local council built a brand-new clubhouse with changing rooms, showers, and equipment rooms.

Today, as in the past, as soon as the temperatures drop to near-zero in the late autumn months, the painstaking, days-long work of preparing the natural ice rink begins. The Broomball Club purchased both the fibreglass boards and the ice resurfacer, also known as a ‘Rolba,’ second-hand. Ice resurfacers are used to clean and smooth the ice of artificial ice rinks. The quality of the ice surface at the Tiers rink has been much improved since the Rolba has been in use, as the warm water from the machine thaws the old ice during cleaning, allowing the new ice to freeze seamlessly atop it.

Generations of Tiers children have learned to ice skate at this rink, which offers a skate-rental service and set times for public skating. Although broomball is seldom played in South Tyrol or in Tiers these days, a children’s ice-hockey course has been running for a few years now thanks to the generous

Text: Katja Sanin

Photo: Helmuth Rier

The Völser Weiher lake at the foot of the snow-blanketed Schlern, is a hive of activity in winter. Ice skating, ice hockey, and ice stock enjoy great popularity.

Ice stock and ice hockey look back on a long tradition in South Tyrol.

sponsorship of Neumarkt Hockey Club. Once a week, a group of ice-hockey enthusiasts from all around the Schlern area and beyond meet in the evenings to chase the puck.

Despite what the name may suggest, the Neumarkt Hockey Club’s main sport is actually ice stock, which is closely related to curling. Ice stock is a long-standing tradition of the Alpine lands during the winter months, and is also a competitive sport in the Dolomites region Seiser Alm. In Tiers, ice stock is primarily an amateur sport: The Rosengarten Tournament is held on five evenings in winter, and the age-group and club tournaments are held on two weekends. These events provide the Tiers locals with the opportunity to enjoy a shared hobby in a sociable atmosphere, and to have fun with friends.

Today, one of Walter Mair’s two sons manages the club. Tiers in Rosengarten is currently considering adapting the rink for summer use, as climate change makes long winter seasons less certain. For now, the hopes are that this coming winter will live up to the expectations of the many ice-sports enthusiasts. <

... ON ICE

All those looking for fun on the ice will find a number of appealing options in the surrounding area: The ice rink in Kastelruth village square is open from 29 November 2025 to 11 January 2026 – on weekdays from 2.30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on weekends and during school holidays from 10.30 a.m. In Seis am Schlern the O.v.Wolkenstein-Platz village square rink is open from 29 November 2025 to 10 January 2026, daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The natural ice rink at the Völser Weiher lake, open from 26 December 2025 to 1 March 2026, offers a unique skating experience, with ice stock equipment and skate rental at the Schwimmhütt’ (Tel. +39 377 324 55 93). Skate rental is available at all three rinks.

“It

threw me off”

In winter 2026, South Tyrol will be handing out Olympic medals for the first time ever. Martin Fill from Seis am Schlern took part in the first-ever Olympic Games in Innsbruck 1964, where he competed in the slalom and downhill events. Martin joined ALPE for a chat about his memories, his results, and his achievements.

ALPE: When you look back on your participation in the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, what comes to mind first?

Martin Fill: The downhill race. It was a really difficult downhill and, two-thirds of the way in, the commentator announced that I had a very good midway time. You can hear it in the recording, which I still have at home. In the first section there were difficult turns: I didn’t quite get them down during training, but during the race, it all went well. But then, in the final third, it threw me off—and ultimately, meant that I didn’t get the results.

At the finish line, you came 27th out of 85 skiers … Yes. The downhill race was on the Patscherkofel—the slope was just like the terrain itself, full of hills and jumps. I was a good downhill skier, but at the time I specialised in slalom and giant slalom. That’s why the very good midway time in the downhill was so unusual.

Your performance in the Olympic slalom event didn’t get off to the best of starts either. The first run went well, but in the second, I didn’t clear a gate properly, and had to push myself up. I ended up finishing twentieth.

What were your expectations before the Games? I was expecting good races, because I’d had a good season. I was disappointed with the

It was certainly a high point to qualify and to compete. But my greatest satisfaction came after the Olympics, when I was ranked in the top ten athletes at the end of the World Cup season. I had achieved very good results in slalom throughout the season, even though I always raced with high starting numbers. However, the good results of that winter didn’t count towards the starting number in Innsbruck because, back then, points were only recalculated

“I was expecting good races, because I’d had a good season. However, I didn’t manage it.”

results – I was a bit unlucky as well. I could have done really well in the downhill, and, prior to the Olympics I’d also had good results in slalom. However, I didn’t manage it.

Would you describe competing in the Olympics as the highlight of your active sporting career?

once a year, after the end of the season. The rankings were then valid for the starting lists for the entirety of the following year, regardless of how well or poorly a skier performed in races that winter. In the 1965/66 season, then, I started in the first group in the slalom. I had achieved similar results in giant slalom a few years earlier. I’m

MARTIN FILL

from Seis am Schlern was a member of the police force’s Fiamme d’Oro sports group, and competed in World Cup ski races from 1957 to 1967, with a break in the late 1950s due to a serious injury and his ensuing withdrawal from the national team. However, the young Martin, born in 1939, fought his way back and reached seventh place in the FIS world ranking in giant slalom in 1962/63. A few years later, he also made it to the top slalom group. In 1962, Fill competed in the World Championships in Chamonix (France) and, in 1964, in the Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. “I was the first person born in the Schlern region to compete in the Olympics,” Fill recalls. Previously, Paula Wiesinger –born in 1907 in Bolzano and, after her marriage, Paula Steger, a hotelier on the Seiser Alm, had competed in the Alpine combined at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Martin Fill competed twice in his first and only Olympic appearance, coming 27th in the downhill, and 20th in the slalom. After ending his career, Fill worked as a ski instructor, private coach, and ski instructor trainer, serving as what is known as an instructor.

very happy with both of those results.

You competed in the 9th Winter Olympics, and we’re now at the 25th. What has changed over the past six decades?

We never thought about money; we just raced, and then it was all about the fun. At the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel, for example, a table was reserved for each nation at the Tenne, and then the dancing and festivities

started. That doesn’t happen today. A lot has changed in training too; it’s become far more intensive and professional, and fitness is everything. I did some training back then, but not to the extent that they do today. A lot has also changed in terms of safety: When I was still racing, there were no fences or nets along the slopes, and 30-kilo bales of hay had to suffice. There are still injuries today, of course, but I remember three fatalities in races I competed in. Ski-

ing was riskier and more challenging on a technical level. Today, it’s fast—and still difficult.

In later years—for example, when you were working as a ski instructor— did people recognise you as an Olympic athlete and a former top athlete? Rarely. If I’d won a medal, it would probably have been different—because to this day, medal winners become world-famous, and other competitors less so.

Olympian Martin Fill: “I was expecting good races, because I’d had a good season. I was a bit unlucky.

SOUTH TYROL HOSTS ITS FIRST OLYMPICS

From 6 to 22 February, the 25th Winter Olympics will be held: Milano-Cortina 2026. Following Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006, this will be the third time that Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics. 2,900 athletes from over 90 nations are expected to take part in the Games, which will take place in several regions and eight locations. In addition to the events in the eponymous host cities of Cortina (Veneto) and Milan (Lombardy), the closing ceremony will be held in the historic Arena of Verona (Veneto), while competitions will be held in Bormio and Livigno (Lombardy), Predazzo and Tesero (Trentino), and Antholz (South Tyrol). The multiple-location format of the Games is a decision taken in line with the sustainability concept of Milano-Cortina 2026, as it enables, amongst other reasons, the use of existing competition venues.

South Tyrol is hosting this unique Olympic event for the first time in its history: From 8 to 22 February, eleven biathlon events will take place at the Olympic Arena Südtirol Alto Adige in Antholz, which itself has hosted a number of major sporting events. The arena has been the venue for six Biathlon World Championships and has hosted World Cup races every year since 1978.

For South Tyrol’s sporting aces, however, Olympic participation is nothing new—and a few of them even hail from the Dolomites region Seiser Alm. Think Oswald Haselrieder from Völs am Schlern, who won the bronze medal in the doubles luge at Turin 2006, skiers Martin Fill (Innsbruck 1964; see interview), Denise Karbon (Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010) and

Peter Fill (Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018). The chances of our own home-grown athletes competing in the 2026 Olympics are also high—all will be decided in the races that will be held in the coming months (and

The 2026 Winter Olympics medals. A grand total of 1,146 medals will be awarded in 195 events. (Photo: Milano-Cortina 2026)

after this issue of ALPE goes to press). Some hopefuls include Kastelruth skier Florian Schieder, artificial track lugers Andrea Vötter from Völs am Schlern and Sandra Robatscher from Tiers am Rosengarten, snowboarder Aaron March from Völs am Schlern, and freestyler Maria Gasslitter, who lives in Gröden, but whose father comes from Kastelruth.

The Curse of the Dwarf King

Pink, red and orange: According to legend, the blazing glow of the Rosengarten owes its awe-inspiring beauty to King Laurin.

Breathtaking, spectacular, sensational! Truth be told, there is no single adjective that can encapsulate the magic of the Alpine sunset. A “play of light” falls far short of describing those magical minutes at sunrise or sunset, when the Dolomite peaks are a dance of pinks, reds and oranges. This mesmerising natural phenomenon, known in South Tyrol as the ‘Enrosadira,’ is most likely to be seen on the Dolomite mountains, whose pale, lime-rich dolomite rock reflects the light of the low-lying sun to stunning effect.

Interwoven with the glowing tapestry of Alpine light is the legend of King Laurin. And this is how the story goes… In days of old, in the land which we now call the Rosengarten, there reigned Laurin,

the King of the Dwarves. Small in stature though he may have been, he was possessed of strength, wisdom and riches beyond imagination. His underground realm was awash with gold and precious stones, while above the ground he had planted a magnificent rose garden on the immense mountain — a sea of radiant, blossoming roses surrounded by a web of invisible silk that none were permitted to cross.

One day, word of the beautiful Similde, daughter of the King of the Etsch, reached Laurin’s ears. Similde, he heard, had been promised in marriage to the victor of a joust, and all of the noblemen of the region had been invited — all, that is, except Laurin. Undeterred, Laurin decided to don his

WHAT CAUSES THE ENROSADIRA?

It is an optical phenomenon caused by the low angles of the sun’s rays:

· When the sun is low, its light passes through a thicker layer of the atmosphere.

· At this time of day, shorter wavelengths (e.g. blues) are scattered more widely.

· The longer wavelengths (red, orange) reach the mountains, and illuminate them in these colours.

· The pale, lime-rich stone of the Dolomites (dolomite rock) reflects this light.

The Rosengarten glows and shimmers at dusk – a magnificent gift of nature.

magic hood of invisibility and attend the event unseen; when he set eyes on Similde, he fell in love with her instantly and, without further ado, set her on his horse and carried her off to his realm.

The knights who had courted Similde, among them the heroic Dietrich von Bern, legendary counterpart of Theodoric the Great, set forth to rescue the princess. They found Laurin’s garden, broke through his invisible web, and destroyed the roses. With his hood of invisibility and superhuman strength, Laurin put up a valiant fight, but the

moment the knights saw through his invisible disguise he was defeated in an instant.

Inconsolable at the loss of his beloved garden, Laurin immediately laid a curse upon it: “No human eye shall ever behold it again, neither by day nor by night!” Yet in this utterance, Laurin forgot to mention dawn or dusk — and that is why, to this very day, the rose garden — the Rosengarten — reveals itself only during the Enrosadira, when the sun bathes the mountain rocks in orange and pink light.

A Local Hero. Laurin is a beloved hero for many South Tyroleans. As you travel through the region, you’ll often see his name in hotels, restaurants, mountain huts and hiking trails. Not far from here you can see a series of paintings that depict the story of the King of the Dwarves: in the old inn on the banks of the Völser Weiher lake near Völs am Schlern, there is a ‘Laurinstube’ room where six large paintings bring the legend to life. The works, created around 1900 by South Tyrolean artist Ignaz Stolz especially for the Laurinstube, are painted in romantic-naturalistic style and illustrate Laurin’s abduction of the beautiful Similde, his duel with Dietrich of Bern, and the rescue of Similde. For King Laurin, the tale ends sadly— but if the price was the magnificent Enrosadira, it was, as all mountain-lovers would agree, a breathtaking gift for eternity. <

Under the Wolkenstein Enchantment

Horse riding, tradition, and the great outdoors:

The Oswald von Wolkenstein Tournament is the sporting and cultural event of early summer.

36 teams of riders and horses, eager to claim the much-coveted standard, compete in this historic tournament. For over four decades now, the Oswald von Wolkenstein Tournament has been a firm fixture of South Tyrol’s early summer calendar. Against a magnificent backdrop, the horses and riders set off from Trostburg Castle in Waidbruck and gallop across long distances through villages, trails and fields to reach the finish line at Prösels Castle in Völs am Schlern, tackling a series of challenging tests along the way.

“There are four tournament locations,” explains Klaus Marmsoler, President of the Organisation Committee, “Ring lancing on the Kofel hill in Kastelruth, the Labyrinth at the Matzlbödele

in Seis am Schlern, the Obstacle Gallop at the Völser Weiher lake, and the Gate Ride at Prösels Castle offer the equestrian teams a wide variety of challenges. In the end, the four-person team with the best overall time wins the tournament.” <

The tournament promises thrills until the very last second, and draws thousands of spectators each year. The 43rd Oswald von Wolkenstein Tournament will take place in early summer 2026. From 29 to 31 May, visitors can enjoy a vibrant programme of events celebrating history, sport, tradition, culture and folklore, while the tournament itself will be held on Sunday 31 May.

Text: Elisabeth Augustin

Photo: Armin „Indio“ Mayr

Kloazn –a taste of tradition

A traditional filling for Krapfen pastries, and a mystery to many, Kloazn is none other than dried pears, prepared using time-honoured methods.

The word Kloazn (or Kloatzen) represents a shared heritage across many areas of the German-speaking world. Behind the somewhat unusual name lies an old regional word for a highly specific way of preparing small, firm, and not overly sweet pears. Kloazn holds a particularly cherished place in the cultural heritage of many rural areas, including the Schlern region.

The tradition of preparing Kloazn reaches far back into rural customs and traditions, where food-preservation techniques are still passed down from generation to generation, and are often shared only within a single family.

Our ancestors depended on nature for their survival, and were acutely aware of the importance of storing food to get through the colder months. By slowly drying halved pears—in years gone by, this was done in the vast bread ovens commonly found in farmhouses—the fruit lost much of its moisture, allowing it to be stored for a lengthy period. During the drying process the pears develop an intense, subtly sweet flavour; in the past, were often the only sweet treat available to children.

To this day, the Gasthaus St. Oswald, like many families in the Schlern region, still prepares Krapfen filled with Kloazn for festive occasions. Sisters Herta and Frieda make them exactly as they learned from their mother. On Frieda’s farm, there is still an old bread oven large enough to dry around 25 kilos of pears at a time. But even the simple kitchen oven at the restaurant serves

the purpose well. “A tray of quartered pears goes into the oven three times at a moderate heat, and must always cool down in between,” Herta explains as she describes the painstaking process. The Kloazn are then stored in a dry place, where they keep for several months.

To make the pastry filling, the Kloazn are soaked in water overnight and boiled until they can be pureed into a soft, smooth consistency. The recipe and preparation methods for Krapfen pastries are always a family tradition, and often a closely-guarded secret. There are probably as many recipes as there are families who make them. Recipes can be found in a variety of South Tyrolean cookbooks or on the internet—or perhaps a family might be willing to share their own secrets. And then all that remains is to experiment

to your heart’s content and create your own family recipe.

Krapfen sculptures. In summer 2025, Kastelruth artist Hubert Kostner created a Krapfen installation in front of the Kastelruth-St. Ulrich branch of the Raiffeisenkasse bank. His work consists of an aluminium sculpture depicting two Kastelruth Krapfen, together with a large-format image of his mother’s handwritten recipe, displayed on the façade. A second part of the installation involved propagating pear trees, of which only a few remain today in the Schlern region. These trees will be planted in the newly created meadow in front of the Raiffeisen building and at other ‘sponsor sites’ in the area, thus keeping the old tradition alive. Each newly-planted pear tree will form part of both the artwork and an intangible cultural heritage. <

Kloazn filling

Kloazn filling is used to fill traditional Krapfen pastries, and is often blended together with plum jam. People used the food that grew locally, and in the Schlern region this was mostly pears or plums. Pear and plum trees usually grew in the orchard meadows next to the farms.

INGREDIENTS

3 kg pears (preferably a small variety)

3 tbsps. sugar

Cinnamon

METHOD

Quarter and core the pears. Place on a baking tray, bake for approx. 1 hour at a moderate heat (around 150°C). Leave to cool. Repeat this process two more times, and then leave the pears to dry in a dry, well-ventilated place for three weeks. Before preparing the filling, soak the pears in water overnight. The next day, boil the pears, drain, and pass through a sieve. Stir in three tablespoons of sugar and a little cinnamon.

AFFORDABLY AND SUSTAINABLE TO THE WINTER WONDERLAND SEISER ALM

Benefit card for toboganists, hikers and snow shoe hikers, cross-country skiers.

Combi Card 3 in 7* 73.00 Euro

In the course of 7 successive days (after first use)

> 3 times to the Seiser Alm and back, with the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway OR the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Routes 10)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15) around the Seiser Alm and the Almbus (Bus Routes 11)

> Extra charge for the dog: 9.00 €

Combi Card 7* 94.00 Euro

Valid for 7 successive days (after first use)

> unrestricted use of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway or the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Route 10)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15) around the Seiser Alm and the Almbus (Bus Routes 11)

> Extra charge for the dog: 21.00 €

Combi Card 14* 143.00 Euro

Valid for 14 successive days (after first use)

> unrestricted use of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway or the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Route 10)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15) around the Seiser Alm and the Almbus (Bus Routes 11)

> Extra charge for the dog: 42.00 €

Nordic Pass 3 in 7* 89.00 Euro

Over the course of 7 successive days (after first use)

> on 3 days unrestricted use of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway OR the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Route 10), on the same 3 days unrestricted use of using the Cross-Country Ski Courses Seiser Alm / Val Gardena and the Almbus (Bus Routes 11)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15)

Nordic Pass 7* 118.00 Euro

Valid for 7 successive days (after first use)

> unrestricted use of the Cross-Country Ski Courses Seiser Alm / Val Gardena, of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway and the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Route 10)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15) and the Almbus (Bus Route 11)

Nordic Pass 14* 182.00 Euro

Valid for 14 successive days (after first use)

> unrestricted use of the Cross-Country Ski Courses Seiser Alm / Val Gardena, of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway and the Seiser Alm Express (Bus Route 10)

> unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 5, 15) and the Almbus (Bus Route 11)

> The Combi Card and the Nordic Pass are not transferable and are available at all cash desks of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway, at the Tourist Offices of Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Völs am Schlern and at some accommodation.

> Combi Card: Kids born 2018–2026 and persons in wheelchairs ride free of charge. Juniors born 2008–2017 pay only half fare.

> Nordic Pass: Juniors born after 01.01.2010 pay only half fare.

*The Guest Card “Südtirol Alto Adige Guest Pass” from Dolomites region Seiser Alm, which is not available for purchase and is issued free of charge to the guests by the accomodation, includes a price reduction for the Combi Card and for the Nordic Pass.

Seis-Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway 39040 Seis am Schlern · Schlernstr. 39 Tel. +39 0471 704 270 · www.seiseralmbahn.it · info@seiseralmbahn.it

Winter Highlights 2025/26

December 2025

CHRISTMAS MAGIC IN THE DOLOMITES REGION SEISER ALM

When the air is thick with the scent of gingerbread, cinnamon and mulled wine, you know it’s advent time here at the foot of the Schlern mountain. The run-up to Christmas is a meaningful time here in the Dolomites Region Seiser Alm; the Christmas markets in the villages of Kastelruth, Seis, Völs and Tiers are small but incredibly beautiful, and are guaranteed to get guests and locals alike into the Christmas spirit, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. With their traditional handcrafts, specialties of South Tyrolean cuisine and Christmassy melodies, they warmly invite you to join them for a sociable Advent of companionship.

DATES

19th Kastelruth

Mountain Christmas

> 29–30 November 2025

> 5–8 December 2025

> 12–14 December 2025

> 13 December 2025: Krampus run

> 19–21 December 2025

> 19 December 2025:

Christmas concert of the Kastelruther Spatzen

> 24 December 2025

> 26–28 December 2025

Waiting for Jesus Child in Völs am Schlern

> 6-7 December 2025

> 13 December 2025

> 20–21 December 2025

> 23–24 December 2025

> 27 December 2025

> 30 December 2025

> 3 January 2026

> 6 January 2026

Mountaineer’s Winter in Tiers am Rosengarten Culinary delight with local products

> 6 December 2025

> 27 December 2025

Seis on Ice Ice skating with varied entertainment programme for young and old.

> 29 november 2025 to 10 january 2026

Winter 2025/26

PRÖSELS CASTLE IN THE WINTER

Prösels Castle is also open to visitors in winter. Winter castle tours offer a variety-packed alternative to skiing. Every Thursday from 8 January to 12 March 2026, Prösels Castle will be awakening from its winter slumber and open its doors at 3 pm. During a one-hour tour, visitors will learn a wealth of fascinating information about the castle and its former residents and, at the same time, can visit three art exhibitions and a vast weaponry collection. On three days this winter (27.12.2025, 02.01.2026 and 19.02.2026) at 3 pm, the “Winter Cuisine & Culture” event will be held once more at Prösels Castle: After the castle tour, guests will have the opportunity to sample traditional local products free of charge in the castle grounds, where local producers will be hosting an array of stands. schloss-proesels.it

Prior booking is essential for winter guided tours and can be reserved at the Castle up to 12 pm on the day of the event: info@schloss-proesels.it

December-March 2025/26

WINTER-ADVENTURES OFF THE SLOPES

The Nature Experience programme includes pilates courses with breakfast in Kastelruth. In Seis we enjoy the evening twilight and bake bread together. In Völs, you can enjoy an exquisite gourmet experience named “hike with mill and farm tour and traditional lunch” and guided tours in the Prösels Castle dedicated to the taste, history and culture. In Tiers, we can explore the rustic Tschamin valley on a snowshoe guided hike through the untouched winter countryside. On full-moon nights, you have the opportunity to embark on a hike across the snowy Seiser Alm. Kaiserschmarrn cooking courses are also offered in an Alpine hut. seiseralm.it/winteradventure

Winter 2025/26

SCHLERN-ROSENGARTEN NATURE PARK VISITOR CENTER

While nature rests outside, the Visitor Center in Seis am Schlern offers insights into the diverse and fascinating flora and fauna of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park. This winter, special focus is placed on the return of the wolf and how humans interact with it. As part of the exhibition «The Wolf is here», professionals who work with this animal will share their experiences. The visitor center can be visited free of charge during opening hours. seiseralm.it/visitorcenter

18 January 2026

THE KASTELRUTH FARMER’S WEDDING

Over the years, it has grown to become an established tradition: The Kastelruth Farmer’s Wedding. It is an authentic reproduction of an old-fashioned farmer’s wedding as celebrated since time immemorial here at the foot of the Seiser Alm. The high point of the event is the wedding parade from St. Valentin to Kastelruth. The wedding party, dressed in traditional attire, drive to the centre of Kastelruth in a magnificently decorated horse-drawn sleigh, bringing their guests along with them on a trip back in time to the 19th century.

30 January 2026

SOUTH TYROL

MOONLIGHT CLASSIC SEISER ALM

A sporting event illuminated by the glow of flickering torchlight, the chance to put your skills to the test at international level, and the magical winter backdrop of Europe’s largest mountain plateau: In 2026, the Moonlight Classic will once again be offering numerous athletes and cross-country fans the chance to spend a sensational evening on the Seiser Alm by night. Participants can opt to take part in either the 30 km or the 15 km variant of the loop route. Both variants begin and end in Compatsch and are raced exclusively in classic diagonal style. The starting pistol for this cross-country spectacle will be fired at 8 pm. Registration required: moonlightclassic.info

8 February 2026

TRADITIONAL SKIJÖRING ON THE SEISER ALM

Fascinating combination of skis and horsepower! In skijoring, skiers are pulled by horses over a prepared course and engage in exciting races. A spectacular experience for participants and spectators.

8 March 2026

DOLOMITES DIRNDL SKI DAY

On 8 March 2026, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Dolomites Dirndl Day will take place on the Seiser Alm. Only women aged 18 and over can take part in this fun sport event in teams of two (friends, sisters, mothers/daughters). The start is in a “dirndl” (a traditional South Tyrolean dress), for a parallel slalom. Part of the registration fee will be donated to the ’Donne aiutano Donne’ association.

March/April 2026

EARLY BIRD SKIING WITH ALPINE BREAKFAST

Exclusive skiing experience for early risers followed by breakfast on the Seiser Alm. Weekly, three ski lifts will take turns to start running at 7 am. Early risers will have the unique opportunity to cross the freshly groomed, deserted slopes and enjoy the special morning atmosphere on Europe’s largest mountain plateau, accompanied by a ski instructor who will provide a wealth of handy tips. At 9 am, we’ll be heading to a mountain hut to enjoy a sociable Alpine breakfast.

DATES

> Wednesday, 4 March 2026

> Wednesday, 11 March 2026

> Wednesday, 18 March 2026

> Wednesday, 25 March 2026

> Wednesday, 1 April 2026

March 2026

20 YEARS SWING ON SNOW WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL

For six days, the Dolomites region Seiser Alm transforms into a unique soundscape: during Swing on Snow, folk music, brass, soul, pop, and jazz merge into an unmistakable alpine festival experience. For 20 years, the WinterMusicFestival has been inviting guests from near and far to combine the joys of winter with musical highlights. In the mornings, the first notes can be heard at the Seiser Alm cable car mountain station, at midday the music continues in the huts of the Seiser Alm. In the evenings, concerts fill the villages of Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Völs am Schlern und Tiers am Rosengarten – often in such an intimate setting that it feels like a private living room concert. Swing on Snow is a small yet special insider tip: the concerts are personal and intimate – and still of the highest quality. The performing musicians are by no means unknown; many are among the most exciting discoveries in folk, brass, soul, pop, and jazz music. Alongside them, renowned bands perform that usually only appear on the big stages. For the 20th anniversary, you can look forward to a “Best of” from two decades of festival history, with musical highlights and artists who have shaped the unique character of Swing on Snow. swingonsnow.com

DATES

> 12–14 March 2026

> 18–21 March 2026

Summer Preview 2026

5 May – 26 June 2026

SEISER ALM BALANCE

Fancy a break? When the days get longer in spring and nature awakens, the desire for outdoor exercise increases. With special “Balance” experiences you can recharge your batteries in and with nature. A morning hike to the Tschafon mountain refuge, a yoga session on the Calvary hill in Kastelruth or taking a pottery course. The Balance experiences offer movement, relaxation and well-being for body and mind. seiseralm.it/balance

6 – 21 June 2026

GOURMET WEEKS

“SCHLERNGENUSS”

100% DOLOMITES

REGION SEISER ALM

During this period, you can expect delicious dishes made from ingredients that come 100% from the Dolomites Region Seiser Alm (0 km) in all participating restaurants. Gourmets will get an insight into the large selection of local specialties. The kick-off event will be the live culinary show “Südtirol kocht” (South Tyrol Cooks) in Katselruth on May 22, where local dishes will be cooked and tasted. seiseralm.it/culinaryweeks

Summer 2026

PRÖSELS CASTLE IN SUMMER

From 1 May to 31 October, Prösels Castle, dating back to the days of Maximilian and arguably Tyrol’s most emblematic castle, is open to the public. Guided tours will offer visitors a fascinating insight into the history of the castle and the infamous Lords of Völs, so closely interwoven in the threads of time. A series of concerts, readings and special events round off this castle’s cultural programme. Prösels Castle has two outdoor escapes. Children (9 years old and upwards) accompanied by their parents, young people and adults in groups of up to 5 people can put their skills to the test in intuition, creativity, team spirit, logic, maths and, above all, their ability to learn and have fun. And while the kids are having fun in the play park, their parents can savour the delights of local cuisine in the castle bar. schloss-proesels.it

13 – 17 May 2026

SCHLERN MUSIC –CHAMBER MUSIC BENEATH THE SCILIAR

The biennial chamber music festival Schlern Music, for the second time under the artistic direction of Philipp von Steinaecker and Chiara Tonelli, presents outstanding chamber concerts with international musicians in a variety of venues – from a medieval farmhouse tavern to Castel Prösels and even a carpentry workshop. www.schlernmusic.it

29 – 31 May 2026

43RD OSWALD VON WOLKENSTEIN RIDING TOURNAMENT

3 days, 4 locations and 36 teams: In tribute to knight and minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein, the three villages of Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern and Völs am Schlern organise a historical riding tournament at its very finest. On 29, 30 and 31 May 2026, visitors of the Oswald von Wolkenstein Riding Tournament can leap back in time to the 14th century and experience life in the Middle Ages, admire the masterly horsemanship and feel the hospitality in South Tyrol. No other riding tournament has the good fortune to be able to offer this kind of culture, tradition, history, sport and folklore all rolled into one single event. This year, the opening ceremony and festive parade take place in the village Kastelruth. ovwritt.com

6 June 2026

„VÖLSER DORFKUCHL“ (STREET FOOD) IN VÖLS

This evening, the church square in Völs will be transformed into a unique culinary venue. Creative show kitchens and gourmet stands, led by farmers of Völs will transform the village centre into a very special gastronomic mile. seiseralm.it/culinaryexperiences

12 and 13 June 2026

KASTELRUTHER SPATZEN OPEN-AIR CONCERT

Thousands of fans make their way to Seis am Schlern to enjoy the breath-taking landscape and to experience the “Spatzen” live. They’ll be treating fans and friends to a nostalgia concert of their hits from 1993 to today. This coming year, as always, music bands from near and far will be providing fringe entertainment.

July / August 2026

WITCHES‘ NIGHTS IN SEIS AND KASTELRUTH

Experience magical evenings in the village centers of Kastelruth and Seis am Schlern, because there is a lot on offer at the Witches‘ Nights! Various live bands provide a great atmosphere, while folk dance groups show off their skills. There is a variety of children‘s entertainment for the little ones and, as a highlight, the witches dance on the village square.

22 June – 7 September 2026

SUMMER CLASSICS IN SEIS AM SCHLERN

Seis offers an extraordinary series of concerts for lovers of classical music. The artists, mainly from Italy and with a wealth of international experience behind them, will be performing the works of great composers.

16 July 2026

BERGLER TAFEL MOUNTAINEERS‘ DINNER

On 16 July, a 100-meter-long table at the “Berglertafel” offers space for 170 guests, who can enjoy a five-course gourmet menu with a panoramic view of the Enrosadira at the Rosengarten. seiseralm.it/culinaryexperiences

5 July 2026

13TH SEISER ALM

HALF MARATHON

21 kilometres, 601 metres of elevation difference and 1000 participants: These are the key statistics of the Seiser Alm Half Marathon, which will start and finish in Compatsch. Surrounded by the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, the Seiser Alm Half Marathon is a unique experience and sporting challenge for both professional and amateur athletes. The route leads past the majestic Schlern and Plattkofel, as it weaves up to its highest point at 2,050 metres under the Goldknopf and, from here, back to Compatsch. New: This edition will also feature a children’s run. running.seiseralm.it

11 July 2026

9TH ROSENGARTEN SCHLERN SKY MARATHON

Right in the very heart of the unique Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, a 45-kilometre Alpine Mountain Marathon with around 3,000 m of elevation difference will set off from Tiers am Rosengarten. The Rosengarten Schlern Sky Marathon. The challenging mountain race will begin in St. Zyprian at 1,136 m asl, lead round the Rosengarten Massif, over the Schlern and the Tschafon and back to Tiers am Rosengarten. The highest point of the Sky Marathon is the Grasleiten Pass at 2,630 m. skymarathontiers.it

7 September 2026

TRADITIONAL

ALM MARKET

The traditional Alm Market in Compatsch is held every year on 7 September, and features live music, stalls selling a wide variety of goods, and culinary specialities.

Autumn 2026

TRANSHUMANCE

Marking the end of the season and the return of the cattle to the valleys, this festival features whip-crackers, live music and mouthwatering traditional fare. The transhumance from the Seiser Alm to the valley will take place on 3 October and the Völs am Schlern and Tiers am Rosengarten transhumance on 4 October 2026.

9 – 11 October 2026

KASTELRUTHER SPATZEN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Three days of celebrating, spending pleasant evenings together, experiencing the “Kastelruther Spatzen” live: the Spatzen-Festival in Kastelruth is a must for every fan. Surrounded by the unique scenery of the Dolomites the seven “Spatzen” mesmerise all lovers of traditional music.

1 – 31 October 2026

49TH VÖLSER KUCHLKASTL GASTRONOMIC OCTOBER CULINARY FESTIVAL

The Völser “Kuchlkastl” event has been a culinary high point of autumn in the Dolomites Region Seiser Alm for 49 years and counting. Foodies and lovers of down-home cuisine can feast to their hearts’ content from 1 to 31 October, when the restaurateurs of Völs warmly welcome guests to enjoy a “Gastronomical October.” The chefs of Völs will be cooking up traditional recipes with a sophisticated twist: Time honoured recipes reinterpreted and served with love. voelserkuchlkastl.com

1 September – 30 October 2026

AUTUMN PLEASURES IN THE DOLOMITES REGION SEISER ALM

A very special atmosphere awaits you in the golden autumn months in the Dolomites Region Seiser Alm. The Seiser Alm mountain autumn brings together outdoor experiences with a magnificent landscape and outstanding cuisine. The programme of events features sunrise hikes to the most beautiful peaks of the Dolomites with breakfast in a mountain refuge, guided hikes, cookery courses and guided tours to local producers. seiseralm.it/mountainautumn

Around & about

#TeamSeiserAlm – Our sporting home. The Seiser Alm has always been a world-class training ground and the home of numerous talented athletes. This year, a strong #TeamSeiserAlm will once again take their places at the starting lines. The team includes ski racer Florian Schieder, artificial-track luger Andrea Vötter, telemarker Raphael Mahlknecht, freestyle snowboarder Felix Fulterer, snowboarders Aaron March and Tommy Rabanser, natural-track luger Lotte Mulser, natural-track luger Tobias Paur, artificial-track luger Leon Haselrieder, artificial-track luger Sandra Robatscher from Tiers, freestyle skier Maria Gasslitter, and paraglider and Hike&Fly pro Tobias Grossrubatscher. The former ski racer and current ski trainer Peter Fill will remain closely associated with the team. In the coming year, the tourism associations of the Dolomites region Seiser Alm, the lift operators, and Seiser Alm Marketing will continue to support up-and-coming local athletes, in a commitment which promotes top-level sport and the development of young local talent. We are proud of our athletes and wish them a successful, injury-free season.

Double award for the cheese from Hof zu Fall

Joachim Rier from the Hof zu Fall farm in St. Valentin has received two awards for his top-quality cheeses: His herby Brotklee cheese flavoured with fenugreek and his soft Camembert impressed the jury with their taste and quality at the South Tyrolean contest for farm-produced dairy products. Rier’s cheeses are all made directly on his farm—with exceptional craftsmanship, regional ingredients, and organic certification (A•B•CERT). A great success for the South Tyrolean organic farmer—and proof, once again, that regionality and quality go hand in hand.

South Tyrol’s first all-electric snowmobile on the Seiser Alm

With South Tyrol’s first all-electric snowmobile—the Taiga NOMAD—cable-car operator Rabanser Seilbahnen GmbH is leading the way in sustainability on the Seiser Alm. This Canadian-made snowmobile combines emission-free drive with a 100 km range and outstanding reliability even in the harshest winter conditions. It can be charged with green electricity at all lift stations, offering a quiet, powerful and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrolfuelled snowmobiles. Unveiled at a presentation on 27 March 2025, the Taiga NOMAD attracted significant interest from other lift operators in this pioneering technology, which has great potential to improve the sustainability of winter tourism.

IMPRINT ALPE is registered by the court of Bozen / Bolzano, n. 9/2002 R.St. Published by Seiser Alm Marketing, 39050 Völs am Schlern, Dorfstraße 15, Tel. +39 0471 709 600, info@seiseralm.it, www.seiseralm.it. Legally responsible for the editorial content: Elisabeth Augustin Editorial Team: Elisabeth Augustin, Rosa Maria Erlacher, Sabine Funk, Barbara Pichler, Vera Rier, Katja Sanin, Simone Treibenreif; Photo: Helmuth Rier. Translations: Bonetti & Peroni. Advertising: Seiser Alm Marketing, Sabine Demetz. Graphic: Komma Graphik. Printing: Girardi Print Factory Srl/GmbH.

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