Hiking Hotels

The Ritten Theme Path

Special Features of Remarkable Landscape

A circular two-hour walk to introduce the Ritten and its unique features

The Ritten Theme Path provides the tourist with a concentrated but relaxed opportunity to get acquainted with the history and peculiarities of the Ritten. Notice boards at the different stations, in German and Italian, describe what there is to see there and give a little more information about it. The Ritten Theme Path does not try to embroider the myths, but rather to explain in simple fashion the phenomena that the tourist may encounter only the Ritten and nowhere else.

The Ritten Theme Path seeks to bring the history of the Ritten a little nearer to you. The special features of the plateau are pointed out at the nine stations. The beauty of the area, the wonderful views and the proximity to the city of Bozen makes the Ritten, both for the local inhabitants and for visitors, on of the most appreciated places in South Tyrol. Although the Ritten is a mixture of many influences, particularly at the juncture of north-south routes and as a place for "Sommerfrische", it has developed its own culture, where traditional values and modern ways are united. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that the Ritten is so special.

• The tracks of the plateau. 
  The little Ritten train has linked the villages of Maria Himmelfahrt, Oberbozen, Wolfsgruben, Lichtenstern and Klobenstein since 1907.
• In the steps of the Emperors.
  Since the time of the Rhaetians a road has led over the Ritten. Many years later, and for good reason, it came to be called the Emperors' road: more than sixty historical Imperial processions have travelled this way, to and from Rome, because until 1480 the canyon of the Eisack river was not passable.
• A dry chapter.
  The Ritten is largely composed of porphyry, a granite that is highly fissured. Because of little erosion since the end of the Ice Age there is too little topsoil to hold rainwater, most of wich therefore flows through the fissures into subterranean channels and is thus lost to the Ritten.
• Fascinating comings and goings.
  On the Ritten there are numerous earth pyramids, which hardly anywhere else in Europe "grow" as high and all shaped as here. Created by erosion, they are condemned by further erosion to a geologically brief life.
• Witnesses to geological history.
  The reason for the formation of the earth pyramids lies far back in the history of the earth. In the late Ice Age the principal Eisack valley glacier built lateral moraine cliffs of mixed earth and boulders up to 15 metres high. There, wherever larger stones were imbedded in this moraine debris, the earth pyramids have been literally "washed out" over the years.
• The purple coloured stones.
  The Ritten, like the rest of the area around Bozen, is composed of quartz porphyry. This particular type of granite contains feldspar, quartz and mica. Its appearance varies greatly but is mostly reddish, and it is from this colour that it makes its name: in classical Greek the word "porphyreum" means the colour purple.
• In honour of St. George and St. James.
  This old church is mentioned for the first time in 1289. From this period, however, only the walls of the nave and the circular apse remain. In the seventeenth century a major reconstruction took place, when the barrel vaulting was built and the windows became the shape they are today. The key is kept at the tourist office in Oberbozen.
• A railway with history.
  In 1905 the Bozen city council decided to construct an electric cog railway to connect the city with the Ritten. In 1906 the workers of the Riehl construction firm began their work; eighteen months later the Rittner Bahn began operating.
• To escape the heat of summer.
  About 500 years ago the "Sommerfrisch" began on the Ritten: the wealthier citizens of Bozen withdrew to the Ritten to escape the heat of the city in the valley below. In Maria Himmelfahrt, Oberbozen, Lengmoos and Klobenstein their noble villas still bear witness to the elegance of those days.

Walks and Pathways

Klobenstein - The Earth Pyramids - Tann - Klobenstein and Lichtenstern (Walking time about 3 hours)
From Klobenstein to Lengmoos, then take blue path no. 24 from the Erdpyramiden Café to Maria Saal. From Maria Saal take red path no. 8 via Bad Süss to Gasthof Tann and then Back to Klobenstein by red path no. 1, or by red path no. 6 to Riggermoos and from there path no. 5 to Lichtenstern, where one take the old railway, build in 1907, back to Klobenstein.It is worth stopping to see the mural of the Virgin Mary holding an umbrella in the pilgrimage church of Maria Saal (in its present form since 1719)
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Cafè Erdpyramiden (Lengmoos - Closing day Wednesday)
• Gasthaus Maria Saal (Mittelberg - Closing day Friday)
• Gasthaus Egarter (Mittelberg - Closing day Monday)
• Gasthaus Bad Siess (Mittelberg - Closing day Thursday)
• Gasthof Tann (Klobenstein - Closing day Tuesday)
• Hotel Südtirolerhof (Lichtenstern - Closing day Monday)
• Hotel Lichtenstern (Lichtenstern - Closing day Tuesday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – Closing day Wednesday)

Klobenstein - Pemmern - Rittner Horn - Gissmann - Pemmern (Total walking time about 3 ½ to 4 hours)
From Klobenstein by car or on foot on red path no. 1, to Gasthof Pemmern. From there by cable car to Schwarzseepitze (Black Lake Peak, 6791 ft.) and continue on foot (40 minutes) to the Rittner Horn (7415 ft.), one of the best known mountain view points. From the Rittner Horn red path no. 2 to Gissmann, the highest village on the Ritten, and from there red path no. 7 (a paved forest road) back to Pemmern.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Gasthof Pemmern (Klobenstein - Closing day Wednesday)
• Gasthof Zum Zirm (Klobenstein - Closing day Tuesday)
• Gasthaus Schwarzseespitze (Klobenstein - no Closing day)
• Gasthof Unterhornhaus (no Closing day)
• Feltuner Hütte (no closing day)
• Schutzhaus Rittner Horn (no closing day)
• Roanerhof (Gissmann - Closing day Friday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – Closing day Wednesday)

Oberbozen - Maria Himmelfahrt - Merletennen - Oberbozen (Walking time about 2 hours)
From Oberbozen take the path through the woods (Waldpromenade), blue path no. 4, to Maria Himmelfahrt. Old aristocratic country or summer houses, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, are to be seen along the way. Continue on blue path no. 4 from Maria Himmelfahrt to the viewpoint called Mertennen. It is also possible to do this walk from Klobenstein, taking blue path no. 1 which starts at the Hotel Schönblick, to Oberbozen (about 1 ½ hours) and then as described above, possibly returning to Klobenstein with the train.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Restaurant Anna (Oberbozen - closing day Monday)
• Café Fink (Oberbozen - closing day - Monday)
• Bar Rittnerhof (Oberbozen - closing day Thursday)
• Gasthaus Babsy (Oberbozen - closing day Sunday)
• Gasthof Schluff (Maria Himmelfahrt - closing day Thursday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Wednesday)

Oberbozen - Lobishof - Riggermoos - or Oberinn - Oberbozen (Walking time about 3 1/2 hours)
From the house Berger in Oberbozen take the blue path no. 16 to Lobishof, which lies in a green meadow; then take the right fork of blue no. 18 to Riggermoos and back by red path no. 6 to Oberbozen. One can also go from Lobishof to Gasthof Bachmann in Oberinn, using blue path no. 32, and then return to Lobishof by blue path no. 16 and on to Oberbozen (walking time by this route is somewhat longer).
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Restaurant Anna (Oberbozen- closing day Monday)
• Café Fink (Oberbozen- closing day Monday)
• Bar Rittnerhof (Oberbozen- closing day Thursday)
• Gasthaus Babsy (Oberbozen- closing day Sunday)
• Gasthaus Lobishof (Oberbozen- closing day Wednesday)
• Gasthof Bachmann (Oberinn- closing day Monday)
• Gasthof Mesnerwirt (Oberinn- closing day Wednesday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Wednesday)

Wolfsgruben - Oartlkopf - Wolfsgruben (Walking time about 1 1/2 hours)
From the east end of the Wolfsgruben lake take blue path no. 12 trough the beautiful woods to the Mitterstieler lake and then on to the so-called Oartlkopf, with splendid views of the village of Unterinn, far below, and of the western Dolomites. In this area the remains of an old tower can be seen. Return either the same way or on blue path no. 13 from the western side of the meadow.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Hotel Café Weihrerhof (Wolfsgruben- closing day Thursday)
• Hotel am Wolfsgrubener See (Wolfsgruben- closing day Monday)
• Gasthof Drei Birken (Wolfsgruben - closing day Wednesday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Wednesday)

Unterinn - Signat - Unterinn (Walking time about 2 1/2 to 3 hours)
From the village square in Unterinn first up to the main road and on this for a couple of hundred yards in a westerly direction (downhill towards Bozen) until you reach the small bridge, then blue path no. 31, on the right, to the Partschunerhof, on a natural terrace with a wonderful view. One should not miss seeing the huge, anclent edible chestnut trees, estimated to be up to 1000 years old, located to the east of the farm house. Return either by the same route of blue path no. 31 to the Hotel Unterinnerhof.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Gasthof Wunder (Unterinn- closing day Wednesday)
• Gasthaus Pirbamer (Unterinn- closing day Friday)
• Neuhauserhof (Oberplatten - closing day Wednesday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Wednesday)

Oberinn - Rittner Horn - Oberinn (Walking time between 5 and 6 hours)
From the church in Oberinn start out on red path no. 4 and in about 1 ½ hours you will reach the 1300-feet higher ridge of Rosswagen, where the Gissmann road crosses over. Continue on red path no. 4 through the wood and in about another 1 ½ hours you will reach the Gasthof Unterhornhaus and continue from there to the Rittner Horn, with its marvellous 360-degree view. It is best to return by the same route.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Gasthof Bachmann (Oberinn - closing day Monday)
• Gasthof Mesnerwirt (Oberinn - closing day Wednesday)
• Gasthof Unterhornhaus (no closing day)
• Feltuner-Hütte (no closing day)
• Schutzhaus Rittner Horn (no closing day)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Wednesday)

Lengstein - St. Verena Church - Lengstein (Walking time about 1 1/2 hours)
Take the road on from Lengstein in a northerly direction (toward Barbian: red path no. 8) to the Penzlhof (Penzl farmhouse),then blue path no. 33 right from the road to the Isolated church, standing on a porphyry hillock. Dedicated to St. Verena and first mentioned in 1256, its tower dates from the 14th century. From the church there are splendid views across the Eisack valley to Kastelruth, north to Barbian and Villanders, and downhill to Waidbruck and the Trostburg castle. Return to the Penzlhof and about 100 yards to the north, where the paths divide, turn left off the road, following blue path no. 35 around a sharp uphill curve, to the Oberschlichterhof (with a interesting wall-painting which dates from 1761). Return to the division of the paths and thence back to Lengstein.
Possibilities to stop at an inn:

• Hotel Lengsteinerhof (Lengstein - closing day Tuesday)
• Gasthof Schwaiger (Lengstein - closing day Thursday)
• Bar Pension Kircher (Lengstein - closing day Monday)
• Hotel Post- Victoria (Oberbozen – closing day Oberbozen)