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from 89 €
Vital Hotel Ortlerspitz
Dreamlike holidays | St. Valentin auf der Haide in Vinschgau
from 220 €
Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier
Sport & wellness resort | St. Martin in Passeiertal
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from 163 €
Viktoria Alpine Spa Resort
Wellnesshotel | Hafling near Meran
from 230 €
Alpenpalace Spa Retreat
Exclusive well-being oasis | St. Johann in Tauferer Ahrntal
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from 122 €
Hotel & SPA RESORT Majestic
Wellness hotel | Reischach at Mt. Kronplatz
from 110 €
Hotel & Spa Falkensteinerhof
Wellness hotel | Vals in Eisacktal
from 131 €
SONNENHOF Sun/Spa/Panorama
Sporthotel | Pfalzen at Mt. Kronplatz
from 141 €
Vitalpina Hotel Schulerhof
Active hotel | Plaus near Meran
from 114 €
Panoramahotel Watles
Varied activities | Mals in Vinschgau
from 65 €
Hotel Theiner
Holidays in the middle of nature | at Reschen pass in Vinschgau
from 480 €
Naturhotel Waldheim
Active hotel | Altrei in Southern South Tyrol
from 181 €
MIRABELL DOLOMITES HOTEL
Luxury . Ayurveda & SPA | Olang at Mt. Kronplatz
from 200 €
WINKLER Sport & Spa Resort
Design hotel | St. Lorenzen at Mt. Kronplatz

The Vinschger Sonnenberg

It is obvious why the mountain bears this name: hardly any other place in the Vingschau Valley is so spoilt by the warming rays of the sun. However, many people do not know that this sunny mountain in the middle of South Tyrol has unique steppe vegetation.

The almost 50 kilometre long mountain between Partschins and Mals is one of the most characteristic features of the Vinschgau Valley landscape: dry, barren, almost scorched by intense sunlight and whipped by the notorious "upper wind". Here, the flora has to make do with an average of 500 millimetres of rainfall per year.

The parched and humus-poor soil offers hardly any nourishment for normal vegetation, as is usual in these latitudes. Soil temperatures of up to 70°C in summer, severe frost and the lack of protective snow cover in winter - due to the exposed southern exposure - put the plants and shrubs to the test. In order to survive despite this, the flora on the Sonnenberg has developed sophisticated adaptation strategies: steppe grasses form the basis of the patchy vegetation cover, along with colourful flowering herbs and numerous Central Asian plant species.

Special features in flora and fauna

"The Sonnenberg is a floristic and faunistic speciality," writes the South Tyrolean ornithologist and nature expert Peter Ortner. "Many southern species reach their northern limit here, while northern species reach their southern limit, making this area a jewel of European flora and fauna." As is so often the case, man has also made a significant contribution to the appearance of the landscape here today. The Romans had already begun to clear the former scrub forest in order to gain larger cultivated areas. Intensive grazing by sheep and goats further accelerated the desertification. It is said that the trunks that were cut down were even transported down the Adige to Venice, where they are said to form the foundation of the lagoon city.

Floodplains of Schluderns

The Schluderns floodplains are a contrasting but no less attractive spot, representing the rest of the once typical landscape of the upper Vinschgau Valley. They were placed under special protection around 30 years ago and designated as a biotope.

Current holiday offers

from 147 €
LANERHOF Active/Spa/Balance

A refuge to arrive and rest, since ever characterised by the warm hospitality of the Winkler family.

To the hotel
from 100 €
Hotel Tirolerhof

Welcome to Tirolerhof. The perfect place for your active holidays – skiing, cross-country skiing and relaxing. Directly at Mt. Kronplatz in Gsies Valley.

To the hotel
from 144 €
Hotel Sand

Holidays in Vinschgau - Garden with 25 m sports pool & natural bathing pond, bike paths, countless hiking possibilities and much more.

To the hotel
from 135,50 €
Hotel Vilpianerhof

Genuine hospitality, which comes from the heart - at the Vilpianerhof near Bozen and Meran!

To the hotel

Images

Winter hikes in Vinschgau
Winter hikes in Vinschgau

In winter as well, the Apothekersteig path near Laas is a dreamlike hike for the whole family.

IDM Südtirol - Frieder Blickle
Winter in Laas
Winter in Laas

A sunny winter day on the sunny slopes of Vinschgau near Laas

IDM Südtirol - Frieder Blickle
View from the sunny side of Vinschgau to Laas
View from the sunny side of Vinschgau to Laas

The "Sonnenberg" in Vinschgau is also perfect for hikes and excursions in winter.

IDM_Vinschgau Marketing - Frieder Blickle

Natural attractions

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