Mühlbach and its surroundings

The village of Rio Pusteria is located in the homonymous municipality between the Val Pusteria and the Valle Isarco at 777 m asl and has got some 1.020 inhabitants. Once upon a time the Medieval village used to be a strategic hub, as it was site of a toll station and barricade, that is to say the Chiusa di Rio Pusteria. Today this mighty fortress can be visited in guided tours from June to September and is venue for Medieval Knight Games, a highlight for kids.

Shopping in the lovely corners of the village, a jump into the waters of the outdoor pool, a walk along the trail to Spinga, a tour in the Gitschberg or Jochtal hiking areas or a coffee in the shade of the steeple of Rio Pusteria, the offer is widely varied. By the way, in summer the church square of Rio Pusteria is venue for the long summer nights with live music and entertainment, always taking place on Wednesdays.

From Rio Pusteria you can, however, reach Maranza by funicular. For this reason you can comfortably go skiing without using your car. An alternative is a short drive to the Jochtal skiing area in Valles.

The municipal city of Bressanone is, in the true sense of the word, located in the heart of South Tyrol and is immersed in a wide valley basin. Beside the city it also comprises the villages nestling on the slopes of Monte Ponente as well as S. Andrea on the slopes of the Plose and the localities of Albes, Elvas, Millan, Eores and Sarnes.

The mild climate of the Valle Isarco valley makes vineyards and fruit orchards flourish in this area. In fact, Bressanone fascinates twice: on the one hand the city has got a varied cultural programme to offer, on the other hand the surrounding villages as well as the local mountain of the Plose make you escape the city life and take you to another world, the world of nature, ideal for taking a break and enjoying relaxation.

A Toerggele hike along the sunny slopes of the Monte Ponente and subsequent stop in one of the typical taverns called Buschenschank, a drink at the event Summer Emotions in the historic town of Bressanone, a shopping evening, a winter walk on the Plose and a visit of the Christmas Market, the episcopal city and the surrounding villages have much to offer in every season and for every

In the heart of the Val Pusteria lies its main town, Brunico, with the surrounding districts, which stretch from the golf course at the foot of Mt. Plan de Corones to the Aurino Floodplains in Stegona and on to San Giorgio and the fields of Villa Santa Caterina and Teodone. This is where the Lower Val Pusteria ends, and where the upper part begins with the famous lakes and the Three Peaks of Lavaredo. From a cultural and sporting point of view, the municipality is a destination for every season.

The most popular season is winter, when the skiing area on Mt. Plan de Corones opens its gates and can now be reached from several sides. The local mountain has also become a cultural attraction in recent years with the opening of two museums on the 2,275 m high peak: the Museum of Mountain Photography and the MMM Corones, which complement each other. The cultural offer continues in the valley, where the Brunico Municipal Museum and the South Tyrolean Folklore Museum in Teodone have interesting stories to tell. Brunico Castle, which seems to watch over the town from its castle hill called Schlossberg, houses another one of Reinhold Messner's museums: MMM Ripa, dedicated to the mountain peoples of the earth.

Long Friday evening shopping, concerts with international names, the Old Town Festival and the Christmas Market in the Advent period also make Brunico the social meeting place of the Val Pusteria. For an aperitif, people meet in the old town between Brunico Castle and the Tschurtschenthaler Park at the other end, or around the newly designed Town Hall Square. In addition, there is the Stegona Market in October, the annual market with a funfair: If you buy something warm to wear here, you'll get through the winter in good shape, as the old saying goes.

The municipal city of Vipiteno includes the town of Vipiteno as well as Ceves, Tunes and Novale. Always has Vipiteno been commercial centre, above all due to its location between the Alpine passes of Passo Giovo, Passo del Brennero and Passo di Pénnes.

The municipality is located in the west of the Stubai Alps, in the east there are the Zillertal Alps and in the south and south-west it is delimited by the Sarentino Alps. Between the Isarco and the Ridanna rivers, Vipiteno extends on the north-western border of a plain valley basin in the southern Wipptal valley.

In fact, this area has already been settled in prehistoric times, as 14 BC the Roman settlement "Vipitenum" developed in this place. Still today the Medieval town of Vipiteno combines ancient atmosphere with the modern aspects of a small city that is characterised by a climate that is typical for Central Europe. Shopping in the former Fugger city, mountain tours in the summer months and skiing in the Monte Cavallo and Ladurno skiing area, Vipiteno offers a wide range of activities for those who love active holidays as well as sight for those who are interested in culture. Together with four other charming and historically interesting South Tyrolean places - Castelrotto, Glorenza, Egna and Chiusa - Vipiteno is part of "I borghi più belli d'Italia" (The most beautiful places in Italy) with the note "The captured hours on the Tower of the Twelve".