Eisacktaler Genießerstraße - stezka pro požitkáře

Your Guide to the Best Restaurants - and the Best Wine

Welcome

The Valle Isarco/Eisacktal stretches from the Brennero/Brenner Pass to just beyond Barbiano/Barbian, on the southern slopes of the Alps. The attractions of this area are not just in the diversity of its natural wonders, the beauty of its exceptional landscape (471 m - 3510 m), the numerous artistic and cultural monuments, the three little medieval towns of Vipiteno/Sterzing, Bressanone/Brixen and Chiusa/Klausen or the well-known wines and dishes of the Valle Isarco, but in the way all of these are so perfectly blended. The Valle Isarco’s Gourmet Route familiarises you with the contrasting features of this valley, where for thousands of years the cultural influences of the Mediterranean and Central Europe have met, bringing together local cuisine and the produce of South Tyrol.

We hope that by providing this cultural and gastronomic guide along the Valle Isarco’s Gourmet Route, our guests will have a pleasant tour of discovery tracing the past, and we wish lovers of fine food and drink a “Bon Appétit” at the traditional restaurants, which are renowned for their exceptional cuisine and cellars. The essential criteria we look for when selecting these establishments are the predominant use of local produce, the variety of local specialities on the menu and a well-stocked wine cellar with a choice of wines from the Valle Isarco and South Tyrol.

Be our guest in the Valle Isarco

The apple blossom in the mild spring, the fun of the mountains in summer, the traditional “Törggelen” in the vivid autumn and the snow and skiing in the white winters – the Valle Isarco is the perfect holiday destination 365 days a year with all its varied and colourful diversions. So many people have told us of their happy memories of unforgettable holidays here, the variety of walks and excursions as well as the restaurants and inns so worth visiting for their leisurely evening meals or for a short stop on their travels. We’d like to share some of these places with you, either to remind you of your own wonderful time in South Tyrol, or to tempt you to come and spend some enjoyable days in the Valle Isarco.

Travelling from the north we suggest you take the main highway from the Brennero Pass. This road goes through Colle Isarco/Gossensass, the Spa town much praised by Hendrik Ibsen. The Miners’ Chapel in the cemetery, dedicated to St Barbara, with its renowned late-gothic altarpiece, dates from the time of the mining industry in the Val di Fleres/Pflerschtal, an idyllic side valley at the foot of the Tribulaun, which is both a hiking and a skiing resort. The road continues as far as Sterzing, a small medieval town, whose romantic and picturesque character gives visitors their first feeling of a holiday atmosphere. The town’s little streets with their oriel windows, charming arcades, the Town Hall, one of the most beautiful in the Tyrol with its magnificent overhanging windows and Gothic Council Chamber, the Deutschordenhaus with the Multscher and Municipal Museum containing most of the famous late Gothic altarpiece by Hans Multscher, the parish church on the outskirts built by miners, all these bear witness to the importance of this commercial town in years gone by. Just a five-minute walk from the old town is the Monte Cavallo/Rosskopf cable rail valley station which connects Vipiteno with its own mountain and the sunny terrace is worth a visit in both summer and winter. As the bells ring out mid-day from the town’s landmark, the Zwölferturm, just around the corner in the new town one of Sterzing’s well-known restaurants beckons you invitingly for lunch.

Hotel Restaurant Lilie Neustadt 49 - Sterzing/Vipiteno In keeping with its motto “The Lilie stands for the pleasures and joys of life in Vipiteno/Sterzing”, guests are spoilt with a first class cuisine, ... Více...

On the outskirts of Sterzing, the Val di Vizze/Pfitschtal valley branches off to the left and snakes northwards to the glaciers of the Zillertal Alps – an idea for a wonderfully peaceful day out for hikers and lovers of the great outdoors.

At Vipiteno/Sterzing’s southern exit take the right turn to the municipality of Racines/Ratschings, the well-known skiing and hiking resort, with the three valleys of Ridanna/Ridnaun, Racines/Ratschings and Giovo/Jaufen. The former Schneeberg ore mine in Ridanna is nowadays the provincial museum. Wolfsthurn Castle in Mareta/Mareit, one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in the Tyrol and a provincial hunting and fishing museum, is particularly well worth visiting. A walk from Stanghe/Stange or Jaufensteg through the unique Gilfenklamm gorge, carved out of white marble rock, is also very impressive. The magnificent Castel Tasso/Reifenstein castle (12th century), on the southern outskirts of the Sterzing basin is considered one of the region’s most important castles from both an artistic and historic point of view. Continuing south, past the hamlet of Trens with its Gothic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a site of many pilgrimages, we recommend this hotel in Mules/Mauls near Campo di Trens/Freienfeld:

Romantik-Hotel & Restaurant Stafler Mauls 10 - Freienfeld/Campo di Trens A 4 star hotel with its roots in the middle ages, which seamlessly blends historic charm and the most modern amenities! In this culinary paradise ... Více...

The old Brennero/Brenner road continues on to Fortezza/Franzensfeste. The community takes its name from the imposing fortress, made of huge granite blocks, to the south of the town, built by the Emperor Franz I between 1833 and 1838, and which can be visited in the summer months. The Val Pusteria/Pustertal road branches off eastwards at the south of Fortezza and travelling along it you come to the outskirts of Rio di Pusteria/Mühlbach. From Rio di Pusteria a panoramic road and a cable car both lead up to Maranza/Meransen and into the Vals valley, both renowned skiing and hiking resorts. Valles/Vals harbours a little jewel – the village of Fane-Alm where alpine huts provide refreshments in both winter and summer. Opposite and high on the hill is Rodengo/Rodeneck, with the highly fortified Rodengo/Rodenegg castle above the narrow Rienza/Rienz gorge. In an easterly direction just beyond the Rio di Pusteria/Mühlbach Klause, a border fortress which until the year 1500 marked the boundary between the Tyrol and the Pustertal valley in the Görz region, lies the town of Vandoies/Vintl with its Baroque church and stately buildings. The Lodenwelt museum in Vintl has a very popular exhibition of the history and manufacture of this traditional fabric. Going back towards Bressanone/Brixen it’s worth making a detour over the High Apple Plateau of Naz/Natz-Sciaves/Schabs, which rightly deserves its name thanks to its wonderfully sunny position and extensive fruit cultivation: a sea of blossom in springtime, a riot of colour in autumn. The high apple plateau also has a good restaurant waiting for you.

Hotel Restaurant Hochrain Raas 81 - Natz-Schabs/Naz-Sciaves A wealth of variety, creativity and flavour distinguish our cuisine and turn your holiday into a true culinary experience. Whether you ... Více...

You mustn’t miss a visit to the Augustinian Abbey of Novacella/Neustift, close to Bressanone/Brixen, which has the most beautiful baroque church in the area, the well of miracles, the famous library with its unique manuscripts and the historic Pinakothek picture gallery. It’s impossible to pass the Abbey’s wine cellar without first tasting the cellar’s Sylvaner; where else could an Valle Isarco white wine taste so good? Right next to the Abbey grounds is a traditional hotel

Hotel Restaurant Brückenwirt Stiftstraße 2 - Neustift/Novacella This typical Tyrolean inn, first mentioned in manuscripts around 1152, offers a varied cuisine and a well-stocked cellar with excellent ... Více...

Still on the northern outskirts of Brixen, just before the junction of the Pustertal road and the Brenner highway you’ll find a 4 star hotel with a superb restaurant.

Hotel Restaurant Löwenhof Brennerstraße 60 - Vahrn/Varna Whether you choose the homemade hors d’oeuvres, fresh salad buffet, sophisticated fish and meat specialities or fine desserts – you’ll ... Více...