Italy ski resorts
Val Gardena

Val Gardena: about the resort

  Do not try to find the town of Val Gardena on the map - it is not. As in other resorts in the Dolomiti Superski region, Val Gardena (or Greden in German) is the name of the ski region that combines the three resorts. Val Gardena is located in the center of South Tyrol, before this part belonged to Austria, and this is felt literally in everything. The local population speaks three languages \u200b\u200bfluently: Italian and German - the official languages \u200b\u200bof South Tyrol (Alto Adige), and even the rare Ladin - native to the local population. Many villages and names in the Val Gardena Valley and neighboring valleys often have two, and sometimes even three names, often unlike each other. Ortisei in Italian sounds like Ortisei, in German St. Ulrich, and in Ladin's Urtijei. Only about 25 thousand people speak the Ladin language (it belongs to the Romansh and is considered one of the endangered), and often each region has its own dialects. For many centuries, the mountainous regions of Trentino have been isolated from the outside world, traditions and crafts are still strong in local villages. In many Dolomite villages, wood carving and lace weaving are held in high esteem, while the locals themselves are distinguished by friendliness and hospitality.

Val Gardena is one of the most popular places in the heart of the Dolomites. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, located along the famous Sella Ronda roundabout. All the main towns of the region offer a good selection of accommodation options. International competitions are held annually in Val Gardena, including the legendary alpine skiing World Cup on the Saslong.

pros
  - Large selection of accommodation options
  - Magnificent scenery
  - Good track preparation
  - Many opportunities for children
  - Good restaurants

Minuses
  - Slopes and lifts are often crowded
  - Fairly high price level
  - A few long tracks for beginners
  - Not too lively nightlife
  - Ski-in ski out options are limited

Val Gardena: how to get there

The nearest international airport is Bolzano - 40 km. Innsbruck Airport is 120 km away, and Verona Airport is 190 km away. It takes more than 3.5 hours (316 km) to drive from Munich.

By train to Val Gardena you can get through Brunico in the Kronplatz region (16 km from the resort), then by bus. From Milan, the train runs 5 times a day, the journey takes 3.5 hours, with a change in Verona. The closest to the motorway is the village of Ortisei.
  Bus schedule - http://www.sii.bz.it, taxi order - http://www.taxiautosella.it.

Val Gardena: facts and routes

  Ski Area - 1060-2518 m
  Total length of tracks - 175 km
  blue - 35%
  red - 55%
  black - 10%

Lifts:
  Gondolas - 2, cabs - 7, chair - 43, tow-tows - 30

Season:
  The first lifts open in November, a full season: early December - early / mid April

Val Gardena: ski passes

  Skipass Dolomiti Superski
  For 6 days:
  265-294 euros for adults, 185-206 euros for children over 8 years old.

Children under 8 years of age ride for free when purchasing a ski pass by one of their closest relatives.
Discounts are also provided for skiers over 65 years old. At the beginning and end of the season discounts and special offers. The ski pass is valid in all 12 valleys of the Superski Dolomites (a total of 1,200 km of pistes at various resorts, but not all of them are fully connected).

Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android (webcams, news, events, weather, snow, lifts, maps and schemes, photos and videos, reference information):. The application is free.

Val Gardena: prices

  Rental of equipment for 6 days - 160-180 euros
  Classes in groups (5 days for 3 hours) - from 250 euros
  Individual lessons with an instructor - from 47 euros / hour
  Visit to the aquacenter - 8.5 euros
  Visit to the ice palace - 6 euros

Sella Ronda

Sella Ronda is one of the most beautiful ski safari routes in Italy and possibly in the Alps, passing through the Ladin valleys   (Val Gardena), Alta Badia   (Alta Badia), Val di Fassa   (Val di Fassa)   and Arabba   (Arabba). On this route, you can drive about 40 km clockwise (indicated in orange on the route diagram) or green (on the map in green), of which about 23 km are ski slopes. Sella Ronda is suitable for intermediate skiers. It is believed that the “orange” route is somewhat more complicated than the “green” one.

Val Gardena: where to ride

Val Gardena is a former Austrian possession that became part of Italy after World War I. The influence of Italy and Austria was blended in local culture and cuisine. Val Gardena consists of three resort towns: Ortisei   (Ortisei, 1235 m), Santa cristina   (Santa Cristina, 1,466 m) and Selva Gardena   (Selva Gardena, 1563 m). Ortisei   well suited for families with children, the resort has many hotels with wellness centers, a good selection of restaurants and shops. Santa cristina   - the most compact resort in the region, there are few hotels in this town, but they are good. Selva Gardena   or, in German, Wolkenstein is a good option for those who want to ride on more difficult routes and travel to neighboring regions. In Selva (it is also called Selva di Val Gardena) there are many good hotels, it is easy to find apartments, this is the most lively of the resorts of Val Gardena.

Val Gardena is famous for the quality and variety of tracks. From the upper station of Piz Cella, you can go to the black road towards Selva or go to the Sellajoch (2240 \u200b\u200bm) and above Plan de Galba (1780 m). The most difficult black track is the long and winding descent to Selva Gardena from the top of Ciampioni (2254 m). From the same peak, but from the eastern side, a shorter and less winding, but also very difficult black track runs down to Santa Cristina. For lovers of difficult descents, it is recommended that the area Piz Cella - Monte de Seura (2115 m) with interesting red slopes that pass through the forest at the bottom. Some red tracks in little snow can have quite complex black areas. The traditional Sella Ronda itinerary may seem too boring for experienced skiers, but pay attention to the black and red pistes in Porta Vescovo nad Arabba. For those who like to ride between trees, it is worth paying attention to Piz la Ila: the slope under the gondola to La Villa (this is the Alta Badia region) is quite long and steep. For beginners, the Alpe di Siusi area is more suitable, for strong skiers it may be interesting to test their speed in a special area.

The long and wide trails between Santa Cristina and Ortisei are well suited for beginner skiers and snowboarders. A gondola from Ortisei lifts to the main ski area towards Monte Piz (2109 m). The resorts of Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena are connected by a system of lifts, and a ski bus runs regularly from Selva to Ortisei.

At the height of the season in Val Gardena, virgin snow is being rolled out rather quickly. But if you wish and some effort you can find incredibly beautiful routes for freeriding. In particular, climbing the Sass Pordoi cabin to the mark of 2950 m, you can go a little north, walking to the Boe hut (2873 m, it is usually closed in winter). From here begins the picturesque Val Mezdi ("midday valley", so named for the fact that only at that time the sun penetrates into it). A little gloomy, but defiantly beautiful cliffs, pristine snow, narrow canyons - the route requires good command of the equipment and it is advisable to go along with a guide. From the top of the routes, an incredible view of the resorts below lies.

Val Gardena: Apres-ski

  Tyrol and Ladin cuisine reign in the restaurants of Val Gardena, with a clear predominance of meat dishes (although good fish can also be found in hotel restaurants). In Selva, many good restaurants are located at the hotels. Tyrol, Dorfer, Nives, Mignon are popular, serving traditional dishes from South Tyrol. Each of the good hotels has its own bars and restaurants. An excellent gastronomic restaurant is open at the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel. The charming Anna Stuben restaurant is famous for its cuisine and pleasant atmosphere, noted by the Michelin guide. Most guests choose accommodation with half board, and the food in most hotels is tasty and plentiful, so do not redo your forces. At the height of the season (Christmas and New Year, school holidays, February) in the most popular restaurants it is better to book a table in advance, otherwise you will not get into it.

To eat or dine in the mountains is also not a problem in Val Gardena, because you are in Italy. Most mountain huts and restaurants offer Tyrolean, Ladin and Italian cuisine, there are several excellent fish restaurants (in particular, Vallongia). Traditional lunch - various soups, polenta with mushrooms and other additives, and, of course, all kinds of pasta. Full list of mountain restaurants -

Good fashion stores are located in Ortisei, prices are more consistent with luxury resorts. During the season, the resorts of the valley host many interesting events. In December, the World Cup in Alpine Skiing takes place in Santa Cristina - a very spectacular and interesting event that gathers thousands of fans.

Val Gardena: not only skiing

The valley towns have indoor pools, ice rinks and wellness centers. In Ortisei you can play tennis and squash. In the evening, you can sit in a cafe, in a restaurant or look at a disco. Specialized ski shops and souvenir shops are open in Selva and Santa Cristina. In the museum of local lore you can get acquainted with the history of the valley, see old household items, carved wooden sculptures. It is worth visiting the old castle of Fischburg in Santa Cristina, built in the XVII century. There are many luxury hotels in the valley, many of them with excellent wellness centers. In Ortisei, the Mar Dolomiti water center has a large swimming pool, a complex of cascades, saunas and a wellness complex. Alpin Garden Wellness Resort   It has a luxurious Wellness & Spa Cleopatra complex with an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 1000 square meters with pools, several Jacuzzis, a variety of saunas and a beauty center. The complex also has a fitness center with panoramic views of the dolomite rock of Sassolungo. In the village of Selva Gardena, is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Alps, repeatedly recognized as the best ski and spa hotel in Italy - Sporthotel Alpenroyalp Gourmet & Relax. One of The Leading Hotels of the World, it offers a modern spa and a wide range of treatments.

Val Gardena: with children

  The resort has a kindergarten with a ski school. A large children's sector at the foot of the mountain is located in Ortisei. Mickey Mountain Club, located in Selva, is designed for children from 4 to 12 years old and offers a varied program. Junior Club, designed for teens from 11 to 18 years old, is located in Selva. In addition to skiing itself, the family offers a wide range of entertainment: special programs, snowshoeing, dog and horse cart rides, toboggan runs and skating rinks - be prepared for the fact that most ski instructors do not speak Russian (Italian, German and, less commonly - English - local standard).
  - When planning a trip to Sella Ronda or to other, remote valleys, carefully study the working hours of the lifts. "Stuck" in a neighboring or not quite neighboring valley is an expensive pleasure: skiing between resorts is much faster than on the road, and a taxi ride can cost a pretty penny.
  - Avoid riding Sella Ronda during peak periods, otherwise you can spend a lot of time in lines.

Val Gardena is a picturesque valley located in, in the Italian province (Provincia autonoma di Bolzano, also known as South Tyrol), at the junction of the borders of Italy, Austria and Germany. In this valley is one of the most popular, part of the Dolomiti Superski region, which is famous for its bewitching landscapes and well-equipped tracks.

The resort is easily accessible both from other Italian cities (via federal highways) and from major European cities (Munich, Nice, Zurich, Vienna) via motorways.

Among the attractions of Val Gardena is not only skiing - the resort has the opportunity to go mountain climbing, horseback riding, shopping, as well as visit local spa centers and take a course of wellness treatments. Local restaurants and clubs deserve special attention. A wide range of provided entertainment allows the resort region to become one of the most popular resorts in Italy.

It is from Val Gardena that fans of alpine skiing begin their acquaintance with alpine resorts. This is understandable - the tracks are equipped at the highest level, there is an extensive network of lifts connecting them to each other. In the valley there are approximately 175 kilometers of individual tracks, among which about a third are for beginners, about 60% are for skiers who already have some skiing experience, and about 10% are for professionals.

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If you look at the Val Gardena Valley on the map, it is noticeable that it is divided into three resort areas. This division provides the opportunity to choose accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the pistes that are most interesting to you and suit your skiing skills. The resort region has 82 ski lifts that connect the internal resorts into a single network, which also includes access to Sella Ronda (a closed route that goes around the resorts of the mountain range of the same name). Val Gardena will be able to provide leisure to any traveler, even if winter sports are not to their liking - chic restaurants, shops and boutiques, as well as excursions to local attractions, are at the service of tourists.

Description and general description

Val Gardena is the name of the valley in which there are three large areas of residence:

1. Selva di Val Gardena (Selva di Val Gardena), located at an altitude of 1563 meters;
2. A little lower (1428 meters) is the small village of Santa Cristina Valgardena;
3. Closest to the foot of the Alps (1236 m) is the Ortisei area.

The communes have their own unique flavor and the rest in each is slightly different, so before you choose the accommodation option, you should learn about these features.

Selva di Val Gardena

Selva di Val Gardena (abbreviated as Selva) is considered the most lively and popular resort of the Val Gardena Valley, largely due to the height of its location and proximity to the famous Sella Ronda (Sellaronda) ring, whose vacationers use the slopes and lifts to get to the most interesting tracks of the Dolomites Superski region.

However, the ski areas related to the resort can also surprise even skillful skiers. The resort includes 3 ski areas:

1. Dantercepies (Dantercepies, 2300 meters high)
2. Plan de Gralba (Plan de Gralba, 1800 meters)
3. Ciampinoi (Ciampinoi, 2254 meters), which borders the resort of Santa Cristina.

Selva also has the largest number of hotels, restaurants and clubs   - This area is very popular among young people who like discos and relaxation until the morning.

Ortisei

Ortisei is the second largest village in the valley. Unlike Selva, club life is not so developed here, tourists are much less - therefore Ortisei are great for families with children.   The tracks related to the village are mainly “red” and “blue”, however there are a large number of sections for beginners. The resort area consists of 3 ski areas:

1. Val Furnes
2. Seiser Alm (Seiser Alm)
3. Alpe di Siusi.

Santa Cristina is the smallest and most comfortable resort of Val Gardena, so there are usually much fewer tourists here than in Ortisei and especially in Selva di Val Gardena.

The resort is perfect for relaxing with your children. Santa Cristina is located almost in the very center of the region, so vacationers can easily get to the most popular pistes. The resort consists of 3 ski areas:

1. Monte Pana (Monte Pana, at an altitude of 1636 meters), located on the plateau of the same name
2. Seceda (Seceda, 2518 meters)
3. Col Raiser (2103 meters), which are located near the Val Furnes area, related to Ortisei.

Recreation

The Val Gardena Valley provides tourists with relaxation for every taste - 175 kilometers of slopes will allow you to enjoy the picturesque views of the Dolomites, numerous restaurants will impress you with delicious dishes, and the abundance of famous brands and shops will surprise you with an assortment of shopping enthusiasts.

Val Gardena is not in vain considered one of the most comfortable resorts in the Dolomites Superski region - any vacationer will find entertainment to their liking.

Winter sports

There are 51 tracks on the territory of Val Gardena, among which there are tracks for beginners and confident skiers, as well as for real professionals. Snowboard enthusiasts will love the snowpark and fanpark, including halfpipes. In addition, the resort region has several indoor ice rinks.

For beginners

Athletes who are just starting to understand the basics of skiing will be best suited to the Seiser Alm area, which is located near Ortisei. Most of the tracks here are marked as “red”, but in fact are simple “blue” routes along the spacious alpine slopes of the plateau. The height difference on the Seiser Alm tracks is not more than 300 meters, and the length of the slopes is from 600 to 2500 meters.   One of the most popular routes for beginners along the Seiser Alm-Skitur Hexen (Skitour Hexen), it is also "Baba Yaga Tour", which is very popular with children. However, for those who have no experience in skiing and are just starting to get acquainted with alpine skiing, it is better to try out the training site of Ortisei itself.

Santa Cristina also has its own training "training ground", which was included in Monte Pana. The site is a complex of simple tracks marked in blue. The tracks are serviced by 4 ski tow lifts. A small descent, designed to train beginners, is present in the village itself, in its upper part.

In Selve di Val Gardena, beginner skiers mostly prefer the Danterceps area,   which is served by seven towing lifts. Five of them serve a flatter part of the district, the rest lead to high slope tracks. The conditions for tourists who begin to master skiing in Dantercepis are quite acceptable, but not ideal - the fact is that a large number of skiers with a higher level pass down the mountain peaks, as well as freeriders, pass through the ski area.

Separately, it is worth noting that in the resort region there are numerous ski schools for skiers of all ages - Sci Emotions, Ski & Snowboard School Saslong and Ski & Snowboard School Ortisei in Ortisei, Top Ski School & Rental EA7, Snowboard & Skischool 2000 and Ski & Snowboardschool Selva Gardena in Selve di Val Gardena, Ski & Snowboard School S. Cristina in Santa Cristina.

Children's miniclubs are also working - in Selva and Santa Cristina, they work from 09.00 to 16.00, in Ortisei - from 10.30 to 13.30 (on Thursdays - until 16.00).

For young children (from one year old) there is a children's ski school in Santa Cristina, five full days of training in which will cost 190 euros.

For trained skiers

Skiers with a higher level of training should visit Ortisei and Selva (most of the tracks of these resorts are blue and red, there are also red and black that can be mastered by experienced athletes). There are many picturesque forest trails here (for example, the 10-kilometer La Longia, which descends from the Secheda district to the town of Ortisei). The ski slopes with Ciampina are well-known among the skiers (the descent to Selva is the track on which the world championship in alpine skiing takes place), Danterceps and Sella peak.

Especially popular is the descent from Ciampina to Plan de Gralba,   slightly fewer people on the descent from Ciampina to Santa Cristina. Descent from Dantercepis is usually very crowded, so experienced skiers choose the long trail leading to Langental.

The Alpe di Susie area is also famous, which consists mainly of red and blue tracks (the total length of the tracks in the area is about 60 km, of which 29 are red, 30 are blue, there is one black track). Alpe di Susie is served by 23 ski lifts and there are not many skiers here, unlike Dantercepis.

The most popular among athletes living in Ortisei and Santa Cristina is the Szeched sector. It will delight skiers with wide slopes with a rather large slope in the upper sections and small differences in height towards the end. Several short forest trails are present on the southeast slope of the Kol Reiser. Every year at the beginning of April, the famous Grandenissima competitions take place.   (Gardenissima), participation in which is completely free (but, of course, a ski pass is required for participation). The competition is held on a 6 km long track that descends from the ridge of Seceda and ends in Santa Cristina.

For experts

Skiers who have solid experience in skiing and consider themselves professionals should take a look at the famous “black” track Saslong A (Saslong A), which extends from Ciampina to Santa Cristina.

This is a difficult track on which the World Cup competitions in alpine skiing are held annually, namely downhill skiing. The length of the track is about 3500 meters, the maximum slope on it is 57%, the average is 21%. The track includes the “Camel Hump” (Kamelbuckel) element known among professional skiers - if the skier in front of him does not slow down, he will fly 50-70 meters off the track!

No less interesting is Saslong B. The track is also “black”, but slightly longer and includes more sections where you can accelerate properly.

You should not lose sight of two magnificent descents from Ciampina to Selva.   The first, “black” descent, passes in the same place as Saslong, but ends with a “corridor” passing through the forest. Another, marked in red, passes through a narrow isthmus between steep cliffs, and descends into the Val Gardena valley with neat loops.

For freeriders

Off-piste in Val Gardena is not a very popular activity. Perhaps this is due to the insufficient number of steep slopes along which routes are not laid, or maybe the variety of equipped valley routes is quite enough for local freeriders - who knows? However, some places for freeride in Val Gardena are quite famous. First of all, this is the Szeched district.

If you move away from the marked tracks, you can find spacious slopes along which you can go down to the lower station of the 4-chair lift.

Unfortunately, it is better to do this within a couple of days after the snowfall, because after the snowy virgin soil is covered with ice crust and it is not so pleasant to ride here. But when the crust hardens properly, it is possible to carry out a pedestrian walk on it. About the same situation on the slope Seiser Alm. A little longer the virgin lands remain in the sector of Punta d’Oro, but its slopes are too gentle for a quick ride.

Ski safari

There are plenty of options for ski safaris (a long ski trip without repeating the descents that have already been completed) in Val Gardena and Sella Ronda: the total length of all interconnected resorts is more than 480 kilometers, and the ski lift network will save the skier time, avoiding repeated routes and enjoy new breathtaking views every day.

The most popular route is as follows. From Ciampina on the Saslong B descent to St. Cristina, then using the ski lifts again to Ciampina, along the 4-kilometer descent to Selva, after this - on the ramp to Plan de Grailba (you should be careful - there is a “black” route, on which skiers descend at high speed). Here you should get to the gondola lift and get into the Dantercepis sector, from where you can go back to Selva via the unpretentious "red" track. If you have enough strength, you can again climb to Ciampina and overcome the descent to Plan de Gralba, from there take the funicular to Piz Sella, then descend to Monte Pan via Sassolundo ... In short, local routes allow you to choose an unknown route every day and enjoy the beauty of the Alpine nature.

For snowboarders

First of all, Val Gardena is considered a ski resort, but there are excellent conditions for snowboarders.

Piz Sella Snowpark, located at an altitude of 2158 meters at the foot of the Sassolungo in the southern tip of the valley.

In 2012, the park was modernized, several new jumps and a boardercross with a spiral tunnel were added. Seiser Alm also has a small halfpipe. Snowboarders who have a ski pass Dolomites Superski can visit another snow park, but of much larger size and equipment: it is located in the Col Rodella area and is called Passo Sella.

Mountaineering

: Local climbing routes will test your skills and challenge challenging peaks such as Peak Gralba (Piz Gralba, 2.974 meters), Peak Miara (Piz Miara, 2.965 meters) and Peak Beguz (Piz Beguz, 2.972 meters).

The most popular routes for professional climbers are The Pössnecker-Route, The Brigata Tridentina, The Oskar-Schuster-Track.

For those who are not yet ready to climb the almost three-kilometer peaks of Val Gardena, numerous climbing parks and climbing gyms work:

• Città dei Sassi (aka “City of Stones”), located near the Plan De Gralba (includes 29 tracks with difficulty level 4, 24 tracks of difficulty level 5c, 75 tracks the difficulty level varies between 6a and 6c, as well as 13 tracks with difficulty 7a). There are also 16 bouldering tracks;
• Frea (Frea), which can be reached on the SS243 highway from Plan de Gralba. The park includes 4 tracks of difficulty 4, 11 tracks with a difficulty level of between 5a and 5b, 37 tracks with a difficulty of between 6a and 6c and 21 tracks with a difficulty class of 7a;
• Bernardi, a small park located between Selvoy di Val Gardena and Plan de Gralba next to the SS242 highway: it consists of 5 tracks with a complexity of 6B-6C and 7 tracks of class 7a-7b;
• Traumpfeiler, located next to Plan de Gralba below SS243:4 routes 6a, 32 routes 6a-6c, 19 routes 7a-7c and 4 loop routes 8a;
• La Cava (La Cava) above Ortisei, located in close proximity to SS242:   6 routes 5c, 18 routes 6a-6c, 9 routes 7a-7c and 3 difficult routes 8a.

Ski passes

Prices for ski passes mainly depend on what time of the year you are planning a trip, and on the age of the person who purchased the ski pass. The most optimal is a weekly ski pass: for an adult it will cost 224-280-252 euros (respectively, out of season, in high and low seasons), for a child (up to 16 years): 157-196-176, for seniors (skiers over 65): 202- 252-227. Current prices for ski passes in Val Gardena in 2017 and 2018 can be found on the website www.dolomitisuperski.com. The ski pass Val Gardena also just attached circuit diagram.

It is worth remembering that these are the prices for ski passes in the territory of Val Gardena and Alpe di Susie. A week ski pass that allows you to visit the slopes of the entire Dolomiti Superski region will cost a little more: for an adult 243-304-274, for children 170-213-192, for older skiers 219-274-246 euros.

Après ski

Apres-ski in Val Gardena begins in the afternoon (at about three o’clock), when skiers weary of morning skiing begin to gather in restaurants and bars for a bite to eat. Most of the people, of course, are in restaurants and bars located near the slopes - among them special attention should be paid to Pauli and Chalet Restaurant Rasciesa (an interesting solution is a bar counter made of snow) in Ortisei, Juac, Saslonch, Gran Paradiso on the mountains slopes of Selva. There are approximately 50 different cafes throughout the resort.

The most popular in Ortisei are Dolomiti Madonna, Pontives and Mont Seuc (classic-style restaurants with gourmet cuisine), La Rosticceria Sotriffer, Tubladel and Val D'Anna (fine restaurants with a distinct personality that will delight connoisseurs of original dishes) and small but homely cozy Terrazza and Mar Dolomit (it is located next to the thermal complex of the same name, which includes 11 baths and saunas, indoor pools with warm water and a hydromassage, the cost of visiting is from 11.3 euros).

Selva is the real center of après ski: most of the restaurants located in the valley belong to this area. Tourists with children should definitely visit Ingloo, for a romantic evening Pra Valentini is suitable, vacationers who prefer classic restaurants will like La Bula, L Mulinè, and Olympia. Tourists who are more attracted by the atmosphere of bars and noisy fun in the spirit of Austrian resorts should look into Luiskeller and Kronestube.

In Santa Cristina you will find classic restaurants (Ruacia De Sot, L Fudle) and inexpensive cafe-pizzerias (Pizzeria Da Bruno, Da Peppi). Special attention should be paid to the local steakhouse Residence, Restaurant & Steakhouse La Tambra. Most of the establishments are located on the main street of Via Dursan (the street is part of the SS242 federal highway).

In addition to various restaurants and cafes, brand gardening, traditional for European ski resorts, has been developed in Val Gardena: more than 50 clothing stores serve for this purpose. You can show yourself in all its glory in the Val Gardena nightclubs: Umbrella (the largest disco that runs until the morning) and Disco Dancing Dali.

Also in the valley there are a tennis court, fitness centers, wellness centers, bowling, billiards, numerous saunas, baths and spas - word for word, everything you need for a complete and enjoyable vacation.

Val Gardena in the summer

In summer, Val Gardena also has something to do - cycling along high mountain routes is very popular. In the resorts there is a network of more than 30 different cycling routes of varying complexity, with a total length of over 1000 kilometers and a height difference of 1750 meters. There are six mountain bike schools, rental bicycles, protective clothing in Val Gardena. Most routes can be visited both independently and with an instructor.

Also, the picturesque expanses of Val Gardena can be studied on horseback. You can rent a horse for an average of 75 euros per hour. For children there is the possibility of pony rides - 45 euros per hour for skiing. You can rent a horse in one of the three riding schools   (one each in Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva), there the instructors will help beginners to learn the basics of riding and learn to stay in the saddle.

A lot of impressions can give a flight over the mountains on a paraglider or helicopter. The five-star Alpenroyal Grand Hotel even has its own helipad! Paragliding in Val Gardena has been known since 1986:   the region is a pioneer of coast among Italian resorts. If you are not an experienced paraglider and are afraid that your skills will not be enough, you can choose a flight with an instructor.

Adventure seekers will also appreciate geocaching - an independent search for the “treasures” hidden in the resort, which are small containers. By registering on the site www.geocaching.com, you can find the GPS coordinates of the location of the first "treasure", where a hint will be hidden where to look for the next.

sights

Tired of playing sports and gastronomic delights of Val Gardena, tourists can also taste spiritual food by visiting the many attractions of Val Gardena. Among them are castles, museums, monuments, churches, monuments, ancient water mills - in a word, there are a lot of places that you can see.

Castel Gardena Castle (Fischburg-Castel Gardena), located in Santa Cristina, was built in 1641 by order of one of the counts Volkenstein.

Its original name, Fishburg, translates as “fish castle”. This naming is due to the fact that in the vicinity of the castle its owner ordered to dig many small ponds in which Count Volkenstein bred trout. Unfortunately, there are no regular excursions inside the castle,   since it is the private property of Baron Franchetti. However, in the summer, during the annual music festival Valgardenamusica, concerts are held inside the castle. Not far from the castle there is also a small Bergkapelle chapel, which anyone can visit.

Wolkenstein Castle

Wolkenstein Castle is an ancient guardhouse built in the 13th century between the val Gardena and Alta Badia valleys.

The castle in the XVI century was captured by the Venetians and subsequently was not used for its intended purpose, as a result of which it was gradually destroyed. Currently, the northern walls of the castle, which are located at an altitude of 1600 meters, are best preserved.

Trostburg Castle is the oldest castle on the territory of Val Gardena, the first mention of it dates back to 1173.

Who owned the castle complex at the time of construction is not known exactly, but from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries, it was the property of the ancient Italian family Volkenstein-Trostburg. Thanks to the efforts of the association Südtiroler Burgeninstitut, the building was restored and in 1977 became accessible to tourists.

Museum of Val Gardena

Museum de Gherdëina, located at Via Rezia 83 in Ortisei, tells visitors about the history of the resort region. Large expositions of archaeological finds, various artworks by local authors, and fossils are presented here. Special attention should be paid to the exhibition of wood cutting - this type of art has been known here since 1600 and is a kind of “visiting card” of Val Gardena culture.

Sundial

The huge sundial, located in a huge meadow in Alpe Juac (Alpe Juac, near Selva Val Gardena), was built by the famous designer Roland Moroder. There is no separate road leading to the clock, but there is a footpath along which tourists can get from Selva to this attraction in about half an hour.

Church of St. Ulrich

The Church of St. Ulrich (Chiesa Ortisei - Kirche St. Ulrich) is located in Ortisei at Via Stufan 1, close to the Adler Hotel.

The construction of the church began in 1793 and lasted three years. The church is made in the late Baroque style and is decorated with numerous frescoes and paintings, among which the works of Ludwig, Joseph and Rudolf Moroder (one of the paintings in the church was awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900).

Church of St. Anthony (Chiesa di Sant’Antonio) is also located in Ortisei, in the square, which is dedicated to this saint. The first mention of the church dates back to 1430. However, that church, unfortunately, did not survive today and was rebuilt in 1676. In 1959, the last restoration of the temple took place. The church belongs to the Romanesque style, the central painting is made by Swiss artist Paul Deschwanden and depicts St. Anthony kneeling before the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

The exquisite church of San Giacomo (Chiesa Di San Giacomo) is located between Ortisei and the Griden Gorge, on the Troi Paiàn mountain trail, which can be reached if you walk along Str. Sacun from Ortisei.

You can only get to the church on foot., about an hour walk from the city center. The exact date of the construction of the temple is unknown, but it is believed that the cornerstone of the church was laid in 1181. Initially, the church was made in the Romanesque style, but after numerous restorations, elements of the baroque and Gothic paintings were included in the ensemble of the temple.

Weather

July and August are considered the warmest months in Val Gardena - the temperature reaches +21 degrees during the day, at night it drops to 6 degrees. The coldest month is January, but even then the temperature drops only to -3 in the afternoon (at night to -10). The sunniest months are July and August (an average of 24-25 sunny days per month), and the cloudiest months are January and February (approximately 10-13 days).

Hotels

Hotels in the Val Gardena region can please every traveler - there are accommodation options for every taste and financial possibilities.

In Selva di Val Gardena you can find hotels suitable for lovers of eventful evening life - the town is quite noisy, not far from most hotels are clubs, bars and discos.

For a more relaxing pastime, it is better to book a room in Ortisei or Santa Cristina Val Gardena hotels. Of course, you are unlikely to find service personnel who know Russian, but most hotels speak English, Italian and German. However, in a five-star hotel, you can count on employees to speak Russian.

3 stars

There are over a hundred three-star hotels in Val Gardena, which provide vacationers with a wide range of services at fairly affordable (by the standards of the Dolomiti Superski region) prices. Many of the accommodation options are located near popular ski slopes. We have selected the best tourist reviews for you.

Hotel cristallo

Located in Santa Cristina, less than half a kilometer from the main lifts. Guests can enjoy free breakfast (buffet), swim in the indoor pool or relax in the sauna. On the ground floor there is a restaurant serving Tyrolean cuisine.

Hotel olympia

By train

The railway stations closest to Val Gardena are located on the Verona-Munich line passing through Innsbruck:

• From Ponte Gardena - about 13 km;
• From Bressanone - about 30 km;
• From Bolzano - 40 km.

An open Schengen visa gives you the opportunity to visit Valgardena, for example, on the way from to Munich: in this case, you can catch a train to Rome Verona departing from and get from Verona to Val Gardena by train to Bolzano. Having reached this station, the resort is easily accessible by bus, taxi or rented car.

• See instructions:   how to buy without intermediaries

By bus

In the high season, a direct transfer will be arranged to Val Gardena from the airports of the nearest cities - Verona and Innsbruck (ticket price is 25 euros). There are also regular flights from Bolzano (departing once per hour) and Ponte Gardena, as well as Bressanone (350 line through Chiusa). From the nearest towns you can reach the valley for only 2.5 euros, a taxi will cost you about 17-19 euros. Bus line No. 471 allows access to Val Gardena from the Dolomiti Superski passes.

By plane

There is no airport on the territory of Val Gardena, but they are available in the cities closest to the valley.   In season, it is easy to get to the resort from there by bus transfers.

• Airport Bolzano (Airport Bolzano Dolomiti) - 40 km;
• Innsbruck Airport (Kranebitten) - 110 km;
•   (Valerio Catullo) - 205 km.

Regular direct flights Moscow-Innsbruck and Munich-Innsbruck are popular among Russian travelers visiting Val Gardena.

By car

The easiest way to get to the resort by car is on the A22 highway - from the north you can get from Verona and Bolzano, from the south - from Innsbruck. The path to Val Gardena from Germany (Munich, Nuremberg) passes along the federal highway number 8, from there along E45 to Innsbruck. From the neighboring ski resorts you can get along the roads SS242, SS243 (from Val Di Fassa and Alta Badia).

You can find a profitable car rental option on our service

Our opinion

Val Gardena in winter is a favorite destination for skiers and climbers from around the world. The resort region will provide you with the broadest opportunities for recreation and entertainment, regardless of preference - skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the beautiful trails of the Val Gardena and Dolomiti Superski regions, climbers with difficult mountain routes and climbing parks, horseback riding enthusiasts - walks along the picturesque mountain trails in autumn and summer . Tours to Val Gardena will undoubtedly bring you a lot of impressions and become an unforgettable event in your life!

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One of the most beautiful ski resorts located in the Dolomites is the Val Gardena ski resort, which consists of three resort towns: Selva di Val Gardena, Santa Cristina and Ortisei.

Looking at the political map of Italy, you can see that the Val Gardena ski resort is located in the north-eastern part of the country.

Val Gardena Resort has several advantages over many other resorts, namely:

• the total length of the routes is about 175 km;
• availability of sports tracks;
• the availability of special tracks for beginners;
• ample opportunities of ski safari;
• large ski area;
• high quality tracks;
• the resort has the most powerful and modern equipment for the production of artificial snow in Europe;
• modern system of lifts.

You will learn more about Val Gardena from the video:

Resort Hotels

The resort has a developed infrastructure, many hotels, pensions, etc., which in total allows you to accommodate about 8000 vacationers at the same time.

Hotels in Val Garden are both three-star and five-star. The living conditions are very pleasant and comfortable in all hotels.

Most of them are located near the ski lift.
The most popular hotels are:

• Gardena Grodnerhof Gourmet & Spa 5 *;
• Adler Dolomiti SPA & Sport Resort 5 *;
• Biancaneve Family & Design 4 * and others.

Val Gardena hotels are mainly located near ski lifts

How to get there

It should be noted that the resort of Val Gardena is slightly remote from the nearest cities. In order to get to Val Gardena you must overcome the distance of 120 km from Innsbruck, where the nearest airport is located, either from Bolzano - 40 km, or from Verona - 190 km (the airport is located) by bus or car.

Resort towns

Looking at the map of Val Gardena, you can see that the resort includes three towns.

The largest of these is Ortisei, which has many shops, restaurants, hotels, etc.   Its population is about five thousand people.

The town of Ortisei is the largest among the cities of the resort of Val Gardena

The city belongs to the largest ski alliance in the world “Dolomiti Superski”.

The distance from the center of Ortisei to the nearest ski lift is 10 minutes. walk. You should stay in this city if you come to rest with your family as a whole.

If you are engaged in skiing or snowboarding at a professional level, you should stay in other towns of Val Gardena - in Santa Crista or Selva di Val Gardena. Both cities are located in the center of the valley.

Santa Crista is more suitable for professionals

Through them are the best tracks.

The features of these towns are a quiet calm atmosphere, the most favorable for people who love peace and quiet, as well as professional ski slopes and the opportunity to start a many-hour ski trip to the nearest regions.

If you arrived on vacation in one of these towns without equipment, do not be upset.   In local stores you can buy all the necessary equipment and equipment or rent it. There are skiing, snowboards, thermal underwear and other goods on sale.

Climate

Val Gardena ski resort is located in the temperate alpine climate. It is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. The minimum air temperature is -20 ° C in winter, and the maximum - + 30 ° C in summer.

The average air temperature in summer is + 15 ° C, and in winter -5 ° C.

The weather in Val Gardena changes dramatically and in November frosts begin.Humidity is not high in winter, so even severe frosts are very easily tolerated.

Downhill and downhill

The most popular areas, with a huge number of different tracks, are:

• "Alpe di Siusi"   - The most popular area among most tourists. In this area there are many tracks of various difficulty levels, as well as a large number of different lifts. Both a beginner and an amateur will be able to ride in it;
• "Sella Ronda"   - The zone is most popular among professional skiers, on which there is a circular route with a total length of 40 km.
• Self-confident skiers should try their hand at passing trails that begin in Ciampioni or Danterchepies and end in Santa Cristina and Selva respectively;
• And lovers of snow-white landscapes and virgin lands should ride on run Szeched   running at an altitude of 2518 m.

Schemes of pistes and lifts of Val Gardena can be taken for free at points of sale of subscriptions (ski passes).

If you decide to go on a ski tour to Val Gardena, then you probably will not regret it. You can have a good rest here both in the company of friends and in the family circle.

A large number of hotels and pensions in Val Gardena will allow you to choose a room to your liking and pocket, and a wide selection of ski slopes of varying difficulty will allow skiing for beginners as well as professionals.

Most tourists who visited the Val Gardena ski resort give only positive reviews.

Val Gardena   - this is a fabulously beautiful valley with a length of more than 15 kilometers at the foot of the mountain Sassolungo   ("Long Stone"), which includes three resort towns - Ortisei, Santa cristina   (1,466 m.) And Selva Gardena   (1563 m.).

Resort Description

All tracks are connected by a continuous network of slopes and lifts with heights from 2518 to 1563 m. Therefore, you can go from one skiing area to another without taking off your skis. Through Passo Garden you can easily get to the neighboring Alta Badia zone (altitude - 2138-1433 m., 39 lifts) with resorts Colfosco   and Corvara.

The height of the Val Gorden itself is about 1563 m., There are 77 lifts, 175 km. tracks, discos, bars, restaurant, shops, skating rinks and pools. Ortisei has an indoor tennis and squash center, as well as a riding school and a local history museum, most of which is dedicated to the art of local wood carving. Nearby is the picturesque Renaissance castle Fischburg (XVII century.).

How to get to Val Gardena?

The closest to the spa valley are the airports of Bolzano (40 km), Innsbruck (110 km), Verona (200 km).

Railway stations on the Verona - Brennero - Innsbruck - Munich line: Ponte Gardena (German Waidbrook) - 13 km, Bressanone (German Brixen) - 31 km, Bolzano - 40 km.