Perdonig & Gaid | Eppan

From St. Michael | Eppan, a well-maintained mountain road leads past stately residences and old wineries up to the two mountain fractions Perdonig | Eppan and Gaid | Eppan. On the way there, the transition from mediterranean landscape to alpine terrain is particularly noticeable. Surrounded by mixed forest and extensive meadows, hikers enjoy a wide view over Eppan on the Wine Road, the Etschtal valley and to the opposite peaks of the Dolomites. The challenging route from St. Michael to Perdonig | Eppan and Gaid |Eppan is very popular with cyclists and mountain bikers. A path also leads from the two mountain villages through the forest to the castles of Hocheppan and Boymont.

The parish church of St. Vigilius and St. Ulrich in Perdonig and the Vigilius hill, where remains of a late antique settlement and the old church can be found, are worth seeing. In the centre of the few houses in Gaid, there is a pilgrimage church with a beautiful view and next to it a very old farm, the Moarhof. The road ends here in the village and now only hiking trails lead further into the forest or up the mountain. Nearby is also Festenstein Castle, a witness to the Middle Ages.

The Eppan high trail is a must for walkers who enjoy nature. Beneath the walls of the Mendelkamm, it runs mostly through steep forest slopes of beech and silver fir. During the hike, which runs at an average altitude of 1,000 metres, the beautiful views of the Bozen basin and the imposing Dolomites invite you to take short breaks again and again.

A very special climatic event awaits you on a hike to the ice holes. At 500 metres above sea level, plants thrive here that are normally only found at 1,200 metres above sea level. This phenomenon can be explained by the nature of the terrain, because the area around the ice holes is characterised by porphyry debris. Warm air flows in at the upper openings of the blocks, cools down on the rock and exits below as ice-cold air. This refreshing hike is really worthwhile for young and old to cool off on warm summer days.

Inviting inns and mountain guesthouses offer South Tyrolean fare and speciality weeks - especially in spring and autumn. Farms invite you to farm tours and wine tastings, and many rooms and holiday apartements are available.