Spa hotels in the Val Venosta
The Val Venosta is South Tyrol's sun-blessed high valley on the southern side of the Alps — apple orchards, Waalwege and a low-rainfall Mediterranean climate.
Holidays & wellness in the Val Venosta
The Val Venosta (Vinschgau) is South Tyrol's western high valley — on the southern side of the Alps, with a dry Mediterranean climate, apple orchards and the Val Venosta high trail as its hiking anchor. The sunny side of the valley is among the regions with the lowest rainfall in Central Europe; the historic Waalwege (irrigation channels from the Middle Ages) today lead as marked hiking trails through apple and wine slopes. Three wellness resorts with a region page of their own: Latsch, Naturns and Schlanders as the valley centre. The Val Venosta reaches from the Reschen Pass on the Austrian border to the Adige valley before Merano — geographically a world of its own between the Ortler group and the Texel group, climatically almost Italian.
What this region stands for
- The sunniest wellness in South Tyrol
- Grape and apple cures
- Hiking (Val Venosta high trail, Waalwege)
- Belvita premium hotels
- Stelvio National Park access
Why wellness here?
The Val Venosta has a climatic position rare in the Alps. Wedged between the Ortler group (with the Ortler, 3,905 m, the highest mountain in South Tyrol) and the Texel group, the valley opens eastwards into the Adige valley and thus into the Italian Mediterranean climate. The result: around 300 days of sun a year, an average of 500 mm of annual rainfall (markedly less than most Alpine regions) and an almost Mediterranean vegetation with apple orchards, vineyards and even palms in sheltered spots. Wellness profile: outdoor wellness as a year-round possibility. Hikers find the Val Venosta high trail on the sunny side (108 km, 6–8 day stages), the Merano high trail, the Waalwege (historic irrigation channels, today marked hiking trails of around 1,500 km in total) and the Stelvio National Park. Grape and apple cures: regional wellness traditions with grape and apple-skin treatments, in several hotels as seasonal treatment lines. The Reschensee at the valley exit with the sunken tower of the former church of old Graun is an iconic photo motif; the Stelvio Pass (2,757 m) as the second-highest pass road in the Alps is a classic pass experience in summer. Glurns as the smallest town in South Tyrol (around 900 inhabitants) has a completely preserved medieval town wall.
When to travel here
March–November as the main season — the Mediterranean climate allows a longer outdoor season than in the high Alps. Spring (March–May) with the apple blossom as a spectacular photo motif, May–June for the mountain-meadow blossom, autumn (mid-September–October) for the grape and apple harvest. High summer can get hot on the valley floor (up to 32 °C); the high trails at 1,000–1,500 m stay pleasant. Winter (December–April) the classic ski season in the higher ski areas (Schöneben at the Reschen, Sulden at the Ortler, Trafoi); the valley hotels partly withdraw into a winter break.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
Reschensee with its sunken church tower
The Reschensee at the western end of the Val Venosta — created by damming the Adige in the 1950s, with the iconic church tower of the former church of old Graun rising from the water. A classic photo motif and symbolic anchor of Val Venosta history.
Stelvio Pass (2,757 m) and Stelvio National Park
The second-highest pass road in the Alps — in summer a road of longing for road cyclists and motorcyclists. The Stelvio National Park is home to the Ortler (3,905 m, the highest mountain in South Tyrol), numerous glaciers and Alpine wildlife with ibex and bearded vultures.
Val Venosta high trail
A 108 km high trail on the sunny side of the Val Venosta — six to eight day stages from the Reschen to the Adige valley before Merano. Leads through apple slopes, mountain forests and high pastures, with overnight stays in Val Venosta mountain villages and some huts.
Waalwege — medieval irrigation channels
The Waale are historic irrigation channels that have led water from the glaciers into the apple and wine slopes of the sunny side since the Middle Ages. Today many Waalwege are developed as marked hiking trails (around 1,500 km in total), classically flat and shady.
Glurns — the smallest town in South Tyrol
With around 900 inhabitants one of the smallest towns in Italy, with a completely preserved medieval town wall (around 800 m long). The classic cultural anchor of the Val Venosta.
Marienberg — the highest Benedictine abbey in Europe
Near Mals at 1,340 m — the highest Benedictine abbey in Europe, founded in 1146. The Romanesque crypt with its frescoes (12th century) is among the most important Romanesque testimonies in South Tyrol.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What distinguishes the Val Venosta climate?
Around 300 days of sun a year, an average of 500 mm of annual rainfall (markedly less than most Alpine regions — comparable to southern Italy) and an almost Mediterranean vegetation. Wedged between the Ortler group and the Texel group, the valley opens eastwards into the Adige valley — the mountains to the north and south keep the clouds away, and the sunny side (south-facing) heats up.
In practice: outdoor wellness works all year round, the classic hiking season March–November.
What are the Waalwege?
The Waale are medieval irrigation channels that have led glacier water into the apple and wine slopes of the Val Venosta's sunny side for centuries. Many are today developed as marked hiking trails — around 1,500 kilometres in total, characteristically flat and shady.
For spa guests they are the perfect format: one to two hours of leisurely walking along the water, pleasant even in high summer — and in the evening the spa awaits.
Which excursions carry the Val Venosta?
The Reschensee with the church tower of old Graun rising from the water as an iconic photo motif; the Stelvio Pass (2,757 m, the second-highest pass road in the Alps) with the national park and the Ortler (3,905 m, the highest mountain in South Tyrol); Glurns as the smallest town in South Tyrol with its completely preserved town wall.
A quiet high point: Marienberg Abbey near Mals at 1,340 metres — the highest Benedictine abbey in Europe, with Romanesque crypt frescoes from the 12th century.
When is the best time to travel?
March–May: the apple blossom as a spectacular photo motif and a mild hiking season. June–September: the main season for hiking and active holidays. September–October: grape and apple harvest, Indian summer. Winter December–April for skiing in the high-Alpine Val Venosta (Schöneben, Sulden, Trafoi).
Val Venosta — spa hotels & holidays
South Tyrol's sun-blessed high valley
The Val Venosta stretches from the Reschen Pass on the Austrian border to the Adige valley before Merano — geographically a world of its own between the Ortler group (with the Ortler as the highest mountain in South Tyrol, 3,905 m) and the Texel group. With around 300 days of sun a year and 500 mm of average annual rainfall one of the driest Tyrolean high valleys — almost Mediterranean in vegetation, with apple orchards, vineyards and, in sheltered spots, palms.
Waalwege, the Val Venosta high trail and the Stelvio Pass
The historic Waalwege — medieval irrigation channels that lead water from the glaciers into the apple and wine slopes — are today marked hiking trails of around 1,500 km in total. The Val Venosta high trail (108 km) runs on the sunny side over six to eight day stages from the Reschen to the Adige valley. The Stelvio Pass (2,757 m) as the second-highest pass road in the Alps and the Stelvio National Park carry the high-Alpine axis — with the Ortler glacier as the most important ice area.