Top 10 Things to do in Renon, Trentino-Alto Adige

DO YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE UNIQUE WALKS, ENJOY BREATHLIGHT, NATURE AND DOLOMITES PANORAMA? Then you are exactly right! My name is Reinhold and as a certified hiking guide I accompany you and your friends in the unique natural landscape of South Tyrol. Discover the most beautiful hiking destinations from the valley to the mountain pastures and mountain peaks. There are many great insider tips to discover in South Tyrol at any time of the year, far away from the often overcrowded hiking trails.

At the very heart of South Tyrol, above the region's capital city Bozen, reigns the high plateau of the Renon mountain. All of its 15 villages, some smaller than others, scattered from the lovely vineyards in the valley all the way up to the breezy altitudes of Alpine highlands, offer recreation, culture and tons of nature to experience and enjoy. Lose yourself in the vastness of one of the world's most beautiful views. Revel in every bite of tasty culinary treats and relish every bit of wholesome relaxation. And if you're craving action and adventure, find your natural high in the diverse and breathtaking landscape. Welcome to the sunny Renon plateau - because we all deserve a sunny spot!

History stays alive on a train ride The day was August 13, the year 1907, when an important part of Renon’s history was written: the inauguration of the Railway Renon leading from the main square Piazza Walther in the heart of Bolzano directly to the plateau of Renon. The Railway Renon was designed on the model of Swiss mountain railways during the Belle Epoque. In 1966, the cog railway was shut down and a then modern cable car was built, connecting the city and the mountain from Bolzano to Soprabolzano. Meanwhile, the historic narrow-gauge railway still runs from Collalbo to Maria Assunta, operating partly with original cars and partly with more modern ones. It is the only one of its kind left in South Tyrol. The spectacular view of the Dolomites along the track is reason enough to catch a ride on this witness of past times. Plus, at every stop you can get off and start a hike on one of numerous trails leading right into the natural green of meadows and forests.

Europe's tallest and most perfectly shaped earth pyramids are to be found on the Renon mountain in several locations: in the gorge of the Finsterbach creek between Longomoso and Monte di Mezzo, in the Katzenbach-creek gorge below Soprabolzano, and in the gorge of Gasters in Auna di Sotto. Earth pyramids consist of cone-shaped pillars formed by deposited clay and a boulder on top - they often form rather bizarre shapes, and tend to be shrouded in mystery. But there is an explanation for their existence. Earth pillars started forming from moraine clay soil left behind after the last Ice Age when the glaciers of the Valle d'Isarco covering the valley melted away. In dry condition the soil is hard as stone, but, as soon as it rains, it turns into a soft muddy mass, starts sliding, and so forms 10 to 15-meter-steep slopes. Through additional rainfall, these slopes will erode. However, where there are rocks in the muddy mass, the clay soil underneath these rocks stays protected from the rain. So, while the surrounding material is continually carried off with the weather, the protected pillars literally rise out of the ground to form majestic earth pyramids. It's hard to tell how long the formation of a full-blown earth pyramid actually takes, simply because it depends on too many factors. It's just as difficult to assert how old an earth pyramid might be or can get. What we can say for certain though is that the biggest and prettiest ones develop over the timespan of thousands of years. Once the boulder falls from its peak, an earth pyramid quickly bites the dust. When this happens, the material below is naked, exposed to the rain, and the pillar shrinks with every rainfall. While one earth pyramid vanishes through this process, a bit further up the slope the next one comes to life.