Camping at the lake in South Tyrol

In the northern Italian province of South Tyrol, snow-capped peaks and Mediterranean vineyards, Alpine tradition and southern dolce vita create a holiday destination full of contrasts for every taste. If you want to go swimming, fishing or sailing, choose a campsite by the lake. In South Tyrol, the warmest bathing lake in the Alps awaits visitors, along with many other water landscapes - an absolute family tip! Cultural entertainment is provided by museums, historical buildings, customs and craftsmanship.

Top tips

• Lake Kaltern is the warmest alpine bathing lake, but there are also numerous other bathing lakes such as the family-friendly Issinger Weiher, the romantic Fennberger See or the refreshing Völser Weiher on the high Seiser Alm that promise summer swimming fun. Pools such as the Merano Thermal Baths or the Aquafun panoramic adventure pool in the Three Peaks region of the Dolomites provide entertainment and wellness on colder days.
• South Tyrol is a true fishing paradise. The Merano region is not only known for the huge Vernagt reservoir in Val Senales, but also for its excellent fly fishing spots. Sport fishermen will find their luck on Lake Haidersee in Val Venosta.
• Sunny winters with snow-covered ski areas at high altitudes and milder temperatures in the valleys make South Tyrol the ideal holiday destination for winter camping. When camping by the lake, ice skates are a must.

Activities and excursions

South Tyrol offers a wide variety of excursions around the campsite by the lake.

Enjoy nature actively

If you decide to stay at a campsite by the lake in South Tyrol, you can start a fantastic hike right from the campsite: On the dignified wine hiking trail, the lake, framed by vineyards, reveals itself in all its panoramas. If you wish, you can head for the heights in the Dolomites: High-altitude tours and climbing walls challenge mountain sports enthusiasts, while families are well catered for on South Tyrol's Waalwege trails, which are accompanied by watercourses. South Tyrol's largest lake, the deep blue Lake Reschen, with a church tower jutting out of its waters, is a true outdoor paradise. Its shores are perfect for hiking, fishing and cycling, while the water is perfect for sailing, kitesurfing or a trip on an excursion boat. In winter, the lake attracts ice sailors and ice surfers to the Venosta Valley.

Burgenland South Tyrol

Around 800 castles, fortresses and manor houses as well as over 250 churches and monasteries adorn the South Tyrolean mountain and valley scenery. The ruins of the medieval Leuchtenburg Castle sit enthroned on a green hilltop as a landmark above Lake Kaltern, whose shores are also home to Sallegg Castle and Castel Campan. Kaltern's neighbouring municipality to the west, Eppan, is Europe's most castle-rich region and attracts visitors to princely excursions, for example to the imposing complex of Freudenstein Castle or the dreamy Seeschlössl castle on the large Montiggl Lake. Near Lake Varna, the former ancestral castle of the Counts of Tyrol and the Franzensfeste fortress are among the historical highlights.

Ötzi and Messner: a visit to two mountaineering legends

The fascination with Ötzi, the Iceman, whose 5,000-year-old mummy has been on display at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano since 1998, is unbroken. The entire collection of the sensational find and Ötzi's story, from his lifetime to the historical media hype, awaits discovery on a total of three floors. The living mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner lets visitors into his South Tyrolean summer residence. The exterior of the medieval Juval Castle is a feast for the eyes, while the interior is home to a fascinating art collection before the day ends in the surrounding mountain animal park.

Events

From centuries-old farming traditions to culture and cuisine, South Tyrol knows how to celebrate in style.

June

• Sheep herding: If you want to experience the South Tyroleans in a very traditional way, you shouldn't miss this old farming custom in Vernagt am See or Kurzras. In mid-June, the shepherds drive up to 4,000 sheep from the Schnalstal Valley to the pastures in the rear Ötztal Valley, accompanied by bleating and bells. This centuries-old tradition has even been recognised as a World Heritage Site.

August

• Marble & apricots: Every year on the first weekend in August, Lasa/Laas is all about apricots. The traditional gourmet festival in Val Venosta combines culinary delights and culture to create an event that is known far beyond South Tyrol. In the marble workshop, sculptors can be seen working on the second prestigious object from Lasa.