Prad am Stilfserjoch: Trails, nature and living history
Accommodation in Prad am Stilfserjoch
Prad am Stilfserjoch: natural landscapes and views of the Vinschgau Valley
Prad am Stilfserjoch stretches from the foot of Stelvio National Park at an elevation of 900 metres to the Lichtenberg farms at 1,500 metres. The protected Prader Sand biotope is a natural alluvial area in the sandy river delta of the Suldenbach stream. Along four kilometres, the Nittweg arboretum trail showcases 54 species of trees and shrubs from the damp valleys of the Nörderberg and the dry Sonnenberg.
File:Prato allo Stelvio-Prad am Stilfserjoch, Lorenz Kuntner's Open-air exhibition 008.JPG
Photo: Mattana via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The hike along the Lottersteig follows a well-developed network of paths through the meadows and forests above Prad am Stilfserjoch and offers views of the village of Prad am Stilfserjoch as well as the entire Upper and Lower Vinschgau Valley. Three different hiking routes lead through the floodplain landscape of Prader Sand to the Fischerseen lakes. The hiking trails through Prader Sand are also suitable for families with pushchairs. The two-kilometre circular route of the Gumperle Trail starts below St. George's Church in Agums.
Hiking with historical stops
The Archaikweg circular hiking trail follows sections of the historic Alpine crossing route and passes the prehistoric settlement of “Gaschlin”. From Prad am Stilfserjoch, the trail runs towards Agums as far as the upper Suldenbach bridge; trail no. 11 begins at the upper Suldenbach bridge. The Stelvio Tour from Prad am Stilfserjoch covers around 25 kilometres, around 1,800 metres of elevation gain and a total of 48 hairpin bends.
Churches, chapels and special places
The grave of botanist Hermann MĂĽller is located in the churchyard of St. John's Church in Prad am Stilfserjoch; a marble plaque commemorates him. St. George's in Agums is an ensemble comprising a church, cemetery chapel and cemetery. Because of its exposed location, St. George's in Agums is used by many hikers as a panoramic viewing platform. The parish church of Lichtenberg contains structural elements and frescoes from the 13th century. The Chapel of St. Christina in Lichtenberg dates from 1575 and has a three-sided closed choir, murals and a shingle roof. A few frescoes have been preserved in the chapel of Lichtenberg Castle ruins; they were restored in 2006.
Customs throughout the year
Every year on the third Sunday after Pentecost, Sacred Heart fires are lit on the mountain ridges above Prad am Stilfserjoch. The Zusslrennen is an ancient custom practised only in Prad to drive away winter, as well as a carnival procession and noise ritual. During the event, young men wear white garments decorated with colourful paper flowers and cowbells that often weigh more than 20 kilograms. The traditional Maschgertanz is an old Shrovetide custom in Prad am Stilfserjoch, in which masked couples go from inn to inn and dance according to set rituals.
How to get to aquaprad
The aquaprad visitor centre can be reached by the Vinschgau Railway to Spondinig or Mals, followed by bus route 271 or a shuttle bus. This specific destination can therefore also be reached by combining train and bus travel.
Further destinations in the Vinschgau Valley include Schlanders, Burgeis, Schnals, Goldrain, Morter, Martell, Graun Im Vinschgau and Glurns.
To the overview of destinations: Vinschgau.
