Discover Issing: Nature, Land Art and Culture around the Pond

When you consider Issing as a travel destination, you encounter several different facets: a species-rich pond biotope, trails with artistic and ecclesiastical stations, historical traces and special excursion destinations. This selection is therefore suitable for planning a trip that combines nature observation, physical activity and culture without prescribing a single focus.

Nature and adventure at Lake Issing

Lake Issing is one of the last pond biotopes in South Tyrol. At the same time, it is rich in and diverse in terms of plant and animal species. For visitors who want to experience the landscape attentively, this provides a specific natural setting at the centre of their visit. The Kronaction Outdoor & Fun Park is located directly at Lake Issing. It is the largest high ropes course in South Tyrol.

Another distinctive feature is located on the main road between Hofern and Issing: the “Column Spruce” natural monument, a weeping spruce placed under nature protection, stands there.

Land Art and trails through the surrounding area

The Land Art Trail runs from Pfalzen to Issing and can be started at Lake Issing. This allows you to begin planning the route at this natural site, while the trail also provides an artistic accent. The Four Churches Trail offers a different thematic focus: St Nicholas in Issing is one of the trail’s special landmarks.

After completing the Four Churches Trail, you can take bus no. 421 back to the starting point for the return journey from Issing or Mühlen. This allows you to take the return journey into account when planning the route.

Churches and historical traces

At first glance, the Church of St Nicholas in Issing displays features of Gothic architecture. At Schöneck Castle, the ruins of the chapel and fragments of the historic wall have been preserved. Schöneck Castle is privately owned and may not be entered. The two sites can therefore be viewed with different expectations: St Nicholas represents visible ecclesiastical architecture, while at Schöneck Castle the preserved historical traces take centre stage.

Bergila: guided tour and adventure trail

From May to the end of October, Bergila offers free guided tours of its pine-oil distillery; no reservation is necessary. In addition, the Bergila adventure trail in Issing/Pfalzen includes a herb garden and a scent trail. Here, you can therefore choose between a seasonal guided tour and a trail featuring sensory stations.

For planning your day, it is therefore helpful to establish a clear personal order of priorities: Would you like to focus on Lake Issing and its plant and animal life, include the Land Art Trail or the Four Churches Trail, or view historical architecture and ruins? These places offer different focal points, while the seasonal Bergila guided tour additionally specifies a period from May to the end of October.

More destinations in the surrounding area

For your further travel planning, you can also explore Ahrntal, Lappach, Prettau, Gsies, Sexten, Vintl, Niederdorf and Kiens.

For the higher-level travel overview: Puster Valley.