Mareit: Discover the Castle, Trails and History

Mareta combines culture, nature and trails with historical significance. Wolfsthurn Castle, the Forest and Water Trail, the Achenrain Gorge and the trails along the Mareit stream represent a range of different themes. Other attractions include the parish church of St. Pankratius, the cemetery chapel, the “Upper Ore Road” educational trail and the Zössmayr stone-polishing workshop.

Wolfsthurn Castle and distinctive interiors

Wolfsthurn Castle stands on a hill above Mareta near Vipiteno. Since 1996, the castle has housed the South Tyrolean Museum of Hunting and Fishing. The second floor contains original, well-preserved state rooms with furniture, paintings, fabric wallpaper featuring hunting motifs and a crystal chandelier. The interiors give the museum visit a distinctly historic and representative character.

Mareta is also home to the parish church of St. Pankratius and the cemetery chapel. The parish church combines various architectural styles and features two gold reliefs. In the side niches of the cemetery chapel are life-size depictions of male and female Death. Both religious buildings complement a visit to the castle and museum with independent examples of religious art.

Forest, water and the Achenrain Gorge

The approximately one-kilometre-long Forest and Water Trail in Mareta includes stations such as the forest telephone and the wolf pit. The Forest and Water nature trail begins opposite Mareta parish church, leads through the forest along the Mareit stream and ends at the castle pond.

The hike through the Achenrain Gorge begins in Mareta behind the Hofmannsteg bridge and follows the Fernerbach into the gorge. The route also passes a section of trail bordered by old dry-stone walls dating from the era of ore mining. Here, the landscape and the history of mining come together directly along the same route.

Cycle paths, crafts and further activities

A cycle path follows the Mareit stream to Vipiteno. The “Upper Ore Road” educational trail begins in Mareta and follows the former route used to transport ore from the Monteneve mine. At the Zössmayr stone-polishing workshop in Mareta, a 400 m² exhibition area shows how pendants and other jewellery are made. Fürholz also has a natural ice-skating rink.

Mountain ridges, a biotope and destinations in the surrounding area

A hike from Mareta leads to the Mareit Stone, a long mountain ridge over 2,000 metres high. From there, views extend across the Ratschings and Ridnaun valleys and to the Stubai Alps with their glaciers. The Unterackern biotope along the lower course of the Mareit stream has been extensively restored. Alongside the mountain panorama, nature-oriented trails and stream landscapes are therefore also a focus.

The nearby surroundings of Mareta include the Cascate di Stanghe waterfall and Castel Strada castle. Hoher Lorenzenberg, Penser Weißhorn and Tribulaun di Dentro are peaks in the area around Mareta. Further afield in the region are Schenna, a castle, Brunnenburg, a museum, and Castello Rubein, a castle.

Further destinations to choose from: Brenner, Pfitsch, Ratschings, Mauls, Vipiteno, Freienfeld, Franzensfeste.

To the higher-level travel overview: Wipptal.