Ortisei in Val Gardena: Art, Mountains and Ladin Paths

Ortisei in Val Gardena lies in the middle of Val Gardena and is surrounded by numerous mountains, including Seceda, Pic Mountain and the Raschötzer ridge. In Ortisei, Puez-Odle Nature Park covers 2,425 hectares, or 41 percent of Ortisei’s area. Seceda is located in this nature park. The circular trail on Resciesa also leads through Puez-Odle Nature Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, mountain landscapes and cultural history come together.

Art, Crafts and Ladin History

The Gherdëina Museum is located in the Cësa di Ladins in the centre of Ortisei. The exhibition “From Wood to Toys – from Val Gardena to the World” traces the development of Val Gardena wooden toys from the 1830s to the turn of the millennium and offers children and adults space for crafting, making things and playing. The museum also provides an overview of geology, woodcarving, artistic traditions and personalities who have shaped Val Gardena. It also features a virtual reality experience about the ichthyosaur from Secëda and an image-rich Lenten cloth from St. James’s Church.

ART52 is a permanent exhibition in Ortisei’s cultural centre. On display are sculptures carved entirely by hand, paintings and high-quality woodcarvings by 52 craftspeople from Val Gardena. The parish church of St. Ulrich features Renaissance and Baroque elements as well as elaborate carvings. St. James’s Church is considered the oldest church in Val Gardena and has a Baroque high altar with figures by the Vinazer family of artists. Since as early as the 17th century, numerous families in Ortisei have devoted themselves to woodcarving, producing mainly biblical figures, statues of saints and altars.

The history of the village can also be explored on foot: the historic village tour in Ortisei passes villas dating from around the turn of the century and craft workshops connected with the village’s toy industry and wooden sculptures. The Val Gardena Railway walking trail recalls an important chapter in the history of Val Gardena and explains how the railway came into being. The Cudan-Dumat walking trail leads from the valley station of the Resciesa funicular past the “Solaria” and “Cudan” houses to the characteristic “Dumat” farmstead and to Ladin culture. The event “UNIKA – scultori in fiera” takes place in Ortisei every year.

Hiking Trails and Mountain Landscapes

Different types of trails are available for active days. The circular trail on Resciesa leads from the mountain station of the Resciesa funicular to the summit cross, via the Santa Croce chapel and back to the starting point. A short hike to Seceda can be started from Ortisei using the gondola or cable car. Several mountain bike routes lead from Ortisei towards Seceda through forests and alpine meadows. The ascent to Seceda covers around 1,200 metres of elevation gain. An 8-kilometre-long trail leads from Ortisei to Selva di Val Gardena. Ortisei in Val Gardena is also a starting point for hikes and ski tours in the Dolomites.

Val d’Anna is a particular focus for walks with limited barriers. The 1.5-kilometre-long paved path leads from Ortisei to the Val d’Anna hut and is accessible by wheelchair. The path from Ortisei is accessible to wheelchair users all year round. The panoramic trail in Val d’Anna is particularly recommended for people with disabilities; the slight incline is easy to manage in a wheelchair.

The trail to San Giacomo runs through the forest and leads to the Col de Flam viewpoint, overlooking Ortisei. The winter trail to the Church of San Giacomo starts at Ortisei parish church and leads through forests and past historic farmsteads. The chapel dedicated to St. James is devoted to the patron saint of hikers and pilgrims.

Getting There and Choosing Your Location

The routes within the village and to the mountain lifts provide practical guidance when choosing your location. The valley station of the Resciesa funicular can be reached on foot from the centre of Ortisei via the escalators on Via Rezia and through a tunnel to the Seceda gondola. Bus routes 350, 360, 172 and 351 reach Piazza S. Antonio in Ortisei. If you are looking for a hotel in Ortisei in Val Gardena, you can weigh up whether local culture, walks in Val d’Anna, mountain tours or connections to Seceda are particularly important for your trip planning.

More Destinations for Your Planning

Jenesien, Karneid, Völs am Schlern, Kastelruth, Klobenstein, Tiers, Ritten, Santa Cristina in Val Gardena

To the overarching travel overview: Salten-Schlern.