Pens between Hiking Trails, Mountain Pass Road and Church Culture

Hiking with Historical Traces

Pens connects paths through the mountain landscape with visible traces of former working and religious worlds. From Pens, a hike leads to old trees, waterfalls, alpine pastures and mining tunnels. This brings nature observations and cultural-historical impressions together in the same outing, without requiring you to limit yourself to just one form of travel.

A particularly vivid section is the Sieben-Schupfen Trail. At its beginning, there are worthwhile dry-stone walls. Along the trail, there are also log cabins that served as accommodation during the hay harvest not too long ago. The structures give the trail a tangible connection to former mountain agriculture and make the landscape interesting beyond its views as well.

The St. Johann Chapel, built in the Late Gothic period, stands along the Sieben-Schupfen Trail. In Pens itself is the Church of St. Peter and Paul. The parish of Pens can be traced back to the year 1442. Near Pens there is also the Church of St. Johann im Walde, which is furnished with rich ecclesiastical art. Those who would also like to take in churches, chapels and local history passed down through the generations during a hike will find several different points of connection here.

Mountain Pass Road and Mountain Landscape

The panoramic mountain pass road from Pens to the 2,211 m-high Penser Joch offers a defining landscape experience. The road is over 9 km long and passes through an area where nature and the route are closely connected. Along the panoramic mountain pass road, you can experience the blooming of alpine roses from mid-June to mid-July. This clearly defined period makes the bloom a seasonal focus of your travel planning.

Several peaks are located in the nearby surroundings of Pennes: Mudaccio, the Penser Weißhorn, Karnspitz and Cima D'Accia. The four mountain destinations broaden the view of the landscape around Pens, without their location needing to be equated with the town center or a particular trail. This gives you a mountain area that can be explored through individual prominent points and different types of experience.

Routes for Different Travel Plans

Even in winter, the connection between Pens and sporting routes remains a theme. The cross-country ski track in the Pensertal associated with Pens is 18.8 km long. In addition, the Pens–Asten loop is 8.7 km long. The different route lengths help you organize your days according to your preferred scale and distinguish between a longer cross-country route and a shorter loop.

For cultural excursions, the regional perspective extends beyond Pens and Pennes. In the wider regional surroundings of Pennes are Castel Strada, a castle; Castel Velturno, a museum; the Museo Diocesano Hofburg Brixen, also a museum; and Schenna, a castle. When choosing your accommodation for a stay in Pens, you can therefore consider whether hiking trails, seasonal mountain landscapes, winter sports or cultural monuments should be the focus. The local trails, the mountain pass road and the regional destinations each open up a different way to experience the surroundings.

Other Destinations in the Regional Context

To the overarching travel overview: Bozen.