Discover Sankt Michael: Churches, Wine and Nature

Sankt Michael combines historic buildings, winegrowing, markets and the natural phenomenon of the Ice Holes. In the centre of San Michele, many old houses characterize the town: they are built in the Überetsch style and decorated with oriel windows, gables, double-arched windows and turrets. A farmers’ market takes place every week in the central Rathausplatz, while buses stop at Bahnhofplatz.

Historic Churches and Culture

The former parish church of St. Michael and its tower are listed monuments. The church was first mentioned in a document in 1237 and features a Romanesque basic structure as well as Gothic elements from a renovation in the early 16th century. Another ecclesiastical building is the Gleif Church: construction began in 1716, and it marks the end of the Eppan Way of the Cross.

The Church of St. Joseph is also known as the Dominican Church and was built between 1883 and 1886. Around two decades ago, a cultural centre was established in the restored Lanserhaus in San Michele Appiano. The permanent archaeological exhibition at the Lanserhaus presents the settlement history of Eppan from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.

Wine and a Lively Town Centre

The town’s winemaking history includes the historic cellar of the St. Michael-Eppan Winery. It was completely renovated and equipped with 50 large oak barrels. This architectural impression is complemented by the weekly farmers’ market in the central Rathausplatz. In July and August, the recurring “Long Wednesdays” turn the centre of St. Michael into a promenade every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with shops, restaurants, music and culinary offerings.

The winter events calendar includes the Eppan Advent Christmas market, held in St. Michael with mulled wine, handmade treasures and atmospheric music.

Landscape Around Sankt Michael

The Ice Holes are a remarkable natural phenomenon. There, the physical principle of the wind tunnel explains this unusual climatic event; the cold air in the hollow has a temperature between 0 and 9 degrees Celsius. The Ice Holes are located at an elevation of around 500 metres between the municipalities of Eppan and Kaltern, at the foot of Gandberg, in a hollow measuring 200 metres long and 50 metres wide.

The path to the Ice Holes leads through forests and vineyards and past a medieval castle. The 100-hectare Montiggler Wald landscape protection area, with several bathing lakes, is also located near the town centre of St. Michael.

Routes for Active and Cultural Days

A tour along the Edith Stein Trail begins at the parish church of St. Michael, takes around four hours and includes 470 metres of ascent. The challenging route from Sankt Michael to Perdonig and Gaid is very popular with cyclists and mountain bikers.

Discover More Places

If you would like to extend your travel planning beyond Sankt Michael, you can also visit Fundres, St. Johann, Pfelders, Prags, Vernago, Völs am Schlern, Ridanna and Santa Valburga.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bolzano.