Wolkenstein in Gröden: Dolomites, Trails and Ladin Culture

Wolkenstein in Gröden: Dolomites, Trails and Character

Wolkenstein in Gröden – known as Selva di Val Gardena in Italian – lies directly below the Sella Massif. The Dolomite panorama, natural and cultural environments, and a broad range of trails and winter sports make the village a versatile destination for an individually planned stay. For your summer holiday, hiking and mountain biking can take centre stage; in winter, the selection ranges from skiing to snowshoeing.

Landscape between the Puez Group and the Sella Massif

The Dolomites around Selva are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of the Puez Group, the Cir peaks, the Sella Group and the Sassolungo Group shape the landscape. Vallunga lies at the heart of the Puez-Odle Nature Park and is part of the European ecological network Natura 2000. Quieter walks around Selva offer peace and an authentic sense of rural life.

Hiking and mountain biking in summer

There is a dense network of hiking trails around Selva and in Val Gardena. Selva has various mountain bike routes with sporty descents and challenging climbs. The Trail Arena Val Gardena comprises five intermediate flow trails in the Dantercepies and Plan de Gralba/Piz Seteur areas. The 303a Trail Arena Tour forms a loop around Selva Gardena, with bends, jumps and high speeds. The Ciampinoi freeride trail begins below the mountain station of the Ciampinoi cable car, which starts in the centre of Selva di Val Gardena.

Winter sports and the Sellaronda

In winter, activities in Selva include skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snowshoeing. Selva di Val Gardena is considered a popular starting point for the Sellaronda. On the route, skiers cover a total of 44 kilometres; around 21 kilometres of this distance are covered using lifts. Access to the Sellaronda is possible with the Dolomiti Superski pass. Another winter route is the Vallunga ski tour: from the entrance to Vallunga, it follows trail no. 14 to the San Silvestro Chapel and then continues to the Pra da Ri high plateau.

History and Ladin culture

Wolkenstein Castle was partially destroyed around 1525 by falling rocks and was not rebuilt afterwards. Oswald von Wolkenstein was born between 1376 and 1378 as a member of a Tyrolean noble family that had acquired Wolkenstein Castle and adopted its name. Selva is also home to the parish church of “S. Maria ad Nives”. Ladin is taught at schools in Val Gardena and is the third official language there, alongside German and Italian.

Choosing accommodation according to your priorities

When choosing your accommodation, it helps to define your priorities clearly: The landscape with Vallunga and the Dolomite groups calls for a different daily itinerary than the trail options, Sellaronda or quiet walks. For local orientation, Selva is connected by Citybus route 357. This allows you to weigh nature, activities, winter sports and culture when planning your trip, without limiting the destination to just one season.

Other places for your regional orientation include Sarntal, Völs Am Schlern, Jenesien, Lengstein, Mölten, Tiers, Karneid and Kastelruth.

For the higher-level travel overview: Salten-Schlern.