Wahlen – Churches, Hiking Trails and Mountain Views

Wahlen combines sacred buildings, historical traces, geological formations and paths through the mountain landscape in a special way. This creates a varied picture for planning your trip: you can explore churches and chapels, combine landscape and history on circular hikes, or plan a mountain bike tour through the Silvestertal valley. The viewpoints around Leitnstöckl and Marchkinkele also give the area different landscape accents.

Churches and Historical Traces

In Wahlen, Valle San Silvestro, stands the Gothic Church of St. Nicholas with a rich rib vault and beautiful portals. In the parish church of Wahlen, a large Easter sepulchre is erected every two years, filling the entire altar area.

Historical themes can also be found beyond the churches. The Leitnstöckl Chapel lies along the Wahlen Summer Circular Hiking Trail. It is a historic plague shrine and is connected with the time of the Black Death in the Alpine region. Above Bodeneck there is also the Silvester Chapel, dedicated to Saint Sylvester.

Landscape Between the Ice Age and Mountain Views

In the Pfanntal valley, the earth pyramids consist of debris deposits that formed towards the end of the last Ice Age. Another trace of the landscape and local history is Altwahlen: the settlement was buried beneath masses of debris and is now covered by grass and forest. Shortly after Wahlen, the Sylvesto-Kreis circular hiking trail passes the Altwahlen archaeological excavation site.

Hiking Trails with Different Focal Points

The hikes around Wahlen each have their own distinctive focus. The Wahlen Summer Circular Hiking Trail passes the Leitnstöckl Chapel and connects this historic site with the view of the surrounding mountain world and the village from Leitnstöckl. The Sylvesto-Kreis includes another historical stop at the Altwahlen archaeological excavation site. In winter, the “Giro culturale” circular trail leads downhill to Valle San Silvestro. The names and routes alone make it clear that the trails differ according to landscape, culture and season.

To Marchkinkele and into the Silvestertal Valley

The hike to Marchkinkele begins in the Silvestertal valley at Schnegger Säge. Marchkinkele offers views of the Puster Valley and the Dolomites. Those who focus their planning on mountain landscapes and wide-ranging views will find a clear connection to the landscape here. The combination of the route through the Silvestertal valley and the views of the Puster Valley and the Dolomites makes this hike a distinct part of the Wahlen experience.

Exploring by Mountain Bike

The surrounding area can also be explored by mountain bike. The Silvestertal MTB circular tour leads via Wahlen into the Silvestertal valley and runs predominantly along forest roads.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Travel Plans

When choosing accommodation in Wahlen, you can align your decision with the themes of your trip: churches and chapels, hiking trails with historical stops, mountain views or the mountain bike circular tour through the Silvestertal valley. The different routes and destinations help you determine the focus you want for your stay without conflating the individual options.

Other Destinations

Salten-Schlern, Völs Am Schlern, Petersberg, San Leonardo, Kaltern an der Weinstraße, Lazfons, Sankt Michael, Laag

To the higher-level travel overview: Bolzano.