Riffian: Archaeology, Church Art and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Riffian
Riffian offers several points of interest for a stay: the permanent exhibition Vita Raetica and the Burgstall settlement showcase archaeology, while the pilgrimage church and cemetery chapel offer sacred art and architectural history. Several trails add destinations to explore on foot. If you are looking for a hotel in Riffian, you can plan your trip around whether archaeological finds, historic buildings or hikes are your priority.
Archaeological Traces
The permanent exhibition Vita Raetica displays archaeological finds. The exhibits include tools, vessels and pieces of jewelry, as well as depictions of ritual practices and inscriptions. The collection thus ranges from objects to pictorial and written records. For a cultural and historical stay, the exhibition offers a tangible introduction to different kinds of archaeological finds.
Another archaeological site is Burgstall, a settlement in Riffian dating from the late Iron Age. It was in use for several centuries from around 400 BC. The excavated central manor house is well preserved. The long period of use places the settlement in its historical context, while the manor house provides a specific architectural point of reference. Burgstall thus connects the question of when the settlement was occupied with a tangible structure.
Church Art and Architectural History
The PietĂ devotional image is located in Riffian Pilgrimage Church. It is a cast-stone work dating from around 1415. Its approximate date and material place the artwork in an art-historical context. Another point of interest is the chapel of Our Lady in the cemetery. It is a square, two-storey building dating from around 1400. Both dates place an artwork and a building in a similar historical period, but refer to different kinds of evidence: the PietĂ as a cast-stone work and the chapel as a building with a square floor plan and two storeys.
Trails in Riffian
From Riffian, you can reach Burgstall on foot in about 40 minutes via Kirchweg and Gnealersteig. The Zauberweg is a family-friendly hiking trail with 15 discovery stations. Unlike the route to Burgstall, where the approximate walking time to the settlement provides practical guidance, the Zauberweg is defined by its stations.
From the information office in Riffian, the route follows Kirchweg (No. 5) and trail No. 3B. Another trail starts above Kuens at the beginning of the Waalweg and ends at the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Riffian. These routes offer different destinations to consider when planning a walk.
Getting There and Choosing a Hotel
Riffian can be reached from Meran by bus route 240. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. This helps you focus your search on the interests that bring you to Riffian.
Discover more destinations: Nals, Tscherms, Plaus, Tisens, Gargazon, Vöran, Sankt Martin In Passeier, St. Pankraz
Go to the main travel overview: Burggrafenamt.
