Stern: Art Trails, Church Art and Mountain Scenery

Stern (La Villa) can be explored through its outdoor art, hiking trails, church art and alpine connections. The Tru di artisć features installations with Ladin verses; the parish church showcases dated interior paintings and side altars. Hiking and skiing offer further perspectives on the village. If you are considering a hotel in Stern, these different themes can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Artists’ Trail and Hikes

The Tru di artisć is an outdoor gallery that opened in summer 2011. The artists’ trail features installations with verses in the Ladin language. Art and language go hand in hand here: those interested in Ladin will find a tangible theme in the verses along the trail. The route is about 3.5 km long and closed to motorised traffic. This gives both its approximate length and an important access restriction.

A mountaineering hike takes a different route, starting in La Villa and crossing the eastern part of Puez-Odle Nature Park. Hiking and pilgrimage trails also lead from La Villa to the Santa Croce sanctuary near the Armentara meadows. These routes differ in type and destination: the mountaineering hike passes through the eastern part of the nature park, while the pilgrimage trails lead to the sanctuary.

Mountain and Nature Park Landscape

La Villa lies at the foot of the Fanes-Santa-Croce group and is also surrounded by Puez-Odle Nature Park and Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park. These are distinct geographical references: the Fanes-Santa-Croce group is the mountain group at the foot of the village, while the two nature parks are described as its surroundings. Together, these details give a nuanced impression of the landscape without conflating the different points of reference.

Church and Building History

The present-day parish church of Our Lady in La Villa was consecrated in 1516. The church contains interior paintings by the Pescoller artists, executed in 1897 and 1949. The side altars have a pronounced Tuscan Gothic style. These details bring together different aspects of art history: 1516 is the year of consecration, the two later dates refer to the execution of the interior paintings, and the style description applies to the side altars.

Ciastel Colz, also known as Castello di Colz or Residenza Rubatsch, is privately owned and not open to visitors. The building has four towers, two rectangular and two round. It also has a perimeter wall and numerous loopholes. These architectural features bring the castle’s design to life; for planning a visit, it is also important to know that it is not accessible.

Skiing in Stern

The Piz La Ila cable car connects La Villa with the northern part of the ski area. This is a specific link to the ski-area infrastructure. The Gran Risa downhill course tells another part of the story of skiing: its history as a venue for Alpine Ski World Cup competitions dates back to 1985. These details distinguish a connection to the ski area from the competition history of a named course. If a particular competition matters to your travel plans, check the latest event dates.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Olang, Luttach, Welsberg-Taisten, Wengen, Sexten, Gais, Abtei, Terenten.

Go to the main travel overview: Pustertal.