Ridanna: Mining History and Hiking Destinations

Ridanna puts the valley’s mining history in the spotlight. At the mining museum, personal belongings and private photographs tell the story of miners and their families, and of the local tradition. Other attractions include guided tours, hiking trails and the Fuchssee panoramic platform. When planning your visit, the options differ mainly in focus: from exhibitions on surveying methods to mine tours and a hike lasting several hours.

Mining History at the Museum

The permanent exhibition in Ridanna explores the mining tradition from various perspectives. Personal belongings and private photographs show miners and their families; another section of the exhibition explains methods for surveying tunnels and mining areas. It also explores their importance for tunnel construction and the use of mining sites. Personal accounts are thus presented alongside technical methods associated with mining.

Tours with Different Areas of Focus

On the “Tour del minatore,” a shuttle bus takes visitors to the Poschhaus Gallery at an altitude of 2,000 metres. From there, they travel by mine train towards the ore deposits, before starting the guided tour through the mine tunnels. Visitors descend almost 300 steps and return to the Poschhaus Gallery. Ore veins are still visible there, and visitors can try their hand at being miners.

“A Day in the Mine” has a different focus: this mining museum tour includes a two-and-a-half-hour mountain hike along old paths used by miners and for transporting ore, leading to the miners’ village of Monteneve. The return route covers six kilometres, three on foot and three by mine train. The seasonal programme may change, so check the current dates in advance. Reservations are mandatory for the “Tour del minatore,” by phone or email. The reservation terms may also change, so it is advisable to check them before making plans.

Getting to the Mining Museum

Bus route 312 runs from Vipiteno to its terminus, Museo delle Miniere. This stop is right beside the car park next to the museum. As timetables may change, check the connection before travelling. This lets you include the bus journey in your plans without confusing the stop with another trailhead.

Hiking and Finding Your Way in the Ridnaun Valley

A circular trail starts at the community centre in Ridnaun. It follows the Obere Erzstraße to Maiern and the mining museum, continues to St. Magdalena Church and returns to the starting point. Two other described hikes start at the head of the Ridnaun Valley: Trail No. 9 runs through the forest to the entrance to Burkhard Gorge. Hiking Trail No. 28 leads to Stadlalm, passing the mine’s ore-processing plant along the way. The destinations mentioned offer different highlights—from access to the gorge to a trail connected with ore processing.

In the Ridnaun Alpine Pasture World, the 360° Fuchssee panoramic platform in Ridnaun offers a sweeping view in every direction. Major mountain peaks and ranges are marked in the direction they can be seen, helping visitors orient themselves. This viewpoint offers a different way to explore the surroundings than the hiking trails, whose descriptions follow a specific route or lead to a particular destination.

Culture and Other Activities

The St. Magdalena Chapel, near Ridanna, was first mentioned in 1273. Miners from the Schneeberg mine built the current structure in 1480/81. The chapel also houses a late Gothic winged altarpiece from the workshop of Matheis Stöberl, dating from 1509. The chapel adds another historical landmark to the mining story; it is near Ridanna, not in the town centre.

The Ridnaun biathlon centre has a shooting range and is located right at the start of the cross-country ski trails in Ridnaun. This means that, alongside the museum, historic paths and mountain hikes, there is also a specific connection to biathlon and cross-country skiing to consider when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Santa Maddalena, Colle di Fuori, San Felice, Trafoi, Burggrafenamt, Fundres, Verschneid, Stulles.

Return to the main travel overview: Bozen.