Ortisei in Val Gardena: Discover Culture and Trails

Ortisei in Val Gardena combines a mountain setting with a distinctive woodcarving tradition and trails into the Dolomite landscape. Ortisei lies in the middle of Val Gardena; the surrounding mountains include Seceda, Monte Piz and the Resciesa ridge. Puez-Odle Nature Park covers 2,425 hectares in Ortisei – equivalent to 41 percent of Ortisei’s area. Seceda is also in the nature park. Ortisei is a starting point for hiking and ski tours in the Dolomites. You can get to know the town through both its culture and the trails and landscapes around it.

Trails between Ortisei, Resciesa and Seceda

The circular trail on Resciesa leads from the mountain funicular’s top station to the summit cross, past the Santa Croce chapel and back to the starting point. The route passes through Puez-Odle Nature Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want to reach the valley station on foot, you can walk from the centre of Ortisei via the escalators on Via Rezia and through a tunnel to the Seceda cable car. You can start a short hike to Seceda from Ortisei by taking a gondola or cable car; these operate seasonally.

Another walk leads into Val d’Anna: this 1.5-kilometre paved trail connects Ortisei with the Val d’Anna hut and is wheelchair accessible. The panoramic trail in Val d’Anna is particularly recommended for people with disabilities; the gentle climb is easy to manage in a wheelchair. Snow, weather and surface conditions can affect practical accessibility. Check these conditions before your visit.

Bus connections can also be useful when planning your trip: routes 350, 360, 172 and 351 reach Piazza S. Antonio in Ortisei. Check the timetables for your travel date. For a mountain bike tour, several routes run from Ortisei towards Seceda, through forests and over alpine meadows.

Woodcarving and museums

Woodcarving has been part of Ortisei’s history for centuries. As early as the 17th century, numerous families took up the craft, making mainly biblical figures, statues of saints and altars. The historic town walk passes villas dating from around the turn of the century and craft workshops associated with the town’s toy industry and wood sculpture.

The Gherdëina Museum is located in the centre of Ortisei, in Cësa di Ladins. It offers an overview of geology, woodcarving, artistic traditions and the people who shaped Val Gardena. The topics covered also include an illustrated Lenten veil from the Church of St James and a virtual reality experience about the ichthyosaur from Secëda. The exhibition “From Wood to Toy – From Val Gardena to the World” traces the development of Val Gardena wooden toys from the 1830s to the turn of the millennium. It gives children and adults space to make crafts, work with their hands and play. Exhibitions and participation opportunities may change; check the latest details if you are planning your visit around them.

Another place to discover local crafts is ART52, a permanent exhibition in the Ortisei cultural centre. It displays sculptures carved entirely by hand, paintings and high-quality woodcarvings by 52 Val Gardena craftspeople. Comparing it with the Gherdëina Museum reveals two distinct approaches to local artistic traditions: one showcases artworks, while the other offers a broader perspective on culture, natural history and local personalities.

Churches, local history and seasonal events

The parish church of Saint Ulrich features Renaissance and Baroque elements, as well as intricate carvings. The Church of St James is considered the oldest church in Val Gardena; its Baroque main altar is associated with figures from the Vinazer family of artists. The chapel dedicated to Saint James honours the patron saint of hikers and pilgrims. A winter trail starts at the parish church in Ortisei and leads through forests and past historic farms to San Giacomo. The trail to San Giacomo also leads to the Col de Flam viewpoint, overlooking Ortisei. For this tour, take into account seasonal trail and access conditions.

Those interested in transport history can explore a dedicated theme along the Val Gardena Railway walking trail: it recalls an important chapter in the history of Val Gardena and explains how the railway came about. Ortisei also hosts the annual “UNIKA – scultori in fiera” event; dates vary from year to year. Check the event dates if they are important to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Eggen, Völs am Schlern, Klobenstein, Ritten, Santa Cristina Val Gardena, Deutschnofen, Lengstein, Mölten.

For the main travel overview: Salten-Schlern.