Discover San Genesio: hiking, the Salten and culture

If you are looking for a hotel in San Genesio, you can plan your trip around specific interests: hiking trails on the Salten, the Marterloch themed trail, Haflinger history and events featuring local cuisine offer a range of options. This lets you shape your stay around scenery, outdoor activities or culture.

The Salten, viewpoints and scenery

The Salten high plateau lies above San Genesio at an altitude of around 1,300 to 1,400 metres. Many hiking trails on the Salten have only small elevation differences; hiking in San Genesio offers views of the Dolomites. The cycling routes on the way to the Salten run almost entirely along flat paths and offer views of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The plateau can be explored on foot, with a pushchair, by bike or on a Haflinger horse.

Another viewpoint is the “Klapf” platform: it is just a few minutes’ walk from the village centre and offers views of the main Alpine chain. The earth pyramids in Nobls/San Genesio are geological formations dating from the last ice age. In the “Wieser Lahn” landslide area, the red clay soil stands out clearly against the surrounding meadows and forests.

Themed trails and the Marterloch suspension bridge

The nine-kilometre Marterloch themed trail near Afing has 20 stops and also leads to the Marterloch suspension bridge. The bridge is 272 metres long and 130 metres high. The themed trail runs between Afing, a hamlet of San Genesio, and Bundschen in the Sarntal; from Afing, the bridge can be reached on foot in about an hour. If you plan to include parking or a shuttle in your journey, check the latest information in advance, as arrangements may change.

Two other trails offer different experiences. The Sagenweg on the Salten runs along the E5 from the Edelweiss restaurant to Lavena and presents 16 legends about San Genesio and its surroundings. The “Guggn” adventure trail runs from San Genesio across the Salten to Tschaufen. In addition to its nine play and activity stations, it has information boards about Haflinger horses and larch trees.

Haflingers and historic sites

The Haflinger Horse Museum displays agricultural tools and equipment from South Tyrolean farming life, from the past to the present. In San Genesio, you can also go on horseback rides lasting from an hour to several days. Beginner courses are offered at the riding arena.

The ruins of Greifenstein Castle were first mentioned in a document in 1159. From the Noafer restaurant in Cologna/San Genesio, the ruins are a 15-minute walk away. St. Magdalena Church dates back to 1705; a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene already stood there in 1629.

Local cuisine and events

At the Schupfenfest, held every year on the third Sunday in September, the participating mountain huts serve South Tyrolean specialities. A larch plateau is transformed into a traditional culinary setting for the occasion. Which huts take part and what food is served may vary.

Chestnut Weeks take place every year in October. They include a chestnut market in the centre of San Genesio and guided chestnut walks to Glaning and Afing. Exact dates and the programme may change.

At the “Culinary Spring Awakening”, participating inns in San Genesio, Flaas and Vöran serve local and seasonal specialities for about two weeks. The participating establishments and the annual programme may vary.

Practical information

E-bike charging stations are available in the centre of San Genesio. As facilities like these may change, check the latest information before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Klobenstein, Mölten, Völs am Schlern, Karersee, Deutschnofen, Welschnofen, Sarntal, Tiers.

Back to the main travel overview: Salten-Schlern.