Vernago: Cultural History and Hiking

Transhumance in the Schnalstal Valley, the legacy of the Vernago Reservoir and hikes starting from Vernago give a trip to Vernago a variety of focuses. You can combine cultural history, landscape and tour planning.

Transhumance in the Schnalstal Valley

The sheep drive is an ancient, still-living tradition and forms part of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. Every year, shepherds lead around three to four thousand sheep from Vernagt and Kurzras over the Niederjoch and Hochjoch to the summer pastures near Vent in Austria’s Ötztal Valley. Transhumance thus crosses the border between South Tyrol and Austria, linking the villages of the Schnalstal Valley with the grazing areas near Vent.

The journey in both directions is also part of this tradition: During the transhumance from the Ötztal Valley to the Schnalstal Valley and back, people and animals cover up to 44 kilometres within two days. These figures give an idea of the scale of the sheep drive without reducing it to a single short section. If this cultural heritage is one of your travel interests, you can make it a focus in its own right alongside hikes and the history of the reservoir.

The Vernago Reservoir and the Leiter Church

The construction of the Vernago Reservoir flooded a historic settlement landscape. This included the Oberörl and Unterörl farms with their Nuihaus, Obergamp and Untergamp, Oberleit and Unterleit, as well as the small Leiter Church and the Spechtenhaus. These names show that the area encompasses not just one building, but several farms and historic sites.

The Vernago dam was completed in 1964; it is 64 metres high and 480 metres long. The story of the Leiter Church also continues into the present: the current church was built in 1997 and preserves the artistic furnishings rescued from the former church. When the water is at its lowest in late spring, the bell tower of the old Leiter Church may become visible. Whether it can be seen therefore depends on the water level.

Another way to experience the area around the lake is to follow the circular trail around the Vernago Reservoir. It runs along the shore on a natural path. The Ötzi Rope Park is a high ropes course for the whole family, located right at the end of the Vernago Reservoir. This means that, alongside learning about the lake’s history, visitors can enjoy a lakeside trail and a family-friendly leisure activity.

Hikes starting from Vernagt

Vernagt is listed as the starting point for the “Lagauntal, Taschenjöchl & Berglalm” route. The hike is moderately difficult, with 847 metres of ascent; its estimated duration is 4 hours and 13 minutes. The difficulty level, elevation gain and estimated time help you fit this hike into your day’s plans.

The archaeological hike Vernagt–Vent (A2) leads from Vernagt to the Niederjoch, offers views as far as the Tisenjoch and continues across the border to Vent. It thus combines the route over the Niederjoch with a view of the Tisenjoch and Vent as its destination, without the route itself continuing to the Tisenjoch. By comparison, the circular trail at the reservoir is a lakeside hike, while the Lagauntal route includes specific information on difficulty, ascent and estimated duration. You can choose according to the type of hike you’re looking for.

Getting there and planning

SAD intercity bus route no. 261 goes to the Vernagt stop. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. There is a free, unguarded car park directly by Lake Vernagt. Check whether a parking space is available before you travel.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Vernago, you can first consider whether transhumance and its cultural history, the Leiter Church and the reservoir, or a hike should be the focus of your stay. The experiences described differ in character, from a lakeside trail and a moderately difficult hike with time and elevation details to a cross-border hike to Vent.

Discover more destinations: Oberinn, Wahlen, Vals, Prenn, Lazfons, Slingia, Anterselva Di Sotto, Eisacktal.

Return to the main travel overview: Bozen.