Franzensfeste / Fortezza

From Fortezza/Franzenfeste in the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal you can take the road to the main valleys of South Tyrol: the Wipptal, the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal and the Val Pusteria/Pustertal. The villages of Oberau, Mezzaselva/Mittewald and Le Cave/Grasstein are part of the municipality of Fortezza/Franzensfeste. As its name suggests, this village is particularly famous for its fortress - one of the most impressive fortresses in Europe!

The Fortezza/Franzensfeste Fortress

The Fortezza/Franzensfeste Fortress is a historic building dating back to the time of the Habsburgs. Built in the first half of the 19th century, it was one of the safest fortresses in the whole Alpine region - but was never attacked. At that time the fortress was built with huge granite blocks and today 65,000 m² can be visited in the building. It looks like a large labyrinth of corridors and rooms and its various exhibitions are well worth seeing!

The surroundings of Fortezza/Franzensfeste

Fortezza/Franzensfeste is the ideal starting point for hiking in the surrounding valleys: for example a hiking tour to the Pontelletto Lake, to the Plose, the local mountain of Bressanone/Brixen, or to the many mountain pastures in the area of Gitschberg Jochtal.

A walk in Vipiteno/Sterzing is also highly recommended and in winter there are also many ski areas to discover in the surroundings, such as Monte Cavallo/Rosskopf.