Activities In & Around Nauders

Just south of Nauders beyond the Reschen Pass, the Val Venosta (or Vinschgau) is a South Tyrolean, predominantly German speaking part of Italy. Val Venosta’s stunning combination of stunning glacier draped mountains, ice bound lakes, drowned bell towers, gorgeous ancient walled villages, castles, monasteries & ski resorts make it an all-round European ski safari location to be reckoned with.

The gob-smacking town of Glorenza (a.k.a. Glurns) in the centre of the Venosta valley is like a window into the past. Only 30min drive from the centre of Nauders, wandering its perfectly preserved 16th century cobbled streets & walls is wonderful. On the way there, the amazing 12th century Marienburg Kloster above Burgusio (on the road to the nearby Watles ski area) is worth a short diversion. Combine with the 1,200 years of human history at the St John’s Abbey in Müstair (just over the border in Switzerland) and the region starts to seem like a European ski & culture holiday hotspot.

A symbol of the upper Val Venosta is the 14th century bell tower of Curon that juts remarkably from the frozen waters of Lago di Resia. Only 10min drive south of Nauders, in winter it is possible to walk (or skate) across the ice to see it firsthand. The lakes in the upper valley, particularly the Lago della Muta (Haidersee) just south of San Valentino, are well set up for ice skating, kite skating/skiing/boarding, ice-sailing & ice hockey.

Closer to Nauders, straddling the Swiss-Austrian border across the Inn River, the bridge, tower & chapel of Altfinstermünz are well worth the ski or snowshoe to visit. It is easiest to approach from the Swiss side just below the road to Scuol near Vinadi.