Arriving in Val Gardena, you seem to find yourself in a fairy tale. It is not simple beautiful words, but the sensations of those who first appeared in this valley. Descending from the Brenner Pass, you will see the summit of Sassolungo - this is a sure sign that you are almost there.

In this valley, many people speak German, and the inscriptions on the signs are presented in two versions: German and Italian. This is due to the fact that back in the 19th century these places belonged to Austria-Hungary. The locals are Ladins, they speak Ladin among themselves, but they can also communicate in Italian and German, so communication problems never arise.

More budgetary, but no less active and comfortable rest offer you Russian ski resorts. Abzakovo is one of the most popular resorts Ural mountains. The beauty of nature and the variety of trails attract many tourists every year. It is noteworthy that Abzakovo operates year-round ... You will find out more information.

On the map of Italy, Val Gardena looks very tiny, but once you have been here, you begin to understand what a big part of the country it is, thanks to the traditions, the beauty of nature and the attitude of the locals towards tourists.

basic information

Location

The ski resort of Val Gardena in Italy is located in the northwestern part of the famous Dolomites, in the district of Alto Adige. By the way, there is another, popular throughout Europe, Italian

How to get to Val Gardena

The nearest airports to the valley are located in Verona (about 190 kilometers) and Innsbruck (about 120 kilometers). It would be preferable to get by train to Bolzano, and from there by bus, directly to your destination.

weather, season

Already in early November, heavy and regular snowfalls begin. The temperature in November tends to minus marks. The winter months are the coldest in Val Gardena The temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.

The skiing season starts in December and continues until the end of April.

Trails, slopes, lifts

Most people arriving in Val Gardena make sure to spend some time on the Sella Ronda circular route, which is 26 kilometers of slopes. To do this, you need a ski-pass "Dolomita Superski". There are three ski areas in Val Gardena:

• Ortisei - the largest village, located at an altitude of 1236 meters;
• Santa Cristina Val Gardena is a small village located at an altitude of 1426 meters;
• Selva di Val Gardena (Italy) is the most popular village among vacationers, located at an altitude of 1526 meters.

Santa Cristina offers a total of 175 kilometers of pistes, many of which are illuminated at night. On the territory of this ski area, there are 83 lifts that can deliver up to 109 thousand people per hour to the top. The longest descent is 8 kilometers. The flat routes are 24 kilometers long.

Ski pass prices (in EUR)

Accommodation, other activities, après-ski, attractions

Numerous hotels in Val Gardena, Chalet-style cottages, hostels, Val Gardena apartments allow you to feel comfortable. One of the best hotels are considered:

• Adler (Ortisei);
• La Perla - somewhat removed from the city, but is one of the most beautiful hotels in Val Gardena;
• Villa Luise is known for its excellent panoramic views.

Hotels in Selva Val Gardena also surprise with their variety. One of the hotels - Acadia, is located right on one of the slopes and offers its visitors, in addition to accommodation, to use the restaurant, SPA salon and free sauna. The map of Selva Val Gardena will help determine the number and location of hotels.

Apre-ski in Val Gardena starts at about three o'clock. We advise you to visit the bar-restaurant Cuca, which offers a beautiful view of the top of Sassolungo.

For holidays with children, visit the Swiss. There are several levels of trails of varying difficulty. For beginners and children, there are special preparatory courses and walks with instructors. In Zermatt, you can not worry about your child - he will not be bored and is under reliable supervision.

If you want to have some real fun, visit the Luiskeller Bar in Selva Gardena. Here you will be greeted by a real Austrian anthem, a large amount of beer and schnapps. It must be said that Val Gardena is extremely rich in excellent restaurants, both on the slopes and at the foot.

In between skiing, you can visit the thermal complex with 11 saunas and baths, which is located in Ortisei. The local vinotheque, located in Selva Val Gardena, as well as the vinotheque in Ortisei, are extremely popular. An unforgettable experience can be obtained by visiting the nearby Fishburg Castle, built in the 18th century.

Hiking, horse riding, indoor tennis courts, squash, bowling, billiards await you in Val Gardena. Don't forget to visit the snowboard park at Piz-Sella, which has a boarder-cross track and a whole gallery of figures.

Ski resorts in Italy
Val Gardena

Val Gardena: about the resort

Do not try to find the town of Val Gardena on the map - it is not there. Like other resorts in the Dolomiti Superski region, Val Gardena (or Gröden in German) is the name of a ski region that unites three resorts. Val Gardena is located in the center of South Tyrol, previously this part belonged to Austria, and this is felt literally in everything. The local population is fluent in three languages: Italian and German - the official languages ​​of South Tyrol (Alto Adige), and even a rare Ladin - native to the local population. Many villages and names in Val Gardena and neighboring valleys often have two or sometimes three names, often dissimilar. Ortisei in Italian sounds like Ortisei, in German St. Ulrich, and in Ladin Urtijei. The Ladin language (it belongs to Romansh and is considered one of the endangered ones) is spoken by only about 25 thousand people, and often each region has its own dialects. For many centuries, the mountainous regions of Trentino have been isolated from the outside world, traditions and crafts are still strong in local villages. In many villages of the Dolomites, wood carving and lace weaving are held in high esteem, and they themselves locals distinguished by friendliness and hospitality.

Val Gardena is one of the most popular places in the heart of the Dolomites. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, located on the famous Sella Ronda circuit. All the main towns in the region offer a good range of accommodation options. Val Gardena annually hosts international competitions, including the legendary World Cup in skiing on the Saslong track.

pros
- Large selection of accommodation options
- Magnificent scenery
- Good track preparation
- Lots of opportunities for kids
- Good restaurants

Minuses
- Slopes and lifts are often crowded
- Relatively high prices
- Some long trails for beginners
- Not too busy nightlife
- Ski-in ski-out options are limited

How to get to Val Gardena

Nearest international Airport– Bolzano - 40 km. Innsbruck Airport - 120 km, Verona Airport - 190 km. The road from Munich takes more than 3.5 hours (316 km).

By train, Val Gardena can be reached via Brunico in the Kronplatz region (16 km from the resort), then by bus. From Milan, the train runs 5 times a day, the journey takes 3.5 hours, with a change in Verona. Closest to the motorway is the village of Ortisei.
Bus schedule - http://www.sii.bz.it, taxi order - http://www.taxiautosella.it.

Val Gardena: facts and trails

Ski area - 1060-2518 m
Total length of trails - 175 km
blue - 35%
red - 55%
black - 10%

Lifts:
Gondolas - 2, cabins - 7, chairlifts - 43, rope tows - 30

Season:
The first ski lifts open in November, full season: early December - early / mid-April

Val Gardena Ski Passes

Ski pass Dolomiti Superski
For 6 days:
265-294 euros for adults, 185-206 euros for children over 8 years old.

Children under 8 years old ride for free when one of the next of kin purchases a ski pass.
There are also discounts for riders over 65 years old. At the beginning and end of the season there are discounts and special offers. The ski pass is valid in all 12 valleys of the Dolomiti Superski region (a total of 1200 km of slopes in various resorts, but not all of them are completely connected).

Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android (webcams, news, events, weather, snow, lifts, maps and diagrams, photos and videos, reference information): . The application is free.

Val Gardena: prices

Rent a set of equipment for 6 days - 160-180 euros
Classes in groups (5 days for 3 hours) - from 250 euros
Individual lessons with an instructor - from 47 euros / hour
A visit to the aquatic center - 8.5 euros
Visit to the ice palace - 6 euros

Sella Ronda

Sella Ronda is one of the most beautiful ski safari routes in Italy and perhaps in the Alps, passing through the Ladin valleys (Val Gardena) Alta Badia(Alta Badia) Val di Fassa(Val di Fassa) And Arabba(Arabba). On this route, you can drive clockwise (indicated in orange on the route map) or against it (indicated in green on the map) for about 40 km, of which about 23 km are ski slopes. Sella Ronda is suitable for intermediate skiers. It is believed that the "orange" route is somewhat more difficult than the "green" one.

Val Gardena: where to ride

Val Gardena is the former Austrian possessions that became part of Italy after the First World War; the influence of Italy and Austria was bizarrely mixed in the local culture and cuisine. Val Gardena consists of three resort towns: Ortisei(Ortisei, 1235 m), Santa Cristina(Santa Cristina, 1466 m) and Selva Gardena(Selva Gardena, 1563 m). Ortisei well suited for families with children, the resort has many hotels with wellness centers, a good selection of restaurants and shops. Santa Cristina- the most compact resort in the region, there are few hotels in this town, but they are good. Selva Gardena or, in German Wolkenstein (Wolkenstein) - a good option for those who want to ride more difficult tracks and travel to neighboring regions. In Selva (it is also called Selva di Val Gardena) there are many good hotels, it is easy to find apartments, this is the liveliest of the resorts of Val Gardena.

Val Gardena is famous for the quality and variety of pistes. From the upper station of Piz Cella, you can get off on the black slope towards Selva or go to the slopes of Sellajoch (2240 ​​m) and the slopes above Plan de Galba (1780 m). The most difficult black run is the long and winding descent to Selva Gardena from the top of Ciampioni (2254 m). From the same peak, but from the east side, a shorter and less winding, but also very difficult black track descends into Santa Cristina. For lovers of difficult slopes, it is the Piz Cella - Monte de Seura (2115 m) area with interesting red slopes that pass through the forest in the lower part. Some red runs in light snow conditions can have quite difficult black sections. The traditional route of the Sella Ronda may be too boring for experienced skiers, but the black and red runs at Porta Vescovo above Arabba are worth a look. For those who like to ride between the trees, you should pay attention to Piz la Ila: the slope under the gondola to La Villa (this is the Alta Badia region) is quite long and steep. For beginners, the Alpe di Siusi area is more suitable; strong skiers there may be curious to test their speed on a special section.

Long and wide trails between Santa Cristina and Ortisei are well suited for beginner skiers and snowboarders. A gondola lifts from Ortisei to the main skiing area to Monte Piz (2109 m). The resorts of Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena are interconnected by a system of lifts; ski-bus runs regularly from Selva to Ortisei.

At the height of the season in Val Gardena, virgin soil is rolled out quite quickly. But with desire and some effort, you can find incredible beautiful routes for freeride. In particular, having climbed on the Sass Pordoi cabin to the mark of 2950 m, you can go a little to the north, moving on foot to the Boe hut (2873 m, it is usually closed in winter). From here begins the picturesque Val Mezdi ("midday valley", so named because only at this time the sun penetrates into it). Slightly gloomy, but defiantly beautiful cliffs, untouched snow, narrow canyons - the route requires good technical skills and it is advisable to go with a guide. From the top of the route, there is an incredible view of the resorts below.

Val Gardena: Apres-ski

In the restaurants of Val Gardena, Tyrolean and Ladin cuisine reigns, with a clear predominance of meat dishes (although you can also find good fish in the hotel restaurants). In Selva, many good restaurants are located at the hotels. Tyrol, Dorfer, Nives, Mignon are popular and serve traditional South Tyrolean dishes. Each of the good hotels has its own bars and restaurants. An excellent gastronomic restaurant operates at the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel. The charming restaurant Anna Stuben is famous for its cuisine and pleasant atmosphere, it has been awarded by the Michelin guide. Most guests choose to stay with half board, and the food in most hotels is tasty and plentiful, so don't overdo it. High season (Christmas and New Year, school break, February) in the most popular restaurants it is better to book a table in advance, otherwise you will not get into it.

Having a snack or a hearty meal in the mountains is also not a problem in Val Gardena, because you are in Italy. Most of the mountain huts and restaurants offer Tyrolean, Ladin and Italian cuisine, and there are some excellent fish restaurants (Vallongia in particular). Traditional lunch - various soups, polenta with mushrooms and other additives, and, of course, all kinds of pasta. Full list mountain restaurants -

Good fashion stores are located in Ortisei, prices are more in line with elite resorts. During the season, many interesting events take place in the resorts of the valley. In December, Santa Cristina hosts the Alpine Skiing World Cup - a very spectacular and interesting event gathering thousands of fans.

Val Gardena: more than just skiing

In the towns of the valley there are indoor pools, ice rinks and wellness centers. You can play tennis and squash in Ortisei. In the evening you can sit in a cafe, in a restaurant or drop by a disco. Specialized ski shops and souvenir shops are open in Selva and Santa Cristina. In the local history museum you can get acquainted with the history of the valley, see old household items, carved wooden sculptures. It is worth visiting the ancient Fishburg Castle in Santa Cristina, built in the 17th century. There are many luxury hotels in the valley, many of them with excellent wellness centers. In Ortisei, there is the Mar Dolomiti Aqua Center with a large swimming pool, cascade complex, saunas and a wellness complex. Alpin Garden Wellness Resort has a luxurious complex Wellness & Spa Cleopatra with an area of ​​more than 1000 sq.m with swimming pools, several jacuzzis, various saunas and a beauty center. The complex also has a fitness center with panoramic view on the dolomite rock of Sassolungo. In the village of Selva Gardena, there is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Alps, repeatedly recognized as the best ski and spa hotel in Italy - Sporthotel Alpenroyalp Gourmet & Relax. It is part of The Leading Hotels of the World and offers a modern spa and a wide range of treatments.

Val Gardena: with children

The resort has a kindergarten with a ski school. A large children's sector at the foot of the mountain is located in Ortisei. Mickey Mountain Club, located in Selva, is designed for children from 4 to 12 years old and offers a varied program. Junior Club, designed for teenagers from 11 to 18 years old, is located in Selva. In addition to the actual skiing, the family is offered a wide range of activities: special programs, snowshoeing, dog and horse sledding, toboggan runs and ice rinks - Be prepared for the fact that most of ski instructors do not speak Russian (Italian, German and, less often - English - the local standard).
- When planning a trip to Sella Ronda or to other remote valleys, carefully study the opening hours of the lifts. Getting stuck in a neighboring or not quite neighboring valley is an expensive pleasure: moving between resorts on skis is much faster than on the road, and a taxi ride can cost a pretty penny.
- Avoid riding the Sella Ronda during peak periods, otherwise you can spend a lot of time queuing.

Val Gardena- this is a fabulously beautiful valley with a length of more than 15 kilometers at the foot of the mountain Sassolungo("Long Stone"), which includes three resort towns - Ortisei, Santa Cristina(1466 m) and Selva Gardena(1563 m.).

Description of the resort

All trails are interconnected by a continuous network of slopes and lifts with heights from 2518 to 1563 m, so you can move from one skiing area to another without removing your skis. Through Passo Garden you can easily reach the neighboring area of ​​Alta Badia (altitude - 2138-1433 m., 39 lifts) with resorts Colfosco And Corvara.

The height of Val Gordena itself is about 1563 m, there are 77 lifts, 175 km. trails, discos, bars, restaurants, shops, skating rinks and swimming pools. In Ortisei there is an indoor tennis and squash center, as well as a riding school and a local history museum, most of the exposition of which is devoted to the art of local woodcarving. The picturesque Renaissance castle Fishburg (XVII century) is also located nearby.

How to get to Val Gardena?

Closest to the resort valley are the airports of Bolzano (40 km), Innsbruck (110 km), Verona (200 km).

Railway stations on the line Verona - Brennero - Innsbruck - Munich: Ponte Gardena (German Waidbruck) - 13 km, Bressanone (German Brixen) - 31 km, Bolzano - 40 km.

Val Gardena is a wide picturesque valley of South Tyrol, located in the northwest of the Dolomites - an excellent mountain range with the status of the World natural heritage UNESCO. According to experienced tourists, it is Val Gardena that is the most attractive valley of the Sella Ronda, a circular ski route with a total length of 500 km. The valley itself offers 175 km of pistes of breathtaking beauty.

Val Gardena offers its guests many opportunities for entertainment. Among them, you can choose the most suitable: winter excursions, freestyle, hockey, paragliding, figure skating, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, sledding and much more. Diversity active rest attracts tourists from all over the world.

The resort includes three small towns with a well-developed infrastructure - Ortisei (1236 m), Santa Cristina (1428 m) and Selva (1563 m).

Ortisei - the largest of them, is great place for family vacation with kids. There are many restaurants, spas, various hotels and shops. The first ski lift is only 10 minutes walk.

Santa Cristina is the smallest resort town in the valley. It is very comfortable and there is no noise.

Selva is a fairly popular resort due to its favorable location to mountain route Sella Ronde, from where many pistes start. It has a developed tourist infrastructure.

Previously, Val Gardena was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so here they speak German with more pleasure than Italian. As for the local population of Val Gardena, it is very hospitable and sincere. The local people speak the rare Ladin language, which is over 2000 years old! Definitely worth talking to them.

Val Gardena annually hosts the Alpine Skiing World Cup. Interestingly, all the action takes place on the steep Saslong track. With a little courage, you can also get a taste of victory by going down this famous track.

The Val Gardena is part of the Sella Ronda circular route, which includes 500 km ski slopes. It is here that every year international competitions in slalom are held - downhill for men.

Val Gardena is part of the Dolomiti Superski, an incredibly beautiful ski area of ​​16 ski regions. A special advantage is the ability to ski all 1,200 km of the Dolomiti Superski slopes with a single ski pass. And 450 lifts - with the breeze will take you to the best peaks of the Dolomites. Having visited the resort of Alta Bedia, you are guaranteed to get the maximum pleasure from outdoor activities!