A Farm Holiday in Meran and environs involves a range of different options. This is where north and south, Alpine and Mediterranean, colourful events and untouched nature merge together. A holiday in an apartment or a room in the region of Meran also means many pleasant discoveries: in Meran there are not only chic shops lining ancient arcades, but also beautiful promenades and exclusive wine events. Empress Sissi of Austria used to stay in the mild spa town nestling under the majestic Texel Group. In Ultental valley, the vast landscape captivates and on Deutschnonsberg mountain, gentle forests and culinary festivals, such as the 'Dandelion Weeks', lure visitors. In Schnalstal valley, there are impressive glaciers and ancient farms, while Passeiertal valley holds surprises in store in the form of its customs, and Tschögglberg proves to be a particularly quiet hiking paradise with sparse larch forests.

Holidays on a farm in Meran and environs

The villages in the Meran region have held onto their culture and customs, and music bands and marksmen still wear their traditional costumes on festive days. In Ultental valley, there are quaint wooden farms with shingle roofs, in Passeiertal valley there are rather squat wooden buildings, as well as the well-known castle-like 'Schildhöfe' farms, and on Tschögglberg individual farms still have thatched roofs. In Meran and the surrounding villages near the bottom of the valley, the farmers make their living from apple and wine cultivation, while cattle farming is practised at higher altitudes. Here the farmers know their cows by name, sell the milk and sometimes make their own cheese, bacon and smoked sausages.

It is an idyllic holiday, surrounded by nature and traditions, that you can enjoy in an apartment or room in the Meran region. There is never a dull moment, there are numerous cultural events and sights, such as the birthplace of the folk hero Andreas Hofer in St. Leonhard in Passeier and the many churches and chapels in Lana.

From the valley floor to the mountain peaks

Various hikes between palm trees, Alpine pastures and glaciers await you in the Meran region. There is a dense network of hiking trails for keen walkers and their families. The 'Waalwege' paths along the ancient irrigation canals, which can be walked almost all year round, are particularly popular. Around Meran there is a large selection of easy hikes as well as demanding mountain tours. Popular hiking areas are the Salten on Tschögglberg, the Stilfser Joch National Park in Ultental valley and the Texel Group Nature Park in the Ötztaler Alps, where mighty three-thousanders await experienced hikers. One of the most beautiful high-Alpine circular hiking trails in the Alps is the 'Meraner Höhenweg', or Meran High-Alpine Trail. It stretches 90 kilometres across the Schnalstal, Pfossental, Pfelderer Tal and Passeiertal valleys. The high-altitude trail circles the Texel Group, with its mountain peaks stretching defiantly into the deep blue sky, in several stages. The ten Spronser lakes, the largest Alpine lake district, are located here at 2,500 metres above sea level. Mountain bikers, canoeists and paragliders also get their money's worth in the Meran region. The Passeiertal valley, Meran and the surrounding area are popular rafting areas, and there is the chance to go paragliding, especially in Ultental valley. In the winter months, there are numerous opportunities for idyllic snow shoe hikes and fun sledging trips. Skiers can make wide curves on skis in the Schnalstal glacier ski area, on the Schwemmalm in Ultental valley, in Pfelders in Passeiertal valley or in Meran 2000 near Hafling. You can leave your car at home on your farm holiday in Meran and surroundings because, in addition to the regular trains, there are numerous hiking buses, bike shuttles and ski buses in winter.

When mountains are on fire

Every year on the third Sunday after Pentecost, Sacred Heart Sunday, numerous South Tyroleans clamber up high slopes or mountain peaks and arrange piles of wood into hearts, crosses or large eagles. At dusk, the fires are lit and blaze up into the sky, visible from afar until late at night. The Sacred Heart fires have a historical and religious background. In 1797 Tyrol was occupired by Napoleon, and, in desperation, the Tyrolean estates turned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for help, swearing eternal loyalty to him in return.

Another tradition worth seeing that awaits you on a holiday in an apartment or room is the cattle drive in autumn. Every year, when the cows return from the high pastures of the Passeiertal or Ultental valleys, they are decorated with big bells and colourful wreaths of flowers and welcomed with a big party. The sheep drive in Schnalstal valley, with over 4,000 sheep and goats, is an impressive sight not to be missed on a Farm Holiday in Meran and envrions. In the lower areas covered with vineyards, autumn is a special time, when, in the rustic parlours and cellars of taverns, traditional South Tyrolean dishes such as Schlutzkrapfen and roasted chestnuts are served and washed down with new wine.

What does a holiday on a farm in Meran and the surrounding area have to offer?

• an enchanting spa town with a varied programme of events
• hiking trails between pastures and glaciers
• ancient traditions and thriving agriculture0