Day trip destination
Knottnkinos: Where nature calls the shots
After a walk to one of the three Knottnkinos or ‘cinemas' above Vöran, you won't be watching a Hollywood blockbuster, but enjoying the views of the surrounding countryside from your seat.
A cinematic experience in South Tyrol needs no George Clooney, Jennifer Lawrence or Julia Roberts – all three Knottnkinos can not only do away with actors, but movies too. Cinema seats and magnificent all-round views provide the feeling of being at the cinema on a porphyry hill above Vöran. You can enjoying watching the clouds floating in front of the mountain backdrop from here – more interesting than some Hollywood movies.
Knottnkinos on three porphyry rocks
The first Knottnkino on Rotsteinknottn was designed by the artist Franz Messner to offer a viewpoint from the Tschögglberg plateau. This open-air cinema is located at 1,465 metres above sea level on a mountain slope above Meran. 30 seats were fashioned from steel and chestnut wood. The new ‘cinema’ at Beimsteinknottn is called ‘Attimo’ and the one on the Timpfler is dedicated to the 'wolf' shadow play. All three cinemas afford a wonderful view of the mountains of the Texelgruppe Nature Park up as far as the Dolomites and the wide Etsch river valley and its villages.
A circular hike of the Knottnkinos
A circular hike of the Knottnkinos may be done entirely without a car, and you can easily get to the starting point using public transport. The mountain terminal of the cable car from Burgstall to Vöran is the starting and finishing point of the circular walk. From here, you cross the village and walk along trail no. 1 and 12 towards Hafling. At Eggerhof turn right and go up to Rotsteinknottn. The last part is steep but short. Go back to the last farm, then continue on the Schützenbrünnlweg with marked no. 14. Shortly before the festival ground, you turn right to the “Attimo” cinema, which is located on the Beimsteinknottn. Following the markings, continue towards Gasthof Grüner Baum and on to Timpflerknott. Here the bench in the porphyry rock invites you to enjoy the 'wolf' shadow play and the view. Follow the marked hiking path through the forest and meadow, back to the village, where the hike ends at the starting point and the fantastic playground at the Vöran cable car mountain station. You should calculate a good four hours for this family-friendly hike.
Knottnkino cinema
Further information
- Parking place at Eggerhof farm: about 2 kilometers before Vöran is the parking place.
- Parking place in Vöran: the parking place is near the parish church in the centre. Follow trail no. 12 to the Knottnkino (about 1 hour and 20 minutes).
With the cable car: Coming from both directions of the freeway Meran - Bozen (MEBO), take the exit of Lana Süd/Lana Sud and follow directions towards Burgstall/Postal. Follow Romstraße/Via Roma for about 1.5km. Follow trail no. 12 to the Knottnkino (about 1 hour and 20 minutes).
The Knottnkino (Rock Cinema) is the work of artist Franz Messner, who hails from Renon. The Knottnkino sits atop a red porphyry rock formation, Rotstein Knott Mountain, which is located in Vöran/Verano on 1,457 metres.
The lookout point, outfitted with thirty cinema seats made of steel and chestnut wood, is a wonderful place for hikers to take a seat, unwind, and enjoy a unique experience: nature as cinema. The site overlooks the whole of the Adige Valley so visitors enjoy stunning views that encompass the Texel Group Nature Park, Mount Penegal, and even Corno Bianco/Weißhorn Mountain farther afield.
In the local German dialect spoken in South Tyrol, Knottn means ‘rock’. Millions of years ago, when lava and falling ash formed the Tschögglberg Mountain Plateau, these round, wine-red knolls also came into being. These rock formations are unparalleled in South Tyrol. In Verano, there are three: Rotstein, Beimstein and Unterstein Knott.
The Knottnkino³ circuit trail conects the three red porphyry rocks of Vöran/Verano. Starting from the Burgstall-Vöran upper cableway station, the trail leads to the three panoramic landmarks of Verano: the Rotstein, Beimstein and Timpfler Knott.
With the bus until the bus stop "Egger" or "Vöran Dorf":
- Bus no. 225 "Meran - Hafling - Falzeben"
- Bus no. 204 "Hafling - Vöran - Mölten - Terlan – Bozen"
Valley station in Burgstall:
- Bus no. 201 “Bozen - Meran“
- Bus no. 215 “Lana - Burgstall - Gargazon“
From the bus stop "Egger" follow the way no. 14 until the Knottnkino (40 minutes).
From Vöran village follow the way no. 12 until the Knottnkino (1hour 20 minutes).
You'll find the time table on the site: www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/
- Parking area at the Eggerhof farm, on charge
- Parking area in Vöran Dorf/Verano paese, free of charge (near the parish church)
- Free parking place at the valley station in Burgstall and the summit station in Vöran.