Summer holidays at Ritten

We take the Cable Car Ritten from Bolzano to Ritten. And in 12 minutes we arrive and can enjoy the pleasant temperatures and a breath-taking panorama to the Dolomites. We could not have chosen a more beautiful place for the summer retreat.

It is no coincidence that Ritten is called the "cradle of summer holidays". Already in the summer 1505 Bolzano's high society fled the hot city seeking de fresh mountain air on the Ritten. The construction of the cog railway from Bolzano to Oberbozen and the narrow-gauge railway to Klobenstein in the early 20thy century became the definitive cradle of the summer freshness (holidays). This traditional summer freshness lasted exactly 72 days from 29 June (Peter and Paul-Day). And even today the people of Bolzano are still drawn to the rides. But not only those who want to escape the heat of the valley will find here at Ritten a place in the sun, but with much more pleasant temperatures.

So, do we:

On the tracks of the “freshness seekers” we follow the trail “Cammino villeggiatura” from Soprabolzano to Maria Himmelfahrt. The path leads us along the beautiful summer villas and in only 20 minutes we reach the idyllic hamlet of Maria Himmelfahrt. We continue our walk on trail no. 2B and then 14 to Merltennen. A wonderful view opens up in front of us. From here we have a wonderful view over Bolzano and its surroundings.

After enjoying the view, we continue on trail no. 14 through the forest. A mild breeze blows and the silence is only interrupted by the cheerful chirping of birds and the distant hammering of a woodpecker.
After one hour we arrive again in Oberbozen. A leisurely excursion into past times and back again. The saying is definitely true, that the summer retreat was invented at Ritten!