Adige cycle path: Reschensee - Lake Garda

From Vintschgau to Lake Garda.

You start this bike tour at Lake Reschen in the beautiful Vinschgau near the Austrian-Italian border and the Adige spring. This cycle path takes you 1,500 meters downhill from the Alps through sunny Italy to Lake Garda! Whether spring, summer or autumn, here on the southern slope of the Alps is always cycling season. You roll comfortably past Glurns, the smallest city in Italy, over Silandro, Merano and Bozen to the council city of Trento with its historical cityscape. You cycle through picturesque vineyards to Lake Kaltern and Mori. Now, after a short climb (150 meters in altitude), the Adige cycle path brings you to the San Giovanni Pass, where you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of Torbole. Look forward to an overnight stay in Torbole or Riva on the north shore of Lake Garda, where you are welcome to spend additional nights. 

1. day Reschen am Reschensee Arrival

Look forward to the small, lively border town of Reschen on Lake Reschen, which is idyllically located in the border triangle of Austria, Switzerland and Italy. To the northeast of Reschen, only a 20-minute walk away, the Adige spring rises at an altitude of 1525m. It meanders through the whole of South Tyrol before it grows into a large river and finally flows into the Adriatic Sea. With around 415 kilometers, the Adige is the second longest river in Italy! On your bike tour you will explore and discover part of the Adige. In the evening there is a personal tour briefing at the hotel and the bikes are handed out. 

2. day Reschen - Schlanders approx. 45 km

Your bike tour begins in an idyllic landscape, because you cycle directly along the beautiful Reschensee lake, from whose surface the famous church tower in Graun protrudes and encourages all cyclists to take a photo stop. Enjoy the Adige cycle path, because it always leads slightly downhill to Schlanders. Take a break in Glurns, the smallest town in Italy, which impresses with a completely preserved city wall, and stroll through the narrow streets of the town. You will reach Schlanders, the pulsating center of the Vinschgau, in a good mood. Strolling, shopping, tasting and enjoying should be on your program today.

3. day Schlanders - Merano approx. 40 km

Today the Adige cycle path leads you through the wonderful apple orchards of the Vinschgau. Passing castles and palaces such as Juval Castle which is owned by famous extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner you roll comfortably with impressive views of the Ortler massif and the Stilfserjoch to Merano. Look forward to the beautiful Merano, whose city-center can be reached on low-traffic routes along the Passer River. Look forward to a glamorous town, to architectural diversity, arbor lanes for strolling and shopping, to Mediterranean promenades and green parks in front of an alpine backdrop. 

4. day Merano - Bolzano, approx. 30-45 km

Today you have a hard time deciding, because two route choices lead to Bolzano. You cycle either further along the Adige or more impressively through the orchards above Lana and Eppan. The Messner Mountain Museum Firmian is also located here in the well-renovated Sigmundskron ruins, which is definitely worth a visit. The circular course, designed in collaboration with Reinhold Messner, also includes the area around Sigmundskron Castle. The fortress that towers over Bolzano offers a fantastic view of the Texel Group and the Ötztal Alps. Whatever you decide, you can look forward to the South Tyrolean capital Bolzano. Stroll through the famous arcades, marvel at the imposing cathedral or simply enjoy a cappuccino on Piazza Walther. 

5. day Bolzano - Auer approx. 30 km

You cycle past Messner Mountain Museum Firmian in the area of ​​the South Tyrolean Wine Route past many castles, palaces and ruins to the wine village Eppan. Take a break and marvel at the impressive structure with battlements, walls, bay windows, double arched windows and open stairs. A visit to the well-known St. Michael-Eppan winery is also worthwhile, before you continue past countless vineyards and elegant country houses to Lake Kaltern, which impresses with its panoramic location. On the east bank of Lake Kaltern, you cycle via Klughammer with the famous Leuchtenburg back to the Adige and to Auer. Look forward to the small wine village with its historic mansions, narrow streets and courtyards, which exudes an enchanting charm.

6. day Auer - Trento approx. 45 km

The well-paved Adige cycle path brings you today in a brisk ride to Salurn, the largest white wine-growing region in South Tyrol. From here you will finally come to the Italian-speaking area of ​​your bike tour. In Salurn, marvel at the imposing waterfall at the back of the village. Then you cycle comfortably to the center of the old council city of Trento, capital of Trentino. Let yourself be pampered here and visit the Castello del Buonconsiglio, the former seat of the prince-bishops and the cathedral square with the Cathedral of San Vigilio, consecrated in 1145. Marvel at the Palazzo Pretorio and the Neptune Fountain. 

7. day Trento - Lake Garda Torbole / Riva approx. 50 km

On the Adige cycle path you cycle through picturesque vineyards to Rovereto with its enchanting center and to the lonely town of Mori. A highlight awaits those with a sweet tooth. Try the well-known pistachio ice cream in the Gelateria Bologna, it is really a treat. Well strengthened, you cycle on a separately guided cycle path and master the small San Giovanni Pass (150 m). You will be rewarded with a wonderful view of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. With pleasure you roll down towards your destination to Torbole and Riva. 

8. day Departure from Lake Garda

A wonderful bike tour comes to an end this morning after breakfast. But Lake Garda tempts you to stay longer. We would be happy to book additional nights for you.

Worth knowing about the bike tour along the Adige from Rechensee to Lake Garda

Below you will find specific information about the bike tour on the Adige Cycle Path from Lake Reschen to Lake Garda. If you have any further questions about this trip, just give us a call: Tel.: 0049 (0)6421 - 886890. 

Arrival by car

Starting in Germany: Drive to Landeck (Austria) and leave the A12 onto the B180 in the direction of Prutz / Nauders / Reschenpass. After the Reschenpass you reach Reschen am See after about 3km. In Austria there is a motorway fee. The vignettes are available at kiosks and petrol stations just before the border with Austria. They are valid for 10 days, 2 months or the whole year. The vignette obligation also applies in the Landecker Tunnel (bypass possible).

Arrival by train

Your destination station is Landeck (North Tyrol). From there you can take a public bus or taxi to Reschen via Nauders. Current timetable information and price information can be found very conveniently at:

Rail connections

Parking at the hotel

You can park your vehicle in Resia, this costs around €40.00 per week/vehicle. You will receive detailed information about the parking facilities at the hotel booked for you with the detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of the trip.

Condition of the bike paths

You cycle on wonderfully designed cycle paths, mostly along the Etsch, almost entirely on cycle paths or paved service roads. Only on very short stretches of road, especially near or in cities on busy roads. The route leads from the Reschenpass to Lake Garda almost 1,500 meters downhill, but there are still small inclines to be overcome

Available rental bikes

For this trip you can choose between 7-speed unisex touring bikes with back pedal and 21-speed unisex touring bikes with freewheel in different frame sizes as well as unisex electric bikes with back pedal. 21-speed men's touring bikes with freewheel can be made available for people taller than 1.85m. Simply let us know what bike you want when you make your booking.

Transfer back to the starting point

Every Saturday and Monday morning, and sometimes Tuesday afternoon (on request), there is the possibility to transfer back to Reschen with a minibus. The driver will come to your hotel and have space for you, your luggage and your private bike (if you have booked a rental bike, just leave it at the hotel). He drives you back to your starting hotel and thus ensures a perfect return journey service without the hassle of changing trains. Reservation and payment via Velociped is required in advance.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price

Any visitor's tax that may be incurred is not part of the travel price and must therefore be paid on site. 

7 days hotline service

If the bicycle chain has broken, floods make it impossible to continue your journey or other nasty surprises await you: We are available for you 7 days a week and will organize help as soon as possible. 

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Reschensee, church tower of Graun

5 km after the Reschenpass, Graun im Vinschgau, an old church tower protrudes from the water ... The Reschen reservoir and how it came about ... 

In 1949/50 the villages of Graun and Reschen in the Upper Vinschgau fell victim to a ruthless stowage project. The story of this dammed lake reads almost like a thriller - but it is the story of a catastrophe. The Reschensee is over 6 km long; With its water volume of 116 million cubic meters, it generates around 250 million kWh of electricity per year. A proud achievement of technical progress? The church tower of Altgraun, which protrudes from the middle of the water, reminds, as it were as a mute accusation, of the never-to-be-paid price at which "progress" was bought here. A blooming landscape once spread out here, with the picturesque village of Graun. 163 houses in Graun and Reschen and 523 hectares of fertile cultivated soil fell victim to the floods. Over half of the 650 residents of Graun had to be moved, around 1000 people were affected by the disaster. 

Reschensee, church tower of Graun

Dornsberg Castle

The nobles of Tarant (also Lords of Torand or Partschins) began building Tarantsberg Castle in 1217, which was to become their family seat. In 1232 the name Dorenberch also appears. The Ursula Chapel was probably built between 1270 and 1280. The inside of the castle cannot be visited. 

Dornsberg Castle

Juval Castle with Messner Mountain Museum

The medieval Juval Castle is located on a prehistoric cult site on a hill at the entrance to the original Schnalstal. The castle complex was built by Hugo von Montalban around 1278 and came into the possession of the Lords of Starkenberg in 1368. In 1540, after a few changes of ownership, the Sinkmoser family acquired the castle and reached its heyday in those years. Centuries later, in 1913, the Dutch colonial lord William Rowland bought the now dilapidated castle and had it professionally renovated. 

Juval Castle has been the summer residence of mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner since 1983. The castle is one of six locations of the MMM Messner Mountain Museum in South Tyrol. It shows several art collections worth seeing with an extensive Tibetan collection, as well as the mountain picture gallery and a mask collection with exhibits from 5 continents. 

Juval Castle with Messner Mountain Museum

Meran, Tappeiner promenade

Probably the most famous promenade in the city runs on the Zenoberg at an average altitude of 380 m along the east-west axis of the Passerstadt. The Tappeiner way begins on Laurinstraße in Gratsch and ends four kilometers further on Zenobergstraße, which connects the path with the Gilfpromenade. The wind-sheltered and sunny path is an oasis of calm lined with alpine, Mediterranean and exotic vegetation, which can be walked at any time of the year and in any weather. 

Tappeiner promenade

Bolzano, South Tyrol Museum of Archeology

The archeology museum is the new abode of "Ötzi", the approx. 5300 year old man from the ice, the mummy of the Similaun glacier. The exhibition area is approximately 1,200 m² and comprises four floors. In the museum, the history of South Tyrol from the earliest beginnings to the early Middle Ages is illustrated through archaeological finds, models, holograms, videos and acoustic impressions. The mummy is located on the first floor, along with the history of the discovery and the natural sciences, in the area dedicated to the Bronze Age.

The devices that were found with the Iceman are also on display in the air-conditioned showcases.

South Tyrol Museum of Archeology

Lake Kaltern

It is the largest natural swimming lake in South Tyrol, which is -however-  poor in lakes, and the warmest alpine lake at all (bathing time from May to September). It is approx. 1.8 km long and 0.9 km wide, which corresponds to approx. 155 hectares. Its depth is 4 m and it is 216 m above sea level. The center of Kaltern is approx. 4 km away. In 2006 Lake Caldaro was named the second cleanest lake in Italy by the Italian environmental protection association Legambiente, after Lake Sirio in Ivrea, Piedmont. 

Lake Kaltern

Trento

Trento, surrounded by a magnificent natural landscape and located at the interface between German and Italian culture, is one of the Italian cities with the highest quality of life. 

A visit to the old town of Trento should begin at the Cathedral Square, where the meeting of ecclesiastical and civil power so characteristic of the city is most vivid. The German Emperor made Trento a prince-bishopric early on (1027) in order to have free access to Italy, which guaranteed the city power and wealth. In addition to the Buonvonsiglio Castle, the Cathedral Square with the Cathedral of San Vigilio, the Palazzo Pretorio and the Neptune Fountain as well as numerous palaces in the historic old town are worth seeing. 

Trento

Trento, Castello del Buonconsiglio

The fortress consists of the "Castelvecchio" built in the 13th century and the "Magno Palazzo" built in the 16th century. The former two parts were merged into one unit in the 17th century by order of Bishop Francesco Alberti-Poja. The entrance gate "Porta dei Diamanti" leads to the castle garden and from there to the Magno Palazzo, in which the two halls "Camera delle Udienze" and "Camera del Camin Nero" are well worth seeing. A bridge leads to the older part of the castle, the Castelvecchio, which impresses with its medieval-style rooms. 

The main attraction of the Castello is located in the tower but can only be admired with a guided tour. The "fresco cycle of monthly pictures", created in the 14.-15.th century, extends over the entire area of ​​the room and impresses with the variety of motifs and creativity of the (unknown) artists. 

Castello del Buonconsiglio

Rovereto

Only a few kilometers from Lake Garda, Rovereto is a beautiful town in Vallagarina, which is located around the imposing Castel Veneto (Veneto castle, the seat of the Historical War Museum). Rovereto is known all over the world for the PEACE BELL, which rings a hundred times every evening on the hill of Miravalle to commemorate those who have fallen in all wars. 

Rovereto

Lake Garda

The Lake Garda region is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and impressive natural regions in Europe. The sight of the lake alone was worth a detour for Goethe. The mild climate, the lush Mediterranean vegetation and picturesque villages in front of an imposing mountain landscape, which then turns into a gentle hill country overgrown with vines and olive trees - all of this is still the epitome of romantic Italy, the “land in where the lemons bloom”. 

The largest Italian inland body of water was created by the continuously moving glaciers around 10,000 years ago. The lake extends over an area of ​​370 km² and is 52 km long and has a width of 4 km in the north and around 17 km in the south. 

Lake Garda