Spring. Summer.
Autumn. Winter

A wide variety of opportunities to be active

The sun in your heart

Aktiv Summer

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What do you do in the middle of the Alps on a beautiful summer day? Of course spend the day in the mountains, taking one step at a time and letting your mind wander. The beauty of a farm holiday is its diversity: hiking, biking, relaxing and chilling out, climbing mountain peaks, spending the day in the village or down in the valley, taking a stroll, taking a peak at the work on the farm, or, if you like, lending a hand. It reminds of Astrid Lindgren’s Bullerbü idyll, at least a little.

A winter like in the old days

Activ Winter

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Perhaps a smile came across some people’s faces when looking at the Ramudla ski lift opposite the Fontenai farm. A village lift like this is a rarity in times of “more and more”: small, clearly laid out, and run voluntarily by the valley residents, it is a dream for families. Children can ski and romp, and play in the snow – always within sight of their parents. A mini ski area with included “Raatscher” (South Tyrolean for chatting) with the local lift attendants.
The nearby alpine pasture is ideal for a winter hike or a toboggan ride, and winter snowshoe trails start right on the doorstep.
And for ambitious ski tourers, the Matscher Valley is an Eldorado anyway.
If you are looking for big ski areas, you are not too far away from the Watles, Schöneben/ Haideralm, or Sulden ski areas.
For more sporty people, there are marvelous cross-country ski trails around Matsch, for example in Schlinig, Langtaufers, or in the Swiss Val Müstair.

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The charm of the quiet hiking months

Activ Spring / Autumn

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In autumn, when it gets quiet in the valley, the locals have finished their hard summer work, the cranberries and blackberries ripen and the mountains and forests show themselves in all their colors, the most beautiful hiking season begins. Clear air and the best views, coupled with mild temperatures and deserted paths: that’s autumn in the mountaineering village of Matsch and the Fontenai farm. Wild and magnificent and of exceptional beauty.

Staying at the Matscher Ackerwaal? The best time is in spring when the rare flowers stretch their heads towards the sun and the locals cavort along the Waalweg trail. In spring, you can experience both: in the heights, still winter with the best firn tours, skiing in the spring light, in the valley already the first green and delicate flowers. Moreover, you can watch the farming season get going: the first work after winter begins as the days get longer. A very special atmosphere that is worth being in the center of.

The traditional “Georgi” and “Golli” markets take place in Mals in autumn and spring. An experience itself. In Matsch itself, the tradition of “Schelling” (ringing bells) takes place on 5 December, “Krampus” Day and in spring there is “Scheibenschlagen” – an old pagan custom to drive away the winter. The traditional customs are strung together like pearl necklaces in the annual calendar. Be part of it, something extraordinary awaits!

Out in any weather

bad weather program

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If the weather in the sunny Venosta Valley doesn’t play along, there are plenty of alternative programs: whether it’s the Churburg Castle with the largest private armory in the world, the imposing Marienberg Monastery, Italy’s smallest town Glurns with its medieval arcades, the Vintschger Museum in Schluderns, the UNESCO World Heritage site St. Müstair Monastery, the nearby spa town of Meran or the tower in the lake in Graun – you can look forward to plenty of variety.

For the kids, the Watles adventure mountain awaits many adventures and the climbing hall in Schluderns invites you to climb indoors. Wellness is addressed too: in Mals, the main village down in the valley, there is a large indoor swimming pool, a variety of different saunas, an indoor tennis center, and a bowling alley.
But there is also plenty to explore on the farm itself: in the stable, in the barn, or the nearby, protected forest. A train ride through the Vinschgau Valley will amaze children and adults alike and is the perfect pastime in bad weather.

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hiking tips for all seasons

No, the following tour and hiking suggestions are not insider tips, and yet on some of the hikes you won’t encounter anyone all day long except nature, nature, and nature.

  1. Via the Eisa fields to the Matscher Alm
  2. Ackerwaal to Matsch, for every season and every hiking level
  3. Venosta Valley High Trail can be done in both directions
  4. AVS mountain hut Oberettes 2670m
  5. Upisee/ Upikopf, picturesque side valley at Glieshof
  6. Saldurseen, mystical lake plateau with lakes in every shade of blue
  7. Portlesspitze, a crisp 3000-metre peak above the farm
  8. Pleresspitze with beautiful summit cross and distant view
  9. Spitzige Lun starting from Matsch, the easy summit with a fantastic view
  10. Glacier hike Weißkugel 3739m, to the queen of the Ötztal Alps
  11. From the village of Matsch down to the “Gschlossbiechl” and via the Waalweg to Schluderns past the Churburg castle
  12. Matscherjochsee, the highest alpine lake
More detailed information here