Castelvecchio Viewpoint

A hiking path takes you from Castelvecchio (Altenburg), a hamlet belonging to Caldaro, to a very special place: the Castelvecchio Viewpoint, or “Klotzbank” (Bank means bench), offers a stunning view on Lake Caldaro and the wine village of Caldaro. In the north you can admire the peaks of the Punta Cervina and Picco Ivigna mountains as well as the Forcella Sarentina ridge and Mt. Corno del Renon on the Renon High Plateau, towards east the view opens on the Catinaccio and Latemar mountain groups, and in the south there’s the Valle dell’Adige valley.

The surroundings of Castelvecchio are a perfect panoramic viewpoint, since the plateau is 400 metres higher as Lake Caldaro. The area has been populated since time immemorial, lead ore was also mined here from the 15th to the 17th century. The only 800 m long walk to the viewpoint starts in Castelvecchio, near the Altenburgerhof tavern at 621 m a.s.l. The trail leads past vineyards and apple trees to the little Gothic St. Vigilius Church, enthroned on a porphyry rock. From this place, the Castelvecchio Viewpoint at 616 m a.s.l. is signposted.

If you would like to extend your hike, you can start at the sports facilities in the hamlet of San Antonio and follow the Peace Trail (no. 11) to Castelvecchio, or continue down into the Rastenbach Gorge. Along this path, there’s - also visible from the viewpoint - the early Christian St. Peter Basilica, which presumably represents the oldest sacred building of South Tyrol.