I think I have every right to say that I have turned my hobby into a career. I spend every day working on matters surrounding hiking and I travel to Europe’s most beautiful hiking destinations both professionally and personally.
A natural border in the shape of the gigantic Truden fault line runs through the Trudner Horn Nature Park. The region marks the transition between two languages, cultures and rock types. However, the harmonious landscape inspires us to place what connects us above what separates us, and to overcome seemingly clear boundaries.
The continents of Europe and Africa once collided in the Trudner Horn Nature Park, tearing the landscape in two along an impressive fault line. Two fascinating mountains that couldn’t be more different are the result of this collision: the Schwarzhorn mountain made of massive porphyry and the Weißhorn mountain made of soft dolomite. But it is a third mountain that connects these two seemingly irreconcilable worlds. The gently rolling Trudner Horn mountain is covered by a picturesque forest belt that lies like a green carpet over the nature park and holds the landscape together like a magical ribbon.
Whence come the highest mountains? I once asked. Then I learned that they came out of the sea. The evidence is written in their rocks and in the walls of their peaks. It is out of the deepest depth that the highest must come to its height.
I think I have every right to say that I have turned my hobby into a career. I spend every day working on matters surrounding hiking and I travel to Europe’s most beautiful hiking destinations both professionally and personally.
The Trudner Horn Nature Park marks a natural boundary between the cultures and languages of South Tyrol and Italy. This duality gives the region its exceptionally profound legend, which is also reflected in the landscape that forms the beginning of the Dolomites. Where the seabed was once lifted to lofty heights and ancient masses of earth were pushed to the depths, today the Schwarzhorn and Weißhorn twin mountains, consisting of two fundamentally different types of rock, tower high up into the sky. The Schwarzhorn, consisting of hard, reddish grey quartz porphyry, meets the Weißhorn shining in light dolomite. What at first seems like an irreconcilable contradiction dissolves in the fairytale-like forests of the Trudner Horn, the third mountain in the alliance. The awe-inspiring spruce and larch forests, as well as the sub-Mediterranean bush forest and untouched gorge forests, are home to the most diverse flora and fauna of all South Tyrolean park areas and inspire with their seasonal play of colours. They act as a bridge between the worlds of the fault line and allow us to recognise that the world is not only black and white – it is more delightful to seek out what connects us rather than let ourselves be limited by what separates us.
On the Trudner Höhenweg ridgeway, magnificent larch forests, flowering meadows, fragrant forest landscapes and majestic peaks are all within touching distance. Follow trail marker 5 to reach the Peraschupf hut and trail marker 4 leads to the wooded Ziss-Sattel saddle. While on a leisurely break, you can enjoy beautiful views of the South Tyrolean Unterland and the famous Kalterer See lake before returning to Truden following the E5 trail past the Trudner Bach stream. Finally, the freely accessible Kneipp facility at the lower entrance to the village invites tired feet to enjoy a refreshing dip.
Strauben is a South Tyrolean delicacy that can be found in any Alpine guesthouse and at any forest, meadow or village festival. Every Straube is unique in its shape since its dough is poured spirally into hot oil and fried until golden yellow on both sides. A shot of grappa in the dough adds a particularly striking flavour. What’s more, a cup of the finest Altrei lupin coffee tastes excellent with it.
Packing list hiking holiday
The main towns of Truden and Altrei are best reached by car, bus or train. Arriving by plane is possible via several airports.
General information for your holiday