Alto Adige - Un'escursione sul Corno del Renon
Luglio 2020
A nice excursion for those who find themselves in the surroundings of Bolzano is the one on the Rittner Horn. From Bolzano take the cable car to Soprabolzano then continue by train to Collalbo, on the railway dating back to the early 1900s, then by bus 166 to Pemmern, the low station of the Rittner Horn cableway. If you have Mobilcard (supplied in all accommodation facilities in South Tyrol) public transport is free, in this case the first cable car, the train and the bus. You just pay for the last private cable car which from Pemmern goes up to Rittner Horn, the highest point from which you can enjoy an incomparable view over the entire arc of peaks ranging from Trentino to Austria. In fact Rittner Horn prides it self with the prettiest 360° view in South Tyrol.
The Rittner Railway was designed on the model of Swiss mountain railways during the Belle Epoque, when mountains were made more accessible for wealthy tourists.
In 1966, the cog railway was shut down and a modern cable car was built, connecting the city and the mountain from Bolzano to Soprabolzano. In May 2009, this original cable car was replaced by the modern gondola ropeway. Meanwhile, the historic narrow-gauge railway still runs from Collalbo to Maria Assunta, operating partly with some of the original cars and some of the more modern ones.
The Rittner train is the last one of its kind left in South Tyrol. The spectacular view of the Dolomites along the track is a reason enough to catch a ride. At each stop you can get off and hike on one of the trails leading right into the woods.
Our hike (approximate duration 1h 40′):
From the top station of Rittner Horn cable car we took path no. 19 and stopped at the panoramic point called “Round Table” where all the peaks you can see are written down on a stainless steel round table . After a few hundred metres, we turned right onto path no. 9. The route winds quite steeply between stones and roots in the middle of the woods up to the deviation for path n. 9A, much wider and easier. After passing Baita Santner on the left (not open to the public), we took path no. 1A and then the No. 1 which leads to Rittner Horn cable car lower station in Pemmern. There are no refreshment spots along the route except at the lower and higher cable car stations, so it is advisable to take some water, snacks, etc.
Despite the signs indicated an approximate time of the walk (1h 40′) we took about twice as long as the part in the woods was particularly long and demanding.
Then we took the bus back to Collalbo, the train and the cable car down to Bolzano.