No-one has yet been able to explain exactly the function or the reason why ancient man hollowed out identations in the rock face know as “Schalensteine”, although thousand of pages have been written on this subject. In the Vinschgau and neighbouring valleys hundreds of “Schalensteine” can be seen. They vary in size from minute hollows to hollows the size of a human cranium. Some possibile theories of their use are that they were places of workship, guiding points for travellers or possibly that the hollowing out of the stone face was for ritualistic or medical purposes.
Route description
Start at the village square in Castelbello, pass by Castelbello Castle, go to the Latschander irrigation channel path and follow it until the junction for Laces. There is the access to the nature’s myths path. The first section of the myths path takes you on path no. 8 towards Montetrumes. The path leads through Douglas firs, Austrian pines and locust trees before you reach the so-called “Luamer Tschött” pond and the cupstone after some 30 minutes. Soon afterwards, the path branches off to the right. It is first even before you descend to reach the Via Montetrumes street that you follow for about 300 m towards Castelbello. Turn right at the sign (path no. 8) and continue to the “Klumper” slab and the irrigation channel path above Castelbello form where you can return to Castelbello’s village square.