The hike begins near the Vinschgau/ Val Venosta Museum. From here, ascend the Kalvarienberg mountain on trail no. 18 to “Ganglegg” (1,123 m), the best researched and fortified elevated settlement from the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Alps. A little above the ‘open-air museum’ is the entrance to the Leitenwaal canal trail no. 17. Follow this past ancient larch trees till you hear the sound of the roaring gorge. After crossing the wild Saldurbach stream, the romantic Berkwaal canal trail no. 17 can now be seen. On the other side of the valley, return past the Vernalhof farm (trail no. 20) down to the Churburg castle and the Vinschgau Museum.

Churburg castle is one of South Tyrol’s best preserved castles. Constructed in the 13th century, the medieval installation was later remodeled into a magnificent Renaissance residence. Frescos, chambers and chapels can be seen, as well as Europe’s largest collection of armour. In the Vinschgau Museum in Schluderns, three permanent exhibitions about the archeology and life of farmers in the dry valley near the Etsch river can be viewed. The centrepieces of the museum are the relics found in Ganglegg and the historic irrigation canals, which still shape the Val Venosta/Vinschgau valley’s landscape today. The third permanent exhibition concerns the Swabian children and poverty in Vinschgau.