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Circular hike: Andrian – Festenstein Castle – Gaid – variant Burgstalleck
Andriano, Bolzano & Environs
Description
From Andrian walk through the gorge of river Gaido to the ruins of Festenstein – the trail is very steep and requires attention – continue to the hamlet of Gaido (Moarhof). a short distance along trail no. 8, continue along trail no. 6 to the viewpoint Burgstalleck a...

From Andrian walk through the gorge of river Gaido to the ruins of Festenstein – the trail is very steep and requires attention – continue to the hamlet of Gaido (Moarhof). a short distance along trail no. 8, continue along trail no. 6 to the viewpoint Burgstalleck and descend via the Sattelweg trail to the Bittnerhof farm and back to Andrian.

 

The hike offers some beautiful viewpoints: take some time to rest and enjoy the view: at the ruins of Castelforte (Festenstein), at Payer’s Peak (Burgstalleck) and above Andriano at Schlosspichl.

Details

From the car park at the  end of Bindergasse, trail no. 15 leads directly into the gorge Gaiderschlucht  The path is moderately steep at first, later very steep. In the rocky bushy terrain it goes up for about 1 hour to the ruins of Festenstein Castle. From there, follow trail no. 15 for about 20 minutes to Gaid. Head north on trail no. 8. After about 15 minutes (700 m) turn right onto trail no. 6 to Burgstalleck. The Burgstalleck (1,019 m) is a really great vantage point. A bench invites you to take a rest. You can enjoy a wonderful view of Merano with the Texel mountain group. Back to the crossroads, after 50 m. turn off onto the path no. 6 called Sattelsteig  and follow this until you reach the farm Bittnerhof.  At the Bittnerhof farm, follow trail no. 5B first to the fork in the road to Nals and, keeping to the right there, finally return to Andrian following trail no. 5 past the Regele and Kofler farms through beautiful mixed deciduous forest. Just before the path descends to Andrian, on the Schlosspichl chestnut shark, a natural monument, you can take a path at the northern end that leads to a small elevation with a cross and several benches. From there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Adige valley.

Approach

Motorway Bolzano – Merano, exit Andrian