EN
Castelronda, the castles trail
Bolzano, Bolzano & Environs
Description
The ‘Castelronda’ path connects Bolzano, San Genesio and Terlano: it’s a beautiful scenic trail boasting castles and ruins, winding its way across the hilly slopes surrounding the South Tyrolean capital. The trail is a good 20 km long and is embellished by the h...
The ‘Castelronda’ path connects Bolzano, San Genesio and Terlano: it’s a beautiful scenic trail boasting castles and ruins, winding its way across the hilly slopes surrounding the South Tyrolean capital. The trail is a good 20 km long and is embellished by the historical–cultural heritage represented by Roncolo Castle, Rafenstein Castle, Greifenstein and Helfenberg ruins as well as Neuhaus Castle. The ‘Castelronda’ excursion is ideal for a spring and autumn walk, as these seasons allow tourists to revel in the truly beautiful colours of nature.
The entirety of the path features directions and signposts: indeed, plenty of information can be found from the starting points of the tour in Bolzano, Settequerce, Terlano and San Genesio. Moreover, trilingual boards containing practical tips and interesting information about the castles also abound. You don’t have to walk the full 20 km; some stretches are ideal for families with children, while others need a steady footing and are recommended for trained excursionists.
Details

‘Castelronda’ – the Castle Path starts from Bolzano and wends its way across the slopes of the Salt0 plateau until Terlano. All you need is a few minutes from San Genesio’s cable car valley station to reach Roncolo Castle … or you can choose the steep path leading to Rafenstein Castle. From here, continue via Cologna, coasting the Messner and Noafer restaurants. The Castle Path continues until the Greifenstein castle ruin (Swine Castle) and to the Helfenberg ruin, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view across the Adige and Oltradige valleys; proceed towards Terlano until Neuhaus Castle (Maultasch), and then continue into the village centre. The ‘Castelronda’ path starts from either Bolzano, San Genesio, or Terlano. The whole excursion lasts 6.5 hours and is recommended for trained excursionists. However, you could decide for yourself how far to actually walk.