Village information Village information

South Tyrol still has paradisiac places that promise tranquillity and relaxation you can only dream of during your hectic daily life. Partschins with Rabland and Töll is such a place – at just a few kilometres (9 km) from Meran.

Partschins, the main place, is situated at 642 m, Rabland at 525 m and Töll at 508 m. Other districts of Partschins are Sonnenberg, Vertigen, Quadrat and Tabland. Partschins is one of the municipalities with one of the biggest altitude differences in Vinschgau Valley and in Meran and surroundings: the municipal territory ranges from Rabland situated in the valley floor at 525 m to the Roteck peak at 3,337 m in the Texel Group Nature Park.

Enjoy hiking, biking, and South Tyrolean cuisine and culture, recharge your batteries and enhance your health in unspoilt natural surroundings – a holiday in Partschins has a lot to offer. And, thanks to its ideal location – with Meran, the Vinschgau Valley and the Texel Group of mountains right by the door – there are countless options to explore.

Blessed by sunshine, the climate and the natural healing resources of its waterfall, Partschins and its surrounding villages of Rabland and Töll, lies at the entrance to South Tyrol’s largest nature park, the Texel Group. A real leisure and hiking paradise, with everything that goes with that, such as panoramic and irrigation channel trails boasting magnificent views, 13 (!) three thousand meter-plus mountains, single trails for mountain bike lovers, long distance hikes on the Meraner Höhenweg High Altitude Trail, and climbing on the many rock faces or the Ziel Via Ferrata. All this is nicely spread out across two mountainsides, easily accessible by the two cable cars.

A little further down in the valley, visitors to Partschins can enjoy a wide range of activities: cycling along the Etsch cycle path, the Via Claudia Augusta, a detour to the Typewriter Museum, Railway World or the Bad Egart Royal and Imperial Museum. Or a leisurely walk through the old village centre, past stately residences, castles and prehistoric places of worship.

Health and wellness: the Partschins Waterfall

Partschins Waterfall is an impressive landmark in this unique setting: a thunderous natural spectacle with a drop height of 97 metres and proven benefits to health and wellbeing. “Gsund bleibm! Salute! Take care!” is the name of the health programme that is based on the outstanding water and air quality of Partschins Waterfall and which, with guided visitor experiences in the natural surroundings, places the emphasis on prevention, mindfulness and slowing down.

Regional cuisine and genuine hospitality

The wide range of food available in the restaurants and inns in the holiday resort of Partschins is healthy yet indulgent. Typical South Tyrolean dishes are served, which are delicious with a creative twist, prepared with fresh produce directly from the surrounding fields or rural farm shops, and always authentic, high quality and sustainable. The latter is also true of the accommodation in the area. Be it a 4-star hotel, holiday apartment, B&B or holiday on the farm - with their cosy atmosphere, outstanding service and authentic hospitality, the accommodations in Partschins and its districts lay the foundations for a perfect holiday in South Tyrol right on the outskirts of Meran.

Partschins And Its Districts

Partschins

Partschins is the main village in this region, located on a detritus cone at the foot of the Sonnenberg mountain in the Vinschgau Valley. Apart from the historical village centre with its well-preserved houses and farms, idyllic estates and picturesque lanes, the main attractions are the late Gothic parish church of Peter and Paul, Stachlburg castle in the very centre of Partschins (now an organic wine estate), Spauregg castle with its distinctive reddish paintwork, the Gaudententurm - a tower now housing a distillery - and the Peter Mitterhofer typewriter museum, a fantastic collection which illustrates the life and work of this most famous Partschins resident.

Rabland

Unlike Partschins, Rabland is located at the very bottom of the valley, but has an equally long and illustrious history. Rabland was of particular economic importance, as this settlement was situated on the Via Claudia Augusta, today known as the Via Venosta. Here, wonderfully restored farm houses compete with distinguished old inns, lending character to the district. Other attractions include the late Gothic St. Jacob's Church on the main street and the new parish church (also known as Christ Church) right behind it. This was built in 1961 and decorated by the well-known artist Friedrich Gurschler. Also well worth a visit is the Railway Museum, which boasts a miniature landscape that fascinates young and old visitors alike.

Töll

This small village is located in the valley at an altitude of about 500 m; it is now a popular starting point for walks such as the Marlinger and Algunder Waalweg trails. In Roman times, this settlement was home to a toll station, which remained functional well into the 19th century and gave the village an interregional status. Thus the name of the village, Töll, is probably derived from the Latin word "teloneum", meaning toll. Cultural attractions include the 14th century St. Helena Church and Bad Egart, the oldest spa in Tyrol, which now houses an art and culture museum. The hydropower stationthe first of its kind in South Tyrol - was built between 1895 and 1897 and is regarded as a milestone of industry. The distinctive sluice gate topped with a small house is perched on three brick columns directly about the Etsch River and is popular with photographers. Another highlight is a large mural that has been on display since 2022 alongside the Etsch cycle path on the Töll and which is a gift to the inventor of the typewriter Peter Mitterhofer.

Quadrat

The name Quadrat is probably derived from the Latin word "quadratus", referring to the blocks of stone which were taken from the marble quarry that had been actively mined since Roman times. It was later abandoned, but has since been re-opened during the 20th century, although this time for chalk mining, which is still being undertaken by the company Röfix today. A very well-preserved lime kiln may be seen close to the old quarry. The scattered Quadrathöfe farms can be explored on long walks and are a great attraction in this region.

The other districts in the municipality of Parcines are Sonnenberg, Tabland and Vertigen , all located above Parcines on the Val Venosta Valley Sonnenberg mountain, which are particularly famous for their scattering of old farms.

Did you know?

240 Km Hiking Paths

Here you can find paths and hiking trails at different altitudes totalling 240 km!

PREHISTORIC PLACES OF POWER AND WORSHIP

Especially on the Sonnenberg mountain there are several prehistoric settlements and places of worship, traces of circular earthworks, cupped stones and cave dwellings!

Via Claudia Augusta

The old Roman road once crossed this region. An ancient Roman milestone was discovered in 1552 in Rabland.

12 Mtb Tours

Ten exciting routes to recommend and two challenging single trails on the Nörderberg mountain are waiting for you!

Texel Group Nature Park

Partschins is part of the 33.430 hectar Texel Group Nature Park - which is the largest of its kind in South Tyrol!

Merano High Mountain Trail

From Partschins you reach the famous 110 km circuit "Meraner Höhenweg" using the Texelbahn cable car.

The Biggest Waterfall In South Tyrol

Considered one of the most spectacular in the Alps, the Partschins waterfall cascades down the rock face from a height of 97 m.

Peter Mitterhofer

Partschins is the hometown of the inventor of the typewriter.

3 Museums

A typewriter museum namend after the inventor Peter Mitterhofer, a train world museum and the Royal & Imperial museum Bad Egart are located in Partschins and its districts.

2 Hiking Areas

Each area is served by its own cable car! To the north, the Texelbahn cable car leads up the Sonnenberg mountain, while on the south side the Aschbach cable car reaches up into the Nörderberg mountain.

MURALES - WALL DESIGN

The visual concept for the wall design along the bike path in Töll/ Partschins is a homage to the inventor of the typewriter Peter Mitterhofer.

Mountain streems, effervescent springs, babbling brooks and a thundering waterfall

Blue gold

The precious resource from the mountains

Partschins, Rabland and Töll are water-rich areas and there are a large number of springs, wells and Waalwege (farmers’ irrigation channels) on both sides of the valley, on the Sonnenberg mountain and the Nörderberg mountain. If you take a walk into the Zieltal Valley, up from the Meraner Höhenweg/Merano High Mountain trail at the Schutzhaus / rifugio Nasereit mountain hut, you’ll hear the splashing of water all along your way. This water flows on to the waterfall in Partschins and then cascades over a 97mt. high drop down over imposing rock walls making the Partschins waterfall one of the most impressive natural attractions in South Tyrol. A number of springs and pathways trace the old irrigation channels in and around Partschins. There are two well trodden Waalwege trails in Partschins and two others start from nearby Töll. After a strenuous hike, there is nothing better than to relax soaking one’s feet in the cool waters of the river.

Above Partschins, the clear waters of the Spronserseen lakes on the mountain plateau reflect the surrounding mountain peaks. The water vapor beneath the waterfall creates a particularly salubrious microclimate, euphemistically referred to as the Partschins Alpine Wellness, helping to relieve respiratory ailments and strengthens the immune system.

Did you know?

We in Partschins are lucky to be able to turn on the tap and enjoy excellent drinking water that flows from various mountain springs into our fountains and wells.

Help us to make a valuable contribution to avoiding plastic waste and help us to protect our precious nature.

Enjoy the fresh tap water of Partschins!

Refill points

Considered one of the most spectacular in the Alps, the Partschins waterfall cascades down the rock face from a height of almost 100 m. It is particularly impressive in early spring with the melting of snow, when as many as 6,000 liters of water per second flow into the Zielbach torrent. The family hike from Partschins to the waterfall takes about an hour and a half on foot. Otherwise you can reach the waterfyll by using the public transport. A scenic family walk leads from the Texelbahn Cable Car mountain station down to the base of the waterfall.

The Healing Power of Nature

Visitors and locals alike should be able to enjoy the many possibilities that stem from the Alpine landscape, the three different elevations and the special microclimate around the waterfall, and derive specific added benefits for their health. With its natural resources, an imposing waterfall with a curative climate and the variety of possibilities for people seeking activity and recreation, Partschins has set up a pioneering project that not only makes health promotion and prevention of disease possible, but also brings demonstrable benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing.

The "Gsund bleibm! Salute! Take care!" concept

The “G’sund bleibm! Salute! Take care! project grew out of the collaboration between climatic therapists, medical doctors, hiking guides, nutrition experts and wellness trainers, and has the objective of making the curative benefits of Partschins’ natural surroundings accessible to a wide audience. Visitors and locals alike should be able to enjoy the many possibilities that stem from the Alpine landscape, the three different elevations and the special microclimate around the waterfall, and derive specific added benefits for their health.

Here you can discover more about the project and book our health program: