Cycle tours in South Tyrol

You can’t say much about the cycle path network in South Tyrol – except that they are perfect! South Tyrol is like no other region of Italy in that it is prepared for cycling tourism and offers visitors a well-developed range of cycle paths and low-traffic routes that can be perfectly travelled by bike! You will be enthusiastic to cycle!

The climate in South Tyrol should be imagined as follows: The Alps in the north of the region keep off the uncomfortable, cold north winds. The warm, humid air of the Mediterranean region are held south of the Dolomites, which means it also rains less in South Tyrol. The region is therefore well protected all around and offers optimum cycling weather! In general, the weather in the north is more like Austrian weather. The further south you head, the more Mediterranean it gets!

The South Tyroleans are well known for their fantastic spinach dumplings with brown butter, the Schlutzkrapfen and traditional Törggelen. This is an old custom in which harvesters were invited to a meal to taste the new season wine. In addition, a variety of South Tyrolean specialities are served. Previously, these were roasted chestnuts, nuts and sweet doughnuts. The main course featured simple farmer’s dishes such as barley soup, bacon, sausages and rye bread. These days the custom has changed a bit – hearty slabs of meat, sausages, sauerkraut and dumplings now delight the palate of guests!

• that South Tyrol is the oldest wine-growing region in the German-speaking world?
• that more than 40 dialects are spoken in South Tyrol?
• that South Tyrol is officially trilingual: German, Italian and Ladin are the official languages.
• that almost 35% of the total area of South Tyrol is alpine pastures?
• that Ötzi was South Tyrolean?
• that you should never call a South Tyrolean Italian?