Discover Eppan on the Wine Road

Eppan on the Wine Road can be explored through two very different lenses: medieval cultural history and striking landscapes. Castel d’Appiano links a specific year of construction with the consecration of its chapel; from there, the view extends across three named landscape areas. At Lanserhaus, a permanent exhibition spans the historical period from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Lago grande di Monticolo offers its own natural highlights, with a lake, protected area and mixed forest. These themes give you different points of reference for planning your trip.

Castle and chapel: two historical landmarks

Castel d’Appiano was built in 1130 by Count Ulrico II; the chapel of Castel d’Appiano was consecrated in 1131. There is one year between the dates, but they refer to different events: the construction of the castle and the consecration of the chapel. If you are interested in medieval architectural history, you can easily distinguish between the two dates. They show that, alongside the castle’s construction, the history of its chapel has its own point of reference in time.

Many regard the chapel as the “Sistine Chapel of the Alps”. Alongside its precisely dated consecration, this comparison gives it a distinctive cultural significance and makes it a notable point of interest for travellers interested in sacred history. At Castel d’Appiano, the history of the castle and the chapel’s particular significance are therefore in focus: a specific year of construction and a cultural association that many connect with the chapel.

A sweeping view from Castel d’Appiano

At an altitude of 636 m, Castel d’Appiano offers views across the Etschtal, Überetsch and the Bozen valley floor. These three names give the viewpoint a broad geographical setting. This is a different kind of orientation from the castle’s dates: the focus here is not on chronology, but on a landscape encompassing several named areas. If you would like to explore historical sites and landscapes together, the castle’s architectural history and its views complement one another as two distinct themes.

Settlement history at Lanserhaus

The permanent exhibition “Tesori ritrovati” at Lanserhaus provides an overview of Appiano’s settlement history from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Its time span thus extends far beyond the specific dates 1130 and 1131. This contrast brings two historical scales into focus: the long development of settlements on the one hand, and individual events at a medieval castle on the other. If you like to place cultural topics in their historical context, the exhibition complements the focus on the castle with a broader historical perspective. This lets you connect the history of one particular place with a much longer history of settlement.

Lake and mixed forest in the Monticolo area

Lago grande di Monticolo lies at an altitude of 492 m in the heart of the protected Monticolo area in the municipality of Appiano and is surrounded by mixed forest. The lake, protected area and forest together shape the landscape here. By comparison, Castel d’Appiano is at an altitude of 636 m; the difference between the two stated elevations is 144 m. The figures also illustrate a contrast between the themes: views from Castel d’Appiano, and the lake and mixed forest in the Monticolo area. These details complement the cultural focus with a clearly described natural landscape.

Choose a focus for your trip

When choosing a holiday apartment in Eppan on the Wine Road, you can first consider which theme you would like your trip to focus on: the history of the castle and chapel, views across the Etschtal, Überetsch and the Bozen valley floor, the long history of settlement, or the lake in the mixed forest. These highlights describe different sides of the destination and can help guide your search. When considering a specific offer, compare its location with the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Kurtatsch on the Wine Road, Andrian, Auer, Kurtinig on the Wine Road, Terlan, Frangarto, Leifers, Truden in the Nature Park.

Go to the main travel overview: Kaltern on the Wine Road.