St. Christina in Gröden: Dolomite Trails and Culture

Holiday apartment in St. Christina in Gröden between mountains and culture

St. Christina in Gröden lies at the foot of Sassolungo. Flower-filled meadows and unusual rock formations surround the village, while hiking trails begin directly in Santa Cristina and lead into the Dolomites.

Trails, nature and winter sports

Santa Cristina offers direct access to the legendary Sellaronda in the Dolomiti Superski area. The Puez-Odle Nature Park is also directly accessible from Santa Cristina. For cross-country skiing, the 7.5 km “Val Scura” course is the main attraction.

Several trails begin directly in Santa Cristina or on Monte Pana. The PanaRaida adventure trail begins on Monte Pana in Santa Cristina; from the village center, it can be reached by chairlift or on foot in about 40 minutes. The “Troi UNIKA” art and nature trail also begins on Monte Pana. Its circular route starts near Hotel Cendevaves and is also accessible with a stroller in summer. The Legend Trail begins behind the parish church of Santa Cristina.

The Via Crucis circular route also starts at the church square. The Way of the Cross in Santa Cristina comprises 14 stations with bronze sculptures by local sculptors. Another circular route, the Giro del Paese, begins at the car park below the sports hall near the parish church.

Church, woodcarving and Ladin identity

The parish church of Santa Cristina preserves the lower section of a Romanesque bell tower belonging to a church mentioned in a papal bull from 1342. Its high altar was created around 1690 by the Vinazer dynasty of artists. The woodcarving tradition is part of Santa Cristina’s Ladin cultural identity and can also be encountered on the “Troi UNIKA” art and nature trail, which is dedicated to art, nature and Gröden’s deeply rooted carving tradition.

One of the special cultural attractions is the world’s largest nativity scene. It was created by 18 sculptors from Santa Cristina; its exhibition at the Centro Sportivo Iman has been documented since 2000. Local associations in Santa Cristina organize numerous festivals throughout the year, complementing the enduringly visible traces of art, craftsmanship and local history.

The traditional farmsteads trail begins at the church square in Santa Cristina and leads to several mountain farms associated with the village’s rural culture. Information boards with old photographs explain the history of the individual alpine farms along the trail. Castel Gardena, a hunting lodge and summer residence in the Renaissance style, lies between Selva Gardena and Santa Cristina.

Historic trails through Gröden

Today’s Gröden Railway Trail follows the 12 km-long, well-preserved former railway line from Roncadizza via Ortisei and Santa Cristina to Selva. Historic panels and images along the trail explain the history of this former railway. In the tunnel of the former Gröden Railway, interactive panels present historical facts, technical details and stories about the railway. The restored tunnel near the parish church of Santa Cristina was opened to passers-by interested in history in 2017.

Your journey to the area can also be incorporated into your planning: Bus route 350 runs every half hour from Ponte Gardena or Chiusa to Santa Cristina.

More destinations in the area

Lake Carezza, Castelrotto, Jenesien, Lengstein, Fiè allo Sciliar, Collalbo, Eggen and Renon

To the higher-level travel overview: Salten-Schlern.