Selva di Val Gardena: Dolomites and Sellaronda

Selva di Val Gardena combines striking Dolomite landscapes with sporting activities and a distinctive Ladin culture. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Selva di Val Gardena, you can spend your days among mountain trails, cycling routes, winter sports and historic sites. The landscape around Selva di Val Gardena is shaped by several well-known mountain groups: parts of the Puez Group, the Cir peaks, the Sella Group and the Sassolungo Group define the scenery.

Holiday apartment in Selva di Val Gardena for active and relaxing days

Selva lies directly below the Sella massif, while the Dolomites around Selva are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vallunga is a particularly natural area at the heart of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The valley is also part of the European ecological network Natura 2000. This creates an appealing contrast for planning your stay: extensive hiking networks around Selva and in Val Gardena are complemented by quieter walks that convey a sense of peace and an authentic feeling of rural life.

Mountain biking, trails and paths through the mountain landscape

Cyclists will find various mountain biking routes in Selva, with sporty descents and challenging climbs. The Trail Arena Val Gardena comprises five intermediate flow trails in the Dantercepies and Plan de Gralba/Piz Seteur areas. The 303a Trail Arena Tour has a different character: it forms a loop around Selva Gardena and combines bends, jumps and high speeds. The Ciampinoi freeride route begins below the summit station of the Ciampinoi cable car, which starts in the centre of Selva di Val Gardena.

Winter in Selva and on the Sellaronda

In winter, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snowshoeing are among the activities available in Selva. Selva di Val Gardena is a popular starting point for the Sellaronda; access to the Sellaronda is possible with the Dolomiti Superski ski pass. On the circuit, skiers cover a total of 44 kilometres, around 21 kilometres of which are served by lifts. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore pay particular attention to whether you want your holiday to be shaped mainly by sporty circuits, individual activities or relaxing days in the landscape.

History and Ladin culture

The cultural history also gives Selva di Val Gardena its distinctive character. The ruins of Wolkenstein Castle can be reached from Vallunga in Selva via a short, very steep path. The castle was partially destroyed around 1525 by falling rocks and was not rebuilt afterwards. It is also associated with Oswald von Wolkenstein: he was born between 1376 and 1378 into a Tyrolean noble family that had acquired Wolkenstein Castle and adopted its name.

Selva is home to the parish church of “S. Maria ad Nives”. Language is also part of the region’s identity: Ladin is taught in schools in Val Gardena and, alongside German and Italian, is the third official language there. For a holiday that combines experiences in nature with history and regional character, a variety of discoveries are therefore close at hand.

Getting around locally

Selva di Val Gardena has a city bus service on route 357. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider this aspect together with your planned activities, without limiting your trip to just one type of experience. From the Vallunga ski touring route, the path leads from the entrance to Vallunga along trail no. 14 to the San Silvestro Chapel and onwards to the Pra da Ri plateau. This places more demanding activities alongside walks and cultural destinations.

If you would like to compare other destinations in the same region, you can also find Nova Levante, Meltina, Cornedo all'Isarco, Ortisei in Val Gardena, Sarentino, Lago di Carezza, Longostagno and San Genesio Atesino.

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