Bike tour via the Monte Ponente to Bressanone

This April day is perfect for a Valle Isarco circular tour: We begin it full of energy in Sciaves. The cycle path first leads us to Aica, Fortezza, and Varna. There, at the roundabout in front of the railway station, we follow the signs for "Kinderdorf" and immediately after that, the small blue sign for "St. Cyrill". It marks the most strenuous part of the tour.

With beautiful views of the Bressanone basin, we first cycle on an asphalt road and later on paved paths (some pushing required!) steeply up to the little St. Cyril Church. We continue to Tiles, where path no. 10 takes us to the two hamlets of Tecelinga and Giovignano.

Monte Ponente - as this section high above Valle Isarco is called - is a scenic slope with lovely views of the opposite side of the valley, the Plose mountain, and the Odle peaks.

After the small village of Giovignano, Velturno follows. At the entrance to the village stands Velturno Castle, the former summer residence of the prince-bishops of Bressanone. Today, it is a local history museum that can be visited. From here, we continue towards the medieval town of Chiusa, where we join the Valle Isarco Cycle Path to return to our starting point in Sciaves.

The five-and-a-half-hour tour can be started at any point along the route. The section to the charming St. Cyril Church is particularly strenuous. It stands on a quiet, wooded hill at an altitude of over 800 metres and was first mentioned in documents as early as 1238 AD. On foot, the St. Cyril Path leads from Bressanone via the Europe Path of Reflection to the little church.

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Author: BS

Experienced: April 2011
Last updated: 2026

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