A walk on the “God and nature experience trail” that encourages not only children to think
Image gallery: Autumn hike on the St. Martin’s Path
On a beautiful December day, we decide to go for a walk around Cologna. This small village on the sunny slope of the Monzoccolo near San Genesio Atesino, above Bolzano, still gets plenty of sunshine and enjoys relatively mild temperatures at this time of year.
The St. Martin's Path, or Martinsweg, is a so-called "God and nature experience trail". It was created in 2008 by the Catholic Children's Movement in collaboration with the South Tyrolean Scout Association. Our starting point is the Plattner inn in Cologna di Sopra, already at over 1,000 metres above sea level. From here, we walk a little further through the forest.
We now reach the beginning of the theme trail and read the large information board to learn about the various stations. A total of 11 reflection points await us, which can not only be observed but also actively experienced. The saint is not only the patron of the church in Cologna (Glaning), but also provides the central theme for the trail's design.
Station 10 is located at a special viewpoint. The anti-aircraft ruins, the prayer wheel, and several small seating areas provide a perfect spot to pause. The view over the Valle dell'Adige from here is incredible! We visit just one more station before starting our journey back. We return to Cologna, our starting point, after a one-and-a-half-hour walk.
Author: ED
Experienced: December 2010
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- car park at the Plattner tavern in Cologna di Sopra (1,044 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 01:30 h
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- Total route length:
- 5,0 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.044 m to 1.223 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +179 m | -179 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 6a, "Martinsweg"
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- Resting points:
- Plattner tavern
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Autumn hike on the St. Martin’s Path
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
