Autumn hike to the historic Fundres Mine and the St. Anna Chapel in Rotlahn, hidden deep in the forest
Image gallery: Hike to the St. Anna Church
The sunny slopes of the Valle Isarco are a popular hiking destination, especially in autumn. These leisurely walks through colourful mixed forests showcase beautiful views of the Dolomites and provide plenty of opportunities to stop for some traditional Toerggelen. Our hike begins in the heart of Villandro, or more precisely in Santo Stefano, the main village of the municipality.
On this October day, we first head north along the South Tyrolean Chestnut Trail. This is the fourth stage of the "Keschtnweg", or the second if followed in reverse from Bressanone to Vilpiano. After 20 minutes, we reach the turn-off to Gravetsch, where a gentle climb leads to the beautiful, historic manor house. Dating back to the 12th century, it is privately owned.
We then continue to climb gently along trail no. 3A towards St. Anna in Rotlahn. Tucked away in a small clearing above the Valle di Tinne stands the miners' chapel. The early Baroque building dates from the 18th century and served as the religious hub for local miners for over 150 years.
Not far from here, on the way from Villandro to the Villandro Alp, lies the former Villandro Silver Mine, also known as the Fundres Mine, in the secluded Valle di Tinne valley. Today, it is a museum that can be visited on request. A total of 16 tunnels were excavated in the mine.
We head back to Villandro along trails no. 3B and 3. In the village centre, we enjoy the autumn sunshine over a good cup of coffee. The Archeoparc Villandro, which takes visitors on a journey through 7,000 years of history, can also be visited there.
Author: AT
Experienced: October 2016
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- village centre of Santo Stefano, Villandro (872 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 02:30 h
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- Total route length:
- 6,4 km
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- Altitude:
- from 872 m to 1.149 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +274 m | -274 m
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- Signposts:
- "Keschtnweg", "Gravetsch", no. 3A, 3B, 3, "Villandro"
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- Destination:
- St. Anna Church in Rotlahn (1,149 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- bars and coffee shops in Villandro
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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:
- Hike to the St. Anna Church
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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!
