Discover Parcines: from the majestic waterfall to the mighty Texel Group
On the road to the Val Venosta, where the valley narrows towards Merano and a hydroelectric power station dominates the roadside scenery, you reach Tel. This marks the beginning of the municipality of Parcines, the western gateway to Merano and surroundings. High above rises the mighty Texel Group, part of the Oetztal Alps and protected by the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park. The Merano High Route winds its way through this alpine landscape, its three-thousand-metre peaks towering over the rugged Valle di Tel, also known as Zieltal.
On this side of the valley lie Parcines village, Rablà, and the hamlets of Tablà - Monte Sole and Vallettina. The municipality of Parcines extends across the Adige River to the hamlet of Quarazze with its centuries-old farmsteads on the Monte Tramontana. From there, the terrain ascends to the Monte San Vigilio. The diverse landscape between mountain and valley makes Parcines a varied destination.
Paragliders and hang-gliders dot the sky, while cyclists and walkers explore the area amidst blossoming apple orchards and vibrant autumn forests. A popular destination is the majestic Parcines Waterfall in the Valle di Tel, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Alps. Families splash about in the Parcines outdoor pool, while climbers are drawn to the Burgstallknott. Further up, the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park and the barren Monte Sole in the Val Venosta beckon.
Particularly noteworthy are the three museums in Parcines, including one named after the municipality's most famous resident: the Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum. Peter Mitterhofer developed the first typewriters in the 19th century and presented them at the Imperial Court in Vienna. Today, the museum houses over 2,000 exhibits.
Equally worth seeing are the Rablà Train World with its detailed miniatures and the Royal and Imperial Museum Bad Egart in Tel, which also has much to offer in terms of culinary delights.
