Morter with the Montani di Sotto and Montani di Sopra Castles - at the gateway to the Val Martello and the Stelvio National Park
Morter lies where the slopes ascend towards the protected Monte Tramontana, and the Rio Plima has found its way from the Val Martello to the Adige River. It is another hamlet belonging to Laces. This ancient village of lime burners and mortar makers was recorded as "in villa Mortario" in a 9th-century imperial land register of Raetia Curiensis, which later simply became Morter.
For those interested in culture, Morter is a special place. Due to its strategic location, the Montani di Sopra Castle and the Montani di Sotto Castle were built here. The first one held a treasure: Its library contained one of the oldest transcripts of the Song of the Nibelungs, dating from 1323. Today, it is housed in the Berlin State Library in Dahlem. Particularly noteworthy is the associated St. Stephen's Chapel, known as the "Sistine Chapel of South Tyrol" because of its 15th-century frescoes. The Morter Waaweg path leads you past these historic structures.
The Gothic Parish Church of St. Denis and the Romanesque Church of St. Vigilius im Anger are also worth seeing. The neighbouring Val Martello serves as the gateway to the Stelvio National Park, with all its natural treasures. In summer, countless hikes await you here, allowing you to discover the flora and fauna of this vast protected area, which is still home to bearded vultures.
In winter, the area invites you to enjoy scenic winter hikes. The renowned Ski and Biathlon Centre in the Val Martello is part of Venosta Nordic, a cross-border association that includes several cross-country skiing areas in the Val Venosta, encompassing more than 200 kilometres of trails.
