The Piavenna Manor forms the heart of the village and is the highest noble residence in the Alps
Image gallery: Piavenna
Piavenna is a small village in one of the side valleys of Malles Venosta. It lies in the Val Piavenna, at an altitude of around 1,720 metres above sea level. The access road branches off near Alsago on the Malles Heath. The Val Piavenna extends further into the mountain scenery of the Val Venosta, across the Piavenna Hut to the Punta di Mezzo, a peak in the Oetztal Alps. The mountain slopes are known as "Plawennen", while the hamlet itself is located in the lower part of the valley.
The mountain settlement developed around the Piavenna Manor, or Ansitz Plawenn, which has belonged to the Lords of Piavenna since its construction in the 12th century. It is still inhabited and widely known as the highest still-inhabited noble residence in the Alps. Once just a solid residential tower, it was decorated over time with swallowtail battlements and corner turrets.
Today, the manor also houses the headquarters of the "Club of Mult - arcus raetiae", which is dedicated to cultural cooperation in the tri-border area of Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. The village, which comprises only about 15 buildings, is a starting point for hiking trails leading into the high mountains and as far as the Vallelunga valley near Lake Resia and the Austrian border. Another tour in the Val Piavenna takes you to Mt. Punta di Mezzo, called Mittereck.
In winter, Piavenna (Plawenn) boasts its own natural toboggan run, which extends from here to the fishermen's houses at San Valentino alla Muta. San Valentino alla Muta lies below Piavenna: You can reach the village by car in about ten minutes - or you can experience a descent on one of the toboggan runs in the Val Venosta. The run descends for several kilometres into the valley.
