Telves di Sopra and Telves di Sotto are the two hamlets of Telves, the starting point for the alpine pasture circuit
Image gallery: Telves
Telves (Telfes) was one of the first settlements in the municipality of Racines . Today, two hundred metres and their respective churches separate the two hamlets of Telves di Sopra (Upper Telves) and Telves di Sotto (Lower Telves). Telves di Sotto was home to the miners who worked at the Cime Bianche di Telves peaks in the Stubai Alps, a mountain recognisable by its strikingly light-coloured limestone. Farmers, on the other hand, resided in Telves di Sopra.
Here you will find yourself at the entrance to the Val Ridanna. The two hamlets can be reached from two directions. A road leads from Casateia to Telves di Sopra, which, when coming from Vipiteno, is the first village and lies just under three kilometres from the town. From Mareta, on the other hand, a mountain road branches off to Telves di Sotto, which is also served by a bus. On the heights above are the Ochsenalm, Freundalm and Kuhalm. These three huts are the destination of the Telves alpine pasture hike, a route that captivates hikers and mountain bikers alike.
There, you will be rewarded with hearty South Tyrolean cuisine. Popular dishes served at the mountain huts include "Hirtenmakkaroni" (shepherd's macaroni) and various types of dumplings. A legend is still told today about the miners of Telves di Sotto: One day, three miners came across an ox outside the mine tunnel. Being hungry, they skinned and ate it. God was so enraged by this that he buried the miners alive in the tunnel. Because their wives were resting at a spring when the news reached them, the spring has since been known as the "Widows' spring".
In winter, Telves has its own toboggan run on the Atscherwiesen meadows. After a winter walk of about one and a half hours from Telves di Sopra, you will reach the sunny Freund Hut, which is open all year round and overlooks the Vipiteno basin. The descent by toboggan is only possible when snow conditions are suitable (please note that wearing a helmet is compulsory).
