Varna awaits you with Lake Varna, its archery course and the recreational area on the Rio di Scaleres
Image gallery: Varna village
The main village of Varna knows how to delight its visitors: As early as the 19th century, after the opening of the Brennero Railway, guests from Vienna and Munich came to stay. Nobles and business people would relax for weeks and even months in the shade of the chestnut trees. This is where the sweet chestnuts grow, which are harvested in autumn and served during the Toerggele tradition, along with new wine and other farmhouse dishes. The sweet chestnuts taste best as hot, roasted chestnuts with a piece of homemade farmhouse butter melting on top.
The centre of Varna village (Vahrn Dorf) extends from the Löwenviertel (Lion's Quarter), past a garden centre, to the village core, where you will find all the main amenities. The Rio di Scaleres flows through the village - its banks at the entrance to the Valle di Scaleres have become a popular local recreational area. The town of Bressanone can be reached by city bus in less than 10 minutes.
In the forest above Varna stands Voitsberg Castle, which was built in turbulent times. It was already a ruin, when the Parish Church of St. George built on the mountainside was first mentioned in the 14th century. Today, you can visit the remains of Voitsberg and the former Salerno Castle. A hike in this area above Varna offers fine views over South Tyrol's northernmost sweet chestnut forest.
Another hiking destination is Lake Varna, ideal for a shady walk during the hot summer months. Part of the lake is protected as a biotope, while another part was long used as a bathing lake. Today, there is a campsite and an archery course with numerous 3D targets on its shores.
