This short walk takes you from the centre of Lana to the narrow, cool Falschauer Gorge. It is a place that offers a natural spectacle that is both enchanting and eerie. The gorge as it stands today is the result of erosion caused by the Falschauer River, which has carved its way through the grey granite into the Adige Valley.

Reachability

From Bolzano, take the MeBo expressway to Lana. In the town centre, after the roundabout leading to the Gampen Pass, turn left into Luis Zuegg Park before the road bridge over the Falschauer (Theis Bridge) and park there (paid blue parking zone – reserved parking space for people with disabilities).

Description

From the car park (280 m), walk back a few steps to the main road and cross the River Falschauer via a road bridge (Theisbrücke). At the other end of the bridge, the beautiful Gaulpromenade begins on the left, leading along the lovely riverbank into the nearby gorge. The tarmac-surfaced local road is equipped with evening lighting and leads, with a gentle incline, to the nearby ice rink. We cross the ice rink and, after a short climb (a few metres with a 15% gradient), reach the footpath, which is easier to walk on (gravel and firm earth), leading between the high granite walls into the shady gorge. Through a short tunnel (285 m) we reach a building (the former Lana power station), where the small access road ends. We continue straight ahead and, following a path, reach the sturdy wooden walkway that runs close to the rock faces and leads into the ever-narrowing gorge. At the side of the path, we pass a wrought-iron sculpture, after which the gorge takes a sharp bend and opens out into a pleasant rest area with tables and benches (290 m).

Crossing a small suspension bridge, we reach a second rest area. There is a wrought-iron sculpture here too. The footpath finally comes to an end behind another bridge, near a weir. This final stretch to the second rest area is very bumpy and can be somewhat difficult to navigate.

We return to Lana via the same route. On the way back, near the ice rink, there is an alternative option to cross the Falschauer via a short, steep access ramp and a small wooden bridge, and to return to the starting point at Luis Zuegg Park on the opposite bank of the river. Along this path, there are several works of art by modern sculptors.