Goldene Rose Karthaus

We’re surrounded by energy. You can feel it all around you. Emanating from the glaciers. Inside the primeval mountains. Held within the mighty silence. The Goldene Rose Karthaus, nestled in the village of Certosa in the Senales Valley, is surrounded by an ancient landscape.

With the Dolomites just outside the front door, the hotel is flanked by three-thousand-meter peaks. Tranquil larch forests in hues of delicate green and yellow extend as far as the eye can see. Here the mind comes to rest, simply and with ease.

Our world is permeated by soft sounds. A cleansing breeze from the mountains. Wind whispering through the monastery walls. The bells of the Carthusian monastery. A symphony of silence.

A stay at the Goldene Rose Karthaus means understated hospitality coupled with a truly sensory experience. Whether relishing a gourmet meal, having a chat at the bar or just enjoying the sweet bliss of doing nothing. It’s about body AND soul. The whole human being. All you have to do is get here. And we’ll recharge your batteries.

We live in a one-of-a-kind corner of the world. We who live in the South Tyrolean village of Certosa draw power every day not only from our nearby glaciers, but also from Mother Nature herself. We make good use of the gifts she has bestowed upon us. In her, we find our homeland. And we share her with an open heart.

But as hosts, we want most of all to give you an appreciation of being connected to the earth. An ear for the magic of silence. And to share the idea that enjoying that magic is a key to the abundant gifts of this life.

Our little patch of earth is like a treasure chest. In the Senales Valley, power and energy builds up in a natural way. We love helping our guests bring the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a screeching halt. We do it unobtrusively, and on your terms. But we are there quietly, in the background, to help you make your break a real one.

Way up high. The energy of the mountains flows through every window of Bella Vista Mountain Refuge and our little Customs House. Nestled amidst three-thousand-meter peaks, the air up here is crystal clear and the silence immeasurably deep. Being in the mountains brings everything important in life into perfect focus.

ROOMS & SUITES
Personality develops based on what we do and in which world we immerse ourselves. High-quality. Authentic. Natural. Our rooms and suites are a natural combination of old and new: simple designer pieces and warm earth tones.

We value quality and love details: Fine linen. The best mattresses. Meticulously selected textiles. When it comes to our rooms, only the best will do. So turndown service is of course standard in the Goldene Rose Karthaus book on etiquette.

PENTHOUSE SUITE
Elegant and enchanting: the spaciousness and furnishings of our new PENTHOUSE Rose Suite are bound to win you over. A roomy living room with kitchenette, lounge area and splendid views through an oversized window will make you want to settle in and stay for a while.

On the large terrace overlooking the roof, an elegant salottino will brighten your days in summer and spring. The suite has a comfortable bedroom and an elegant bathroom. Decorated with natural materials and warm colors, its atmosphere exudes peace and wellbeing.

There is even a small yet luxurious private Finnish sauna on the terrace. Tasteful and refined, the PENTHOUSE Rose Suite encompasses the entire Senales Valley, ensuring magnificent views at any time of the day.

JUNIOR SUITE
All of the JUNIOR SUITES have a veranda and some of them an extra balcony that affords breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

The room is very spacious. Meticulously arranged charming objects, elegant furniture made of local wood, fine fabrics, comfortable beds and meticulously chosen details. All of these details immediately create a cozy atmosphere. Even the bathrooms offer a touch of design with white marble and a private Sauna.

DELUXE ROOM
All of the DELUXE Rooms have a balcony that affords breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The room is very spacious. Elegant furniture made of odorant wood, fine fabrics, comfortable beds with excellent mattresses and meticulously chosen: all of these details immediately create a cozy atmosphere. The bathroom with shower is done in elegant natural stone from our mountains.

RESIDENCE
Whether you’re on a summer or winter holiday, our residence suites are ideal for guests who want the freedom to set their own pace. Here everyone follows his or her own rhythm under the shining sun, under the floating clouds, under the star-speckled sky.

Our Residence Weißkugel is located 150m away from the main house and is easily reached via a wooden walkway. Guests in our residence suites also have a private parking space.

All of our residence suites are named after flowers, and they share three common traits: naturalness, harmoniousness and simple beauty. All eight suites feature a small tea kitchen, affording maximum freedom for those who want to have a little more space. Staying in the residence suites puts you directly at our brand-new spa facilities, which we call the Karthaus Baths.

Breakfast and dinner are enjoyed over at the hotel, which is easily reached via a newly built connecting bridge. Of course, all of the Goldene Rose Karthaus services are also available to guests staying at the residence suites.

DINING
Hospitality belongs to the Goldene Rose Karthaus like the silence to the village. It is the attentive conversation and the sincere will to offer each other the best. Like a good friend.

Our guests know this. Locals and holiday seekers from all over the world are united by the search for culinary specialities and informal getaways. Yes, a joyful pause at the counter or at the table – at the Goldene Rose Karthaus in Certosa.

At lunchtime our guests can choose à la carte, while in the evening they have a variety of options to choose from: The gourmet half-board with served à la carte breakfast and a 4-course menu in the evening, a casual sharing in the Wein Bar with selected delicacies, an aperitivo all`italiana in the fireside room (Kaminzimmer), a hearty fondue in winter or a casual barbecue in the garden of the Goldene Rose in summer.

Basically, it is true that all moments are special. Some, however, are extraordinary. SILENTIUM was composed by our Chef de Cuisine for these occasions away from the ordinary. A six-course menu of tasty dishes and ingredients from regional cycles, inspired by the history of the Carthusian monks and accompanied by wines recommended by our Maître Sommelier.

AUTHENTIC & FRESH
Our chef obtains dairy products directly from local farmers; game comes from the valley forest; the aromatic herbs are from the neighboring wild meadows; and the organic vegetables are grown in our own garden.

Good vegetables, fruit and meat don’t need much more than attention to detail, a delicate composition of flavour and a great sense for the uniqueness of a dish. The cuisine of the Golden Rose focuses on simple dishes with lots of tastes and ingredients from regional cycles.

Authentic and based on local traditions, with products that have always accompanied the people of the valley. Our job is to keep them up to date with modern techniques.

We place great emphasis on homemade products and respond to the wishes of our guests. Every season, we search for a balance between the present and the past in order to surprise our guests every day anew.

THE WINE WORLD
It is the perfect framework for meals and an inspiring partner in conversation. A good wine speaks of the vine and its berries, of the soil, of the sun and of how it was made.

The Golden Rose has more than 100 quality wines stored in its ancient vaulted cellar. Crafted by small biodynamic growers and local cooperatives, the majority of the meticulously selected labels come from South Tyrol and Italy’s other viticultural provinces.

THE WINE TASTING
In keeping with the maxim “A good wine must always be tasted,” our tasting menu includes a sampling of up to eight wines. Starting with sparkling wine, through white and red wines and ending with dessert wine.

A universe of sensory experiences. Wine tastings, including a tour of the wine cellar, may be booked at any time; these sensorial journeys are the perfect accompaniment to our gourmet dining experience.

A majority of the wines in the Golden Rose cellar come from South Tyrol’s wine country. Some 20 different grape varieties grow on just under 5,500 hectares throughout the province. The diverse composition of the region’s soil, its microclimatic diversity and, last but not least, extremely competent growers produce wines of the highest quality.

THE WINE CELLAR
Anyone who descends into the vaulted cellar of the former Carthusian monastery can feel the resonance of exquisite wines between the storied walls of the meticulously renovated rooms.

The vaulted stone cellar is ideal for storing our exquisite selection of wines from South Tyrol and Italy. Guests are welcome to visit the cellar at any time; if you fall in love with a special wine, you’re more than welcome to purchase it at the enoteca price.

THE SPA
Let’s take the word “wellbeing” at face value. It encompasses swimming in remote places, walking through the forests of the Senales Valley, taking in long-distance views, deep massages, sweating in the sauna and exfoliating with our GLACISSE line of skin-care products.

Our sauna facilities are a little cosmos of their own. In our Karthauser Bad you’re as close to nature as can be, in the private SPA it’s cozy and personal, and our penthouse and junior suites have the sauna right there at your disposal.

THE SAUNA
Flickering flames, splashing water and pure fresh air. At our Karthauser Bad, the four elements are palpable in their purest form. An incomparable place to commune with nature, this open-air sauna not only offers a stunning panorama but also connects back to the roots of Nordic sauna culture.

A wooden walkway leads guests, in bathrobes, directly to the Finnish Sauna at treetop height, where the cleansing ritual of perspiration begins. The Earth Sauna is heated with the purest wood sourced right here in the valley. Cooling down is easy in the crystal-clear air of the Senales Valley.

THE SWIMMING POOLS
Facing incomparable panoramas of mountain and valley, body and soul can unwind in the two outdoor pools. As you melt into the steaming water, it’s easy to just dream or chat.

Conversation is also the focal point inside the Gloriette, our glass pavilion with tall windows, benches and an open fireplace. Human beings have come together around a fire since time immemorial. To ponder, to philosophize and to laugh. You’ll do all three, surrounded by the fragrant scent of larch trees, under the star-studded heavens of Senales Valley

THE PRIVATE SPA
Warm your feet on the Osernone stone floor, sweat inside the Lasa-marble steam bath, rest on the heated loungers made of porphyry sourced from the Western Dolomites, or cool off in our unique ice grotto surrounded by hollowed-out Martell granite. Our Private SPA was built using South Tyrolean stone and designed as an intimate, minimalist world of mountains at the heart of the Golden Rose.

The focal point of the Private SPA is the pristine power of the elements: glacier water flows and steams all around, aromas of wood from the Finnish sauna waft through the air, and warm earth tones soothe spa guests. The spa merges many features of South Tyrol’s mountains into an experience that allows space and time to be completely forgotten.

CONTEMPLATION
The meaning of the word contemplative is being introspective, staying still and reflecting in awe; it describes a calm, almost meditative mood. Contemplation thus means being deeply aware of the here and now.

The abbey of the silent monks. The passage to the monastery. The church nave. Around the walls of the old monastery, the town of Karthaus-Certosa came to life – where the mantra of stillness still echoes. It is a place where a glimpse eternity can be felt.

The Via Monachorum trail begins right at our doorstep. This themed trail is wholly dedicated to silence, Silentium, and represents an opportunity to rediscover the power of quietude. Just follow the signs, and walk to the neighboring village of Unser Frau im Schnalstal and Katharinaberg (Hof am Wasser).

Surrounded by an absolute silence all for yourself. If you look up high, immense freedom on the mountain calls. At an altitude of 2845 meters, our little Customs House opens its doors to our hotel guests.

THE EXPERIENCES
Be on top, breathe deeply and let the free view wander over the peaks. The oxygen level in the body increases. The perception continues. The glacier shifts dimensions. Between ski tours, taking a sauna or spending the night in an igloo, “being at the glacier” in the refuge will become an all-round experience. Experience energy. Being at the Hochjochferner glacier.

THE SENALES VALLEY’S MOST BEAUTIFUL HIKES
Now more than ever, we can appreciate unrestricted freedom of movement. Being able to let your feet follow your gaze over the ancient mountains. To just go for it, to feel your muscles, to look into the nameless distance, with the sun on your face and breathe freely. In summer especially, vitamin D stores are replenished; and an active body leads the mind to joy!

Since the variety of hiking possibilities in as around the Senales Valley is almost infinite, here are some recommendations. Many of the trails lead along pristine routes and are well maintained and signposted.

LAKE, SOUL, PEACE – VERMAGT RESERVOIR
The Vernagt Reservoir is like a mirror embedded in the landscape. Its green-blue water is enveloped by tender green larches. In summer and autumn, the reservoir showcases the surrounding forests and peaks. Built in the 1950s, the dam wall is 65 meters high and holds enormous masses of water, nestled placidly into the landscape.

At the southern edge of the pretty mountain village of Vernagt, just follow the Seerundweg sign and you can walk around the reservoir in a leisurely two hours. If you feel like a longer hike, take a slight turn after the lookout point and you’ll reach the farms above the lake.

Along Trail 8A you will head up to Finailhof, which lies at an altitude of 1973 meters and was once Europe’s highest-lying grain farm. Here corn was cultivated until 1967. The route continues from Finailhof to Raffeinhof and then back down to Tisenhof and finally back to Vernagt.

Tipp: From the reservoir up to the Ötzi discovery site. It takes about 3.5 hours to get from the reservoir to Similaunhütte at 3,019 meters, from where you can continue on to the site where Ötzi was discovered, near Hauslabjoch, at about 3,200m.

TEXEL GROUP NATURE PARK 
South Tyrol’s largest nature park spreads over 8 municipalities and 33,430 hectares, making it one of the most varied areas in the world. It encompasses the entire Texel Group, passing through rustic high-mountain landscapes including the Senales and Passeier valleys, and parts of the Stubai and Ötztal Alps, including the Schnalser and Gurgler Kamm.

Branching off again at Vernagt Reservoir, it takes 3.00 hours to hike to Nockspitze Peak. The entire Senales Valley can be seen from up there: Nockspitze is the valley’s centralmost mountain.

The Spronser Seen, a chain of high alpine lakes, is also a wonderful day hike. The path leads past numerous cup marks on the way to Pfitscher Jöchl. These date back to the Bronze Age and just rest there, quiet and humble, on the edge of the path. Witnesses of a present that is always inevitably connected through the centuries with its history of creation

BELLA VISTA MOUNTAIN LODGE
Bella Vista Mountain Lodge belongs to the Golden Rose; they go together like Stefania and Paul or transhumance and the high-alpine pastures. Following the ancient footpaths, Marker 3 points the way up into the mountains out of Kurzras (2,011 m).

The hike takes 2.3 hours and leads through the Oberberg Valley and below Steinschlagspitze Peak, all the way up to the Stueteben Plateau. There the path climbs a bit, and the landscape becomes increasingly rocky. If you head northeast, you’ll arrive at Bella Vista (2,842 m).

If you prefer a more leisurely route, take the Senales Valley Glacier Cable Car to South Tyrol’s highest mountain station at 3,212 meters. From there, follow Trail No. 3 downhill until you reach Bella Vista Mountain Refuge at 2,842 m.

Another really picturesque hike is the one up to Berglalm, since it leads through moss-covered coniferous forests. The starting point is once again Kurzras. Path No. 4 goes through a primeval mountain forest and across the vast pasturelands of the Lagaun Valley at 2200m.

The last section before reaching Berglalm runs through a beautiful forest of gnarled pines, (Trail No. 5; last section No. 13) past Grubalm, and then very steeply down, here again through a coniferous forest, to Vernagt.

THE BELLS OF KATHARINABERG
The well-known Merano High Mountain Trail passes by many gems, including Katharinaberg. The Unterstellhof, an entry point to the 6th stage of the high-altitude trail, is easily reached by cable car from Naturno.

Once at the upper level, directly at the Unterstellhof, you can reach the high-altitude trail in just a few steps. The view sweeps across the Vinschgau Valley and Juval Castle before the high-altitude trail turns off into the Schnals Valley, on the western slope.

Passing through alpine meadows and steep slopes, the path leads past meticulously maintained mountain farms, with their red and black larch woods colored by the sun. As you follow the old high-altitude path, you will come to Katharinaberg, a small mountain village on a high rocky slope.

Schnalsburg Castle, which was the valley’s namesake, once stood here. The former castle’s tower is now a bell tower. When the wind blows right, the sound of the bells can be heard all the way in Certosa. Quiet, timeless, soulful.

A HOME BENEATH THE STARS
The stillness and rustling wind quietly wakes me up. My wife is still fast asleep. Empty glasses from the night before sit on the small wooden bedside tables. I step out for a moment. Our footprints pressed into the snow are still visible from the night before. The snowshoes lean on the wall of the cabin. The blankets are also outside, on the bench.

We’ve been spending our evenings here – sitting outside, wrapped in the cozy blankets, drinking some wine and gazing at the wide star-studded sky, something that really instilled a sense of awe in us. The feeling still lingers. All this, together with the stillness, slowly but surely found its way into my very core. This is all I ever needed.

While my wife was cozying up in the feather-quilted bed, with just her hair peaking out of the red and white checkered duvet, I grabbed my winter cap, gloves and hiking shoes.

I walked out into the early morning. All my busy thoughts are left down at the foot of the mountain. Everything that doesn’t have its place here has simply evaporated. The quiet winter sun slowly appears and announces itself with red beams across the sky.

A breeze blows over the snow, prompting small snow crystals to fly into the air. I feel the cold air on my cheeks, the snow crunches beneath my feet and everything is reduced down to the inhale and exhale.

The sun slowly gets bigger and bigger, not yet in its full power, but getting there. It’s gotten lighter and all of a sudden everything around me is bathed light. I stop walking, as if frozen and all I can do is gaze around me, take it all in and breathe.

I turn around and head back to our small “Customs Office” cabin at the side of the mountain. My wife is standing in the doorway, in the sunshine, smiling at me. Hungry? Yes! The Bella Vista refuge is close by, less than a kilometre away. There, breakfast is already waiting for us.

SKI TOURING
Even with plenty of skiing options, are you perhaps looking for something slightly more adventurous such as ski touring? Val Senales has it all. Countless peaks, valleys, mountain plateaus and panoramic viewpoints away from the traditional ski slopes – waiting to be discovered.

Easy: From Kurzras/Maso Corto to Stotz.
This easy and scenic route takes about 3 hours starting from Koflhöfen (about 0.7 km before Kurzras/Maso Corto) and proceeds southwards through Lagauntal. This route is also suitable for intermediate skiers. The route has an ascent of 949m above sea level.

Mid-level: From Kurzras/Maso Corto to Schwemser Spitze/Punta d’Oberettes
Between the Val Senales and Valle di Mazia valleys, the two mountains Palla Bianca (Weißkugel) and Punta d’Oberettes (Schwemser Spitze) rise. Ideal for firn ski touring, the route proceeds over an extremely steep ramp from Langgrubtal towards Punta d’Oberettes. Caution: This 4-5 hour route demands good visibility and safe avalanche conditions. The route has an ascent of 1445m above sea level.

Advanced: From Karthaus/Certosa to Zerminiger
This route is suitable for advanced skiers in good physical condition. Taking some 5-6 hours, the tour starts at Karthaus, proceeds over Penaudtal and Schlandrauntal to reach the Zerminiger double peak. The route has an ascent of 1780m above sea level.

MORE THAN SKIING IN VAL SENALES
The snow sparkles in the sun and encircles the town of Karthaus like a crown. Put your suitcase down and let the holidays begin! There’s so much to do and explore. We put together some ideas for outdoor activities surrounding Karthaus, if you’re looking for more than skiing.

WINTER HIKING
To the woods! When you step out of the Goldene Rose Karthaus, left of the town church there is a small path that leads to Sachsalbhof, an old Val Senales farmhouse. The hike is rewarded with a stunning view over the Val Senales peaks.

THE JUVAL CASTLE
Driving by, you can’t miss the Juval Castle, one of the six Messner Mountain Museums. Located on a hill at the mouth of the Val Senales valley, the view up to the castle reminds one of a bird’s nest perched at the top of a cliff.

Shrouded in a veil of mystery, century after century the medieval castle stands tall, in an area known for its rich and long-standing history. The museum and the Tibetan collection are closed in winter, however, the castle courts as well as the organic produce store at the foot of the hill are certainly well worth a visit.

KATHARINABERG & KARTHAUS 
Small and dreamy, Katharinaberg lies on a high rock and offers a view directly to Karthaus and even further out of the Schnals valley over the Etsch Valley. A real panorama village! Almost the whole day the sun shines on the houses and gardens and therefore vitamin D can also be filled up there in winter.

Where the parish church stands today, the Schnals Castle once stood. Now the church bells from the former castle tower ring out and tell of settlements and stories that point deep into the beginnings of mankind. In addition, from Katharinaberg you can directly access the Meraner Höhenweg for winter hiking.

KARTHGAUSER BAD 
Our Karthauser Bad is a one-of-a-kind natural spa experience. But if you crave for proper swimming pools or want to enjoy natural thermal baths, Merano is the place. The Merano Thermal Park with its 15 indoor and 10 outdoor pools is an extraordinary aquatic experience.

The thermal water comes directly from Vigiljoch/Monte San Vigilio and is collected in two large thermal pools, from which the smaller pools are filled with warm and cold water as well as saltwater. There are diverse amenities to match your specific needs, plenty of playgrounds for active children or quiet zones for those looking to relax and switch off.

THE ÖTZI GLACEIRT TOUR
He is one of the oldest ‘celebrities’ that put Val Senales on the map – Ötzi, the legendary iceman from Hauslabjoch. Ötzi is a testament to the Copper Age, a discovery that provided us with valuable insight onthe early life of man.

The Ötzi Glacier Tour goes along the Main Alpine Ridge and takes a demanding 7-8 hours’ hike to reach the spot where Ötzi was found. The tour dives deep into life on the glacier and will provide the visitor with informative facts on its flora and fauna.

COZY NIGHTS IN AN IGLOO
It doesn’t get much better than a real igloo on a real glacier! You don’t have to go all the way to The North Pole for such an experience. It is right here in Val Senales. We have known the Rifugio Bella Vista since we were students, where we made our first big mountain tours of the Ötztaler Alps/Alpi Venoste.

We actually know it since about the time when Paul took over the helm. This was before Ötzi was discovered, so before 1991. There, we celebrated weddings and birthdays, and experienced countless precious and unforgettable moments.

From Children to Children

Our things were already waiting for us in the igloo when we arrived, along with a small welcome-package from the Grüners. We split a bottle of sparkling wine throughout the evening, which needless to say, made it all the more merrier.

For dinner, we had a lavish meal made out of locally-sourced ingredients at Rifugio Bella Vista, where we also ran into some old acquaintances. Paul was also there and joined us shortly at our table.

Soon after midnight, we started yawning! It was time for bed. The way back to the igloo was (still) fun! We got in, the door of the igloo seamlessly closing behind us. In the icy igloo itself, we slept on an isolated matt, sheepskin, in special sleeping bag – all very soft and warm. The noise from the outside is muffled and you can only hear soft sounds from natural movement and gentle snowfall.

Around us, everything is white and oozes tranquility. The simplicity of the surrounding calms the eyes and instills inner peace, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life is luckily far far away. A night in the igloo clears the mind.

We had a deep, dreamless sleep and slept in. An elaborate breakfast was served at the refuge, where it was a couple degrees warmer. We were on the slopes by noon, where we skied a few rounds after which we drove back to the Goldene Rose Karthaus, greeted by the wonderful and radiant Steffi.

GLACISSE & GLACIER BASED BEAUTY
The Val Senales Glacier belongs to one of the largest mountain masses in the world. On the Main Alpine Ridge, between Austria and South Tyrol, Italy, the Hochjochferner lies, a glacier massif that stretches 3km in length.

In late spring, when the glacier begins to thaw and the ‘tongues’ of the glacier draw back, residue consisting of the finest sand (geo. glacial till) shows, a result of the glacier striations. Their mineral configuration is exceptional and therefor represents the most unique rock strata composition of the Hochjochferner.

In the summer, flowers and grass bloom in particular abundance over the melted areas of the glacier, flaunting a gorgeous display of blue, red and yellow mountain blossoms. All of this mountain activity has over the years been carefully observed during the hikes of Paul Grüner, mountaineer and owner of the Bella Vista mountain refuge.

The therapeutic properties of the glacier were also recorded by Merano medical doctor Georg Götsch as early as 1864. It was not just the fresh cool air of the glacier that was noted to be of benefit, he also documented a at the time not yet explained positive reaction on skin diseases.

Over a hundred years later, Paul Grüner took to investigate this with the scientific support of renowned universities. Together they extracted and tested MICA GLACIAL®, a mineral complex that stemmed from the fine sand particles (glacial till) of the Hochjochferner glacier. The mineral complex would later represent the foundation of the nourishing and deeply restorative skincare line GLACISSE.

THE GLACIAL PERSPECTIVES
A permanent, public artwork by Olafur Eliasson on Mount Grawand. The artwork begins with a path leading along the mountain’s glacial-carved ridge for 410 metres. This path is divided by nine gates that are spaced at intervals corresponding in scale to the durations of Earth’s ice ages, marking thereby a deep-time timeline of our planet, of ice, and of the environment.

At the end of the path is a pavilion made from multiple steel and glass rings that contain a circular deck jutting out over the edge of Mount Grawand. Standing on the deck, the viewer can use the pavilion as an astronomical instrument by aligning her gaze with the surrounding rings, which track the apparent path of the sun in the sky on any given day.

The rings divide the year into equal time intervals: the top ring tracks the path of the sun on the summer solstice; the middle ring tracks the equinox; and the bottom ring, the winter solstice.

Each ring is itself split into rectangular glass panes that cover 15 arc minutes of the sun’s movement across the sky, making it possible for the viewer to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun.

On the outside of the pavilion, two parallel steel rings frame the horizon line, and the half-rings that support the structure indicate the north–south and east–west axes.

By marking the horizon, the cardinal directions, and the movement of the sun, the artwork directs the visitor’s attention to a larger planetary perspective on the changes in climate that are directly affecting Hochjochferner.

The glass panes of the sun-path are tinted in various shades of blue in reference to the cyanometer, a scale developed in the late eighteenth century for measuring the blueness of the sky. The coloured glass filters reflect light and solar radiation, behaving as a mini-atmosphere.

SAIL AWAY TO GARDA LAKE
Here in the Senales Valley, we’re surrounded by glaciers so large they hardly allow for giving thought to anything other than mountains, high-altitude air and seas of mountain summits.

But a southern breeze sometimes blows through the Senales Valley, reminding us that we are in situated in the north of Italy and that beautiful Lago di Garda is a mere three-hour drive away.

There on Lake Garda, an antique sailboat is moored in the harbor, swaying in the fresh water of Italy’s largest lake. The boat is a dinghy cruiser, once owned by none other than Thomas Mann.

Mann came to the Ulten Valley for medical treatment way back in 1901, and certainly also made trips to the Senales Valley. Of course, the sleek sailing boat is furnished with novels, novellas and stories written by its famous previous owner.

In fact, this boat is a real beauty that catches the eye of all. Built in 1950 out of oak and mahogany, it is 7.25 m in length, 2.5 m in width and employs gaff rigging with a 30 m² sail.

You will be accompanied by none other than our Paul Grüner as skipper. The day trip starts with collective departure from the Senales Valley and arrival in Malcesine. Lake Garda is 52 kilometers in length and 17 kilometers in width.

Due to its vast size, three Italian provinces share its administration. Trento in the north, Verona in the east and Brescia in the west. While the energy of the southern Alps can still be felt and seen on the northern shore, vineyards sprawl along the southern shore, yielding grapes for the ruby-red Bardolino and the white Soave wine.

When the boat is at full speed, the power of the surrounding mountain foothills is as palpable as the sailing wind in your hair. Once the sails are hoisted and the wind is favorable, the boat trip leads as far as the western shore of Lake Garda.

Rocky shores beaming with the force of nature, soft, tall pine trees and people strolling along the shores mingle in a gentle interplay of swaying waves and cloud patterns in the sky, provided there is a little cloud to be seen. A peaceful cradle, while all around everything seems to be in bustling motion. Balm for the soul.

The old sailor’s greeting “Good wind and always a hand’s breadth of water under the keel” also applies when you stay with us in Certose. Because when the spirit is open, more doors open.

Anyone who wants to experience the mountains and the lake in close company is welcome to register at our reception desk for a day’s sailing with a private skipper. A day of sailing excluding meals costs 350 euros and is, with undoubted guarantee, a memorable experience that will linger for a long time.

Website: www.goldenrose.it

Rooms: 29

Price: from 232 EUR per night