Laion
Laion, known in German as Lajen, is a municipality in South Tyrol perched on a sun-drenched terrace at the entrance to Val Gardena...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Laion now
The story
The story of Laion
Laion, the village at the gateway to Val Gardena
The territory of Laion lies exactly at the point where Val Gardena, the Ladin valley of the Dolomites, branches off from the Valle Isarco and begins to climb toward Ortisei and the better-known resorts of South Tyrol. This hinge position has made the village, since ancient times, both a place of passage and a quiet refuge, far from the traffic of the main valleys yet only minutes by car from both. The centre of Laion, with its parish church and houses gathered around the square, looks out over a sunny slope that gently slopes down toward the valley floor, while the hamlets of Ceves and St. Peter, scattered among meadows and woods, preserve the village's most authentic atmosphere. From here, mountain roads and footpaths connect Laion to both the Ladin world of Val Gardena and the Valle Isarco, making it a convenient starting point for exploring two different worlds in a single holiday.
A natural balcony over the Dolomites
What strikes anyone arriving in Laion is the sheer breadth of the panorama that opens up from its sunny terrace. To the south rise the spires of Sassolungo, one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the Dolomites, while to the east the Odle group draws a crown of pale towers dominating the upper Val Gardena. Not far away, the summit pastures of Sciliar close the horizon with their unmistakable profile, made famous by mountain painting and photography alike. From Laion these three Dolomite groups can be admired without climbing to altitude, simply by strolling among the farms and meadows around the village, or sitting at an outdoor table on a clear day. Morning and sunset light give the rock ever-changing shades, a phenomenon known here, as throughout the region, as enrosadira, which makes every visit, in every season, a fresh visual experience.
Luis Trenker, Laion's illustrious son
Laion has a special connection to Luis Trenker, born in the village and later one of the best-known figures in twentieth-century alpine culture. A mountaineer of great skill, Trenker was among the protagonists of the golden age of Dolomite climbing, before establishing himself as an actor and film director, bringing mountain stories to the screen that helped spread the image of the Dolomites and alpine life around the world. His figure remains a source of pride for Laion today, remembered as one of the village's most celebrated sons, proof that a small mountain village can produce a career spanning mountaineering, cinema and storytelling. Walking among the houses of the village and the farms of its hamlets, references to his story are not hard to find, a thread linking the everyday farming life of Laion to the wider narrative of the mountains told on film.
Farms, vines and farming tradition
Beyond its panorama and cinematic fame, Laion remains first and foremost a village of farming work. Mountain farms, often passed down through generations, dot the sunny slopes around the village centre and the hamlets of Ceves and St. Peter, alternating hay meadows, small rows of vines and orchards that benefit from the favourable exposure of the terrace on which the village stands. Grape growing, although not comparable in scale to that of the nearby Valle Isarco, has always been part of the local agricultural landscape, alongside livestock farming and the production of milk and mountain-hut cheeses. This farming vocation can still be felt today when walking among the farms, many of which offer hospitality or sell their produce directly, keeping alive a direct relationship between those who work the land and those who visit Laion, a balance the village has managed to preserve despite its proximity to far busier tourist destinations.
Holidays and hiking between Ortisei and the Alpe di Siusi
Thanks to its location, Laion is an ideal base for those seeking a quiet holiday while staying close to the area's major resorts. Ortisei, the tourism heart of Val Gardena, is just minutes away and serves as a starting point for lifts, well-equipped trails and the livelier atmosphere of the Ladin villages. Heading up instead toward the Alpe di Siusi, the famous plateau at the foot of Sciliar, kilometres of high-altitude meadows open up, ideal for walks, more demanding hikes and, in winter, cross-country and downhill skiing. Laion itself offers a network of quieter paths, suited to those who prefer short walks among farms and woods, with stops at farmhouse inns and small refuges. This combination of village tranquillity and closeness to the major destinations of Val Gardena makes Laion a versatile base, able to satisfy both those looking to relax and those wanting to experience the Dolomites more actively.
Not to be missed
- Panoramic walk from Laion toward Ceves and St. Peter, with views of Sassolungo, Odle and Sciliar
- Village centre with its parish church and the historic farms of the hamlets
- Places linked to the memory of Luis Trenker, the mountaineer, actor and director born in Laion
- A trip to Ortisei and the lifts of Val Gardena
- Ascent to the Alpe di Siusi for summer walks or cross-country and downhill skiing in winter
To see
What to see in Laion
Routes · Trovido Route
