Naz-Sciaves
Naz-Sciaves (in German Natz-Schabs) is a municipality in South Tyrol set on a sunny plateau just north of Bressanone/Brixen, at th...
Updated 20 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Naz-Sciaves now
The story
The story of Naz-Sciaves
A sunny plateau above Bressanone
Naz-Sciaves lies on a scenic plateau overlooking the Bressanone basin, right where the Isarco valley meets the entrance to the Val Pusteria. This elevated position gives the municipality a mild, sunny climate, ideal conditions for both farming life and tourism in every season. The landscape is made up of gently cultivated slopes, small rural hamlets and scattered farmsteads, in a mosaic that alternates neat rows of apple trees with woods and hay meadows. Moving between the plateau's hamlets means discovering a calm far removed from the traffic of the valley floor, while still staying just minutes from Bressanone, a historic town and lively service hub. Naz-Sciaves thus represents a successful balance between traditional farming life and the convenience of a well-connected area, appreciated by those seeking a relaxing stay that is never isolated, with the chance to reach both mountain trails and the monuments of the episcopal town in a short time.
The spectacular apple blossom in spring
The most eagerly awaited moment of the year in Naz-Sciaves comes in spring, when the plateau's apple orchards are covered in a blanket of white and pink blossom. The apple blossom, which generally peaks between April and May, transforms the agricultural landscape into an almost fairy-tale scene and each year draws numerous visitors and hikers, as well as photographers seeking the most striking shots among the flowering rows. Walking or cycling through the orchards during this period means being immersed in an intense fragrance and an atmosphere of renewal, with the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites in the background completing the picture. Around this natural phenomenon a small calendar of events and celebrations dedicated to the blossom has also grown up, an opportunity to learn first-hand about the work of local fruit growers and the care the whole community devotes to this landscape, a genuine calling card for the plateau throughout the region.
Fruit growing and local produce: apples and turnips
Naz-Sciaves has always been an area devoted to fruit growing, with extensive apple orchards covering much of the plateau and forming one of the community's main economic resources. Apple cultivation, carried out using techniques handed down over generations and constantly updated, produces fruit prized for its quality and flavour, a symbol of South Tyrolean agriculture. Alongside apples, the local farming tradition preserves another characteristic crop: turnips, the basis of traditional dishes and the star of the Rapln festival, an event celebrating this simple yet distinctive product. Visiting Naz-Sciaves during harvest time makes it possible to observe the rhythm of the farming seasons up close, from orchards laden with fruit in autumn to carefully tended turnip fields. This rural vocation can also be felt on the plateau's farmsteads and small agricultural businesses, where genuine products tied directly to the local land can be discovered.
Lake Naz and the scenic trails
Among the plateau's best-loved spots is Lake Naz, a small body of water set amid the green of the surrounding meadows and woods. The place offers a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for a break along a walk or for a family stop, far from the busier pace of the nearby tourist valleys. Around the lake and across the whole Naz-Sciaves area a dense network of scenic trails unfolds, walkable or rideable by bike, linking farmsteads, clearings and viewpoints overlooking the plateau and the valley below. These routes, generally with gentle gradients, are well suited to family outings and allow visitors to leisurely discover the variety of the rural landscape, among orchards, conifer woods and small hamlets that still retain the traditional look of South Tyrolean mountain architecture.
Dolomite views, cycling routes and the surroundings of Bressanone
From the highest points of the Naz-Sciaves plateau the view opens onto a sweeping horizon, with the spires of the Odle and the Plose massif outlining the profile of the Dolomites to the east. The mild climate and the gentle shape of the terrain make the area particularly well suited to cycling, with a network of cycle paths linking the plateau to the valley floor and making it easy to reach Bressanone, just a few kilometres away. The town, with its Cathedral, frescoed cloisters and the lanes of its historic centre, is the natural complement to a stay in Naz-Sciaves, offering shops, restaurants and a rich calendar of cultural events. Nearby, the Val Pusteria and its side valleys also open up, making the plateau a convenient base for exploring an area that combines rural life, Dolomite panoramas and proximity to one of South Tyrol's most fascinating historic towns.
Not to be missed
- The apple blossom season on the Naz-Sciaves plateau between April and May
- A walk to Lake Naz and along the surrounding scenic trails
- The productive apple orchards and the local Rapln turnip festival
- The scenic viewpoints looking out onto the Odle peaks and the Plose massif
- A bike ride along the cycle path down to Bressanone and its historic centre
To see
What to see in Naz-Sciaves
Routes · Trovido Route
