Parcines
Parcines (Partschins in tedesco) è un comune dell'Alto Adige situato alle porte di Merano, proprio dove la Val Venosta comincia ad...
Mis à jour le 17 juillet 2026
En cette saison · Juillet · Été
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L'histoire de Parcines
A municipality at the gates of Merano
Parcines lies just a few kilometres from Merano, at the very start of the Val Venosta (Vinschgau), on the sunny side of the Adige valley. Its strategic position makes it a convenient reference point both for visitors exploring Merano and its surroundings, and for those heading toward the upper Val Venosta and the border with Switzerland and Austria. Besides the main village, the municipality includes the hamlets of Rablà and Tell, small settlements that preserve the typical rural atmosphere of South Tyrol. The mild climate, favoured by the sun exposure and the shelter of the surrounding mountains, has allowed a thriving cultivation of apple orchards and vineyards, so much so that the whole area is known as one of the most suited regions for fruit growing in South Tyrol. Strolling through the village streets, one breathes an authentic atmosphere made of historic farmhouses, old churches and a close relationship with the land, alongside a well organised tourist offer designed to welcome visitors all year round.
The Parcines Waterfall (Partschinser Wasserfall)
The most celebrated natural landmark of Parcines is undoubtedly its waterfall, one of the highest and most spectacular in the entire Alpine arc, with a total drop of about 97 metres. Fed by glaciers and mountain streams, the water plunges with great force in a single dramatic fall, creating a striking visual and acoustic effect, especially impressive in spring and summer when the flow is at its peak. The waterfall can be reached via a well marked trail that starts from the village and leads to the base of the fall, along a route accessible to different age groups and fitness levels. Along the way, the path crosses woods and clearings offering panoramic views over the valley below. Over the years the site has become one of the most visited hiking destinations near Merano, appreciated both by those looking for a short walk and by those including it as a stage of longer itineraries toward the Alta Via di Merano.
Peter Mitterhofer and the Typewriter Museum
Parcines is the birthplace of Peter Mitterhofer, a nineteenth century carpenter and inventor regarded as one of the pioneers in the development of the typewriter. With ingenuity and often improvised materials, Mitterhofer built several typewriter prototypes, carrying his ideas as far as Vienna in an attempt to gain the support of the imperial authorities for their industrial production. His story, made of determination and artisanal creativity, is told today in the village's Typewriter Museum, a small but valuable exhibition space dedicated to his figure and to the evolution of this instrument that changed the way the world writes and communicates. The museum houses reproductions and historical testimonies, offering visitors a curious glimpse into a lesser known but fascinating chapter of the history of technology, rooted right in this corner of South Tyrol. A visit is an original opportunity to discover an unexpected side of local culture, beyond the natural landscapes alone.
Orchards, vineyards and the Waalwege paths
The agricultural landscape of Parcines is dominated by extensive apple orchards and vineyards cultivated on the sunny slopes, the expression of a long farming tradition that has adapted skilfully to the characteristics of the land. For centuries, the scarcity of water on the sunny side of the valley made it necessary to build artificial irrigation channels, known locally as Waal, which carried water from mountain streams down to the cultivated fields. The paths running alongside these channels, the Waalwege, were once working routes for the farmers responsible for their maintenance; today they have become gentle, panoramic hiking trails, much appreciated for their easy gradient and for the scenery they cross, among rows of vines, blossoming orchards and views over the valley. Walking them means immersing oneself in a carefully tended rural landscape, understanding the centuries-old relationship between people and water in this part of South Tyrol, and discovering small farmsteads and refreshment stops along the way.
The Alta Via di Merano, the Gruppo di Tessa and the surroundings
From Parcines starts one of the stretches of the Alta Via di Merano (Meraner Höhenweg), a long circular hiking route that runs at mid altitude along the slopes surrounding the Merano basin, touching farmsteads, alpine pastures and mountain huts. The route leads toward the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park, a protected area of great natural value that preserves pristine alpine environments, from the forest belt up to high altitude meadows and rocky peaks. Walking along these trails one encounters views ranging from the Val Venosta to the town of Merano, with glimpses of the Rhaetian Alps and the peaks bordering the Adige valley. The combination of the valley floor, devoted to fruit and wine growing, and the mountain, with its huts and long distance trails, makes Parcines an ideal starting point both for day hikes and for longer stays dedicated to trekking, in a setting that combines wild nature and rural landscape just steps from Merano.
Not to be missed
- The Parcines Waterfall (Partschinser Wasserfall), with a drop of about 97 metres
- The Typewriter Museum dedicated to Peter Mitterhofer
- The irrigation-channel paths (Waalwege) among orchards and vineyards
- A stretch of the Alta Via di Merano toward the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park
- The hamlets of Rablà and Tell, with historic farmsteads and rural landscape
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