High-Class Holidays: Cultural Attractions at the Ritten/Renon
Cultural Sight-Seeing Attractions
St. Anthony's Church in Klobenstein/Collalbo: 17th Century. Like the Church of Maria Himmelfahrt / Maria Assunta, this church, too, was built in response to the demand of summertime tourists. Originally, the construction of this church was actually not going to be permitted because there was already the church in Lengmoos/Longomos just a few minutes away by foot. Consequently, the residents of Bozen/Bolzano addressed a petition to the courts in Ritten/Renon (in whose legal jurisdiction it was,) justifying the project as follows: "We desire the church in Klobenstein/Collalbo not only out of Christian zeal and to promote the praising of God, but also for our own consolation and use as well as for the sake of convenience, so that we can attend the Holy Mass more easily and more frequently during the summer months."
But actually, the reason for the construction of this church can be found in the fierce competition between the summertime vacationers in Klobenstein/Collalbo and the holiday tourists in Maria Himmelfahrt / Maria Assunta: The people in Klobenstein/Collalbo simply didn't want to lag behind their neighbors, who were also building a church.
Pastoral Church in Lengmoos/Longomos: The church is believed to have been built around 1220-1225. It is dedicated to the memory of the Ascension of Mary into Heaven. In the course of time, it underwent major architectural changes. Thus, in 1510, it was enlarged and remodeled in the Gothic style. The tower is not very high, and was probably built around the year 1300. It already displays signs of the approaching Gothic epoch, visible e.g. in the slightly pointed arched windows. This tower was not enlarged during the reconstruction of 1510, and so today is seems rather modest in size compared with the larger church of which it is a part.
The German Order Cloister in Lengmoos/Longomos dates back to the 13th Century. In the 1200's, hospitals (hostels) were being built all over the "Mountain Country." Thus, one was established in Lengmoos/Longomos, too. Its purpose was to serve the travelers crossing the mountains via the Ritten/Renon because the Eisack Valley / Val d'Isarco was not yet traversable. After the main thoroughfare was shifted to the valley in the 14th Century and the hospital thus diminished in importance, it was converted to a cloister belonging to the German Order.
St. Verena Church in Rotwand/Pietrarossa: This church was mentioned for the first time in a document in the year 1256. It is beautifully situated atop a glacier-polished rocky precipice. It is believed that this was once a cult sacrificial site, probably dating back to Celtic times.
On the Trail of Freud at the Ritten/Renon
"…The Ritten/Renon is divinely comfortable…" Sigmund Freud is quoted as saying during one of his stays in Klobenstein/Collalbo. The hiking trail between Klobenstein/Collalbo and Upper Bozen / Soprabolzano is called the "Freud Promenade" in honor of this genius of psychology of the 20th Century.
But what does it mean to stroll in the shadow of such a great personality? Taking a stroll stimulates the mind's creative powers and promotes the formation of lofty philosophical thoughts. So let's go on a hike! After a visit to the mountains, you'll feel like a new person. The mountains exert a quiet yet powerful force – it's up to us to discover its magic…
A pocketbook by Francesco Marchioro has been published on this topic (available for €9.oo at the Ritten/Renon Tourism Agency.)







