Monte Bondone and Viote near Trento

Here's the revised version with some new pictures from our second trip to Viote.
One late autumn afternoon we decided to go to Viote on Monte Bondone because I've read somewhere about the newly opened and a bit unusual woodland playground in Viote. We absolutely loved not just the playground but the whole area. It's so near to where we live and yet we have never explored it properly.It must be one of Trento's best kept secrets because if you want to look it up online you won't find anything noteworthy for what to do there during the summer months. It's such a shame because clearly there are plenty of paths in the area. And the view of the nearby Brenta mountains is simply breathtaking.

Monte Bondone dominates Trento and if we look out of our window it's right there in front of us. Still, it took us half an hour to get there because you have to go from Trento which lies at 190m above the sea level  to Viote  at 1566 m (Centro Fondo of Viote).

We passed through Candriai, Vaneze, Norge and Vason and finally we got to Viote. All the little villages looked deserted but in winter when it really gets busy with skiers we had to drive around for half an hour to find a place to park. Viote lies in a vast flat area surrounded by the mountains. We've seen lots of gentle paths for walking and mountain bike so probably suitable even for strollers. Some of the paths have very nice names like for example il sentiero di fieno or the path of hay/ the hay path. Unfortunately we haven't had time to explore it all so we'll have to go back there. What we managed to do was a short walk following a path from the side of the climbing frames. We did a circle and came back to where we started from. It was a very gentle walk, definitely suitable for buggies. Mind though that it was quite cold (+9 C when in Trento it was +19 C at the time).

We ate at a nearby Rifugio Viote. It was very busy and we had to wait. But the stuff were nice and they apologised to us for making us wait. We had some tea and cakes (Apple strudel and Sachertorte). The tea came in small cups and although we ordered 2 different teas we had only 1 pot of  hot water so it wasn't possible to brew our tea properly. Well, it's not South Tyrol. They are not used to drinking tea in Trentino so don't expect a good cuppa. :)I had a look at the menu: they have simple traditional offerings. I saw many locals there so it the food must be enjoyable.

We also visited the Botanical Gardens which are right opposite to the Rifugio Viote. The entrance is free, kids liked the lake and the information signs about birds in Trentino, unfortunately only in Italian.

Botanical Gardens at Viote, Rifugio Viote in the far background.

Botanical Gardens at Viote

One of many path suggestions we found at Centro Fondo at Viote.

This is on the picturesque way from Vason to Viote, suitable for strollers as well.

Information stand on the way from Vason to Viote.

Our children loved the new playground. It's within a woodland area, with lots of wooden climbing frames, 2 very long slides, a very shallow water stream, stepping stones and water games, plenty for your children's imagination.We were also lucky to see some deer nearby and on our way home a fox crossed the road! From there we walked back to Centro Fondo at Viote (cross-country skiing) where our children played at another smaller playground and watched a flock of sheep nearby. One thing should be noted,though, the playground is not suitable for the under 3s. The climbing frames are very big and there are no swings for toddlers.

The smaller playground at the Centro Fondo at Viote.

Duration: it could be just 2 hours, half a day or whole day, there are Malghe nearby (for example Rifugio Viote), you would have to check the opening times though.

Level: easy, suitable for strollers.

How to get there:

By car:
From Trento follow the indications for Monte Bondone (SS45bis). You will have 2 choices: either passing through Sardagna or through Sopramonte. I prefer the latter one because the road is less bendy. Go up, up, up until you get to Viote Centro Fondo, turn right when you see a sign for Rifugio Viote. We parked our car at the empty car park which, judging from the bar and a little hut, you most likely have to pay for during busy periods. This car park is right next to the woodland playground.

By bus:

Bus nr 202 that takes you to Vason and Viote (link to the website with the timetable, only in Italian)

Toilets and refreshments:the closest one is Rifugio Viote next to the playground.

Useful websites: 

http://www.apt.tn.it/en/Sport_and_recreation/Trekking_and_excursions/Nature_walks/Nature_walks.htm

http://www.mtsn.tn.it/eventi/2010/eventi_calend_giardinoviotte_estate2010.asp 

The website of the Botanical Gardens at Viote, unfortunately only in Italian for now. The gardens are open in June and September  between 9am-12pm and 2pm-5pm, and in July and August between 9am-12pm and 2pm-6pm. (Info: tel. 0461/948050, bookings: 0461/270311)

The return of the cattle from the mountain pastures in Ruffre'

If you are around here in September (usually the second weekend of September) then I strongly recommend a trip to Ruffre' to see the return of the cattle from the mountain pastures to the valley for the winter. (in dialect: la desmalgiada or la desmontegada, depending where you are). 

It usually starts at 9 o'clock in the morning up in the mountains from where you all go down together back to Ruffre'. I've never done the morning bit but last year I went there in the afternoon. We got there around 3 o'clock, just when the cattle was entering Ruffre'. It was very cheerful and noisy, with those characteristic cow bells making all the noise. The boys and girls accompanying the cattle were all dressed in traditional clothes and all the town was decorated with flowers. We joined the "parade" and walked about 10 mins into the town centre. There we watched the demonstration of how people used to work in the fields in the past, we admired the local produce and the work of local craftsmen and women.We also tried some traditional food (strauben and the like) at the nearby stalls. Because it's so near to the border with South Tyro,l the locals wore Lederhosen and the traditional oompah band was playing, all adding extra something to the festive atmosphere.

How to get there:

There are several opions to get there by car depending if you want to take the highway or not.
From Trento we took SS12 towards Bolzano, took the Bolzano exit and then took the  SS43 towards Tassullo, Sanzeno and then finally Ruffre'.


Duration: you could make it a whole day trip or half a day.

Level: easy for the parade in town, not sure about the whole day option


Refreshments and toilet facilities: bars in Ruffre'


Useful websites:

Unfortunately the links I've found to the website of Ruffre where this event is mentioned, are only in Italian. Nevertheless I'll post it here for the sake of checking the date in the future.
http://www.comune.ruffre.tn.it/turismo/eventi.asp


http://www.tr3ntino.it/en/trentinos-holiday-areas/valle-di-non/ruffre.html 

Tuffalm/Malga Tuff and the Lake of Fie'/ Voelser Weiher

Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff and the lake of Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar lie in the breathtaking and beautiful Seiser Alm Nature Park/ Scillar Nature Park. You will be spoilt by a choice of many  hiking paths for every family. It's our favourite destination both, in summer and in winter. There are many things to do on offer. In summer you can go walking or pony riding or relax near the lake where you can go for a swim. In winter the lake becomes an ice-skating place, or you can go up to Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff from where you can get the sledges to go down back to the lake of Fie'/ Voelser Weiher. You will find that all the paths are well maintained even in winter and good walking boots will suffice.

Malga Tuff

We usually leave our car at the car park near the lake of Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar at 1.036m (last time we've been there it cost 3 euros per day). From there we first walk to the lake and have lunch at the restaurant Voelser Weiher. In summer you can swim here, have an ice cream or rent a boat (4 euros for half an hour or 6 euros for one hour). Opposite the restaurant there is another little house with a jetty where you can swim or try the nearby Kneipp footbath (it's something you often see in hotel spas; a walk on little stones with jets of cold water). From the lake we follow the path to the Tuffalm at 1.207m and we pass be the second, bigger lake.

Kneipp footbath near the lake

The restaurant near the lake

You will have a choice of two paths. An easy one, suitable even for a pushchair (although the path obviously goes gently upwards) or a slightly shorter path but more difficult as it's steeper. The easy path is basically a bridleway and it takes about 1h 15 mins, the more difficult path is a path through the forest and it takes 45 mins, follow the signs for Wanderweg .Nr1. In summer Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff offers horse carriage rides up to the refuge (the cost is 30 euros).
Tuffalm is also  within an easy walk from Kastelruth/Castelrotto (about 2 hrs 30 mins) and from Seis am Schlern/ Siusi allo Scillar (about 2 hours).

The second lake whre you can go around for a walk

The paths are well signposted

Once there you will have a splendid panorama view of the surrounding mountains, you may stop for tea and some cakes and your children will find a nice but simple playground and a mini zoo. Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff  was voted the most beautiful refuge by the Dolomiten magazine in 2007.

The animals at Malga Tuff

The playground at Malga Tuff

The carriage

One of many delicious desserts

Beware of the fact that Tuffalm is open from the beginning of May until the beginning of November and from the 26 of December until the beginning of March. For more information visit their website below, although it's only in German and Italian for the time being.

How to get there:

From Trento take the A22 towards Brennero, take the exit Bolzano Nord/Bozen Nord towards SS12, then turn into SP24 towards Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar. Park at the car park near the lake where you will find the Nature Park info point as well.

Duration: it depends on you, from half a day to a whole day trip.


Level: easy, suitable for a buggy


Refreshments and toilet facilities: the restaurant near the lake and Tuffalm.

Useful websites:

Here you'll find lists of events, other hiking paths suggestions etc.


http://www.pitschlmann.it/tuffalm/

http://www.seiser-alm.it/en/mountains-and-hiking/from-the-pond-of-fie-up-the-sciliar-mountain.html 

http://www.voels-am-schlern.com/