In many sectors Ahrntal/Valle Aurina keeps up with the times. Anyway the inhabitants of South Tyrol’s northernmost valley treasure the preservation of tradition. A particular beautiful form of old handcraft is the bobbin, that women in
Prettau/Predoi have been carried out for more than a hundred years and pass it on to the next generation. During the summer months there are classes and exhibitions that introduce in the art of bobbing. With this handcraft work women gained an extra income as in 1893 the
mine in
Prettau/Predoi had to close and many men were left without a job. In the
gallery of
Prettau/Predoi the visitor can discover how hard the work was. Since 2000 the “
grain box”, the old food store of the
mine in
Steinhaus/Cadipietra, has become a mine museum where visitors can study gallery cards, books, documents and finds from the mine; the most famous minerals in the Eastern Alps you can admire at the
mineralienmuseum in the locality St. Johann.
Sheep wool processing, „Almabtrieb“, ski nostalgia
In Ahrntal/Valle Aurina the wood carving is a treasured tradition. Next to the
crib museum Maranatha in
Luttach/Luttago is the atelier of the young wood crafter Lukas Troi. Who wants to can observe him doing his work.
In her manufacture in
Kematen/Caminata Helene Brusa shows all the products made of sheep wool. Guided visits take place every Tuesday.
Bands and folkloristic dance groups show their skills in
festive occasions.
Visitors will experience tradition at its best during the „
Almabtrieb“ in autumn., i.e. in
Rein in Taufers/Riva di Tures. The return from the
pastures with their cattle, ahead the decorated cow.
Another custom the Tauferer Ahrntal ist the incubus procession, where the incubus are not really acting he gehört der Umzug der Krampusse, die nicht gerade zimperlich vorgehen. In other regions the incubus is known as Knecht Ruprecht..
The first January little children go from house to house and wish a happy New Year (Neujahrsschreien). They are rewarded with sweets.
The participants of the nostalgic ski race go on a time journey. In January in Sand in Taufers/Campo Tures they race down the slope with wooden skis and old clothes – as their grandfathers once did.