General description
The Brandis Waalweg promenade links Lana and Niederlana with an easy walk through the gently shaped cultural landscape of the region Lana. At around 2.5 km in length, with just 30 metres of ascent, the route takes about 50 minutes and is well suited to families with pushchairs.
The path leads through chestnut groves, vineyards and apple orchards, opening up lovely views over Lana and the surrounding valley landscape. On summer afternoons, several shaded stretches make the walk especially pleasant.
Waalwege, the historic irrigation paths of South Tyrol, reflect a close connection between people and landscape. They once allowed the water keepers to inspect and maintain the channels that brought water to meadows and fields. Along the Brandis Waalweg promenade, however, the watercourse runs mostly underground. That means you neither see nor hear water along the route – an important difference from many other waal paths.
What makes this route especially appealing is the way nature and culture meet along the way. The walk passes by, or close to, important sights such as the parish church of Niederlana with its famous Schnatterpeck altar and the South Tyrolean Museum of Fruit Cultivation. At the end, the Brandis waterfall adds a refreshing final highlight.
The route can be enjoyed all year round. One short steep section of about 20 metres above the parish church of Niederlana may be difficult for wheelchair users. For anyone wishing to round off the walk with a break, the Waalrast in Niederlana is a pleasant place to stop.
Route description
The walk starts in the Gampenstraße road Lana and follows the Brandis Waalweg promenade towards Niederlana.
At first, the path leads gently through a well-kept cultural landscape of orchards, vineyards and chestnut groves. The route is easy, mostly flat and ideal for a relaxed walk.
Important to know: the Brandis-Waalweg has no AVS signposting and none of the classic red-and-white trail markings. Instead, follow the dark green signs of the municipality of Lana along the route.
Continuing towards Niederlana, the Brandis-Waalweg repeatedly opens up views over the village and the surrounding landscape. One of its special features is that the water flows underground, so there is no visible or audible water along the route.
Further on, the walk reaches the area of several cultural sights, including St Margaret’s Church, the parish church of Niederlana with the Schnatterpeck altar, and the South Tyrolean Museum of Fruit Cultivation.
Above the parish church of Niederlana, there is a short steep section of around 20 metres. This stretch may be demanding for people with reduced mobility, for those who have difficulty walking, and in some cases also with pushchairs.
At the end of the route, the Brandis waterfall marks the final destination. From here, Niederlana is easy to reach on foot, and Restaurant Waalrast offers a good place to stop.
Description to arrive at destination
From Merano or from Bolzano to Lana.
Parking
Several paid parking options are available in Lana: Gampen car park P4, Länd car park P1 or Hofmann Passage car park P2. The access point to the Brandis-Waalweg is located just above car park P4.
Public transport
The access point to the Brandis-Waalweg is easy to reach by public transport.
For the fastest connection, please enter one of the following stops at www.suedtirolmobil.info:
Lana, Rathaus
Lana, Gampenparkplatz
Lana, Ländgasse
Equipment
No special equipment is needed; the route is also well suited to light footwear.