Hotels in Ritten - Renon

Ritten — Renon: South Tyrol's High Plateau Above Bolzano

Ritten (German) / Renon (Italian) is a high plateau municipality in South Tyrol, rising to 1,200–2,260 m above sea level directly above Bolzano. The plateau is best known for the Erdpyramiden — tall earth and clay pillars capped with boulders, formed by glacial erosion and concentrated near Longomoso and Collalbo. These geological formations, some exceeding 15 m in height, are unique in the Eastern Alps and draw geologists and hikers throughout the season.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Accommodation clusters in the villages of Collalbo (Klobenstein), Soprabolzano (Oberbozen), and Auna di Sotto (Unterinn). The Rittner Bahn, a narrow-gauge electric railway operating since 1907, connects Soprabolzano to Collalbo in under 30 minutes and remains one of the oldest mountain railways in the Alps. A cable car links Bolzano city centre to Soprabolzano in 12 minutes, making the plateau accessible without a car.

Practical Tips

• Season: Plateau trails are clear from May to October; ski trails at Monte Corno open in December.
• Getting there: Cable car from Bolzano's Via Renon departs every 4 minutes during peak hours.
• Pack layers: Temperatures on the plateau run 8–10 °C cooler than Bolzano in summer.
• Language: German and Italian are both official; most signage is bilingual.