Plose

Photo: J.Ciszak/skionline.pl. Monte Plose (2,445 m), towering over the charming historic town of Brixen (Bressanone), is probably the biggest viewing platform in South Tyrol. When you reach the summit, be ready for an extraordinary sight: a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Dolomites, the Alps and the Isarco Valley. The resort's signature run is "Trametsch", the longest piste in Tyrol, 9 km long with a 1,400 m vertical drop. It is a real challenge for anyone who forgot to get fit for winter. The run starts with a red section, at the end of which a new chairlift was installed two years ago. So if your legs give up, instead of carrying on down the legendary piste you can ride comfortably back up. Carry on down and the red run turns black, quite narrow in places, so you need to take care, especially on the tight bends. You return to the top by gondola, where very wide pistes await, suitable for beginners too. The only drawback is the frequent wind, which buffets skiers and strips snow from the slopes (parts of the pistes can be icy). Besides skiing, you can also go tobogganing on Monte Plose: right next to the Rossalm mountain hut there are 5 toboggan runs. On one of them, Lüsen/Petschied (800 m), you can also sledge after dark once a week. The run is floodlit on Wednesdays and can be used from 19:00 to 22:00. As an alternative evening activity, we recommend a visit to Aquarena, a modern water park, or a stroll through the streets of charming Brixen. The town lies at the confluence of the Eisack and the Renz, and it has some real architectural gems: old residences, historic churches, a cathedral, a monastery with Gothic frescoes and the "Hofburg", the former bishop's residence, which now houses the diocesan museum.