St Peter's trail

The hike starts at the Altenburg Church above Kaltern. From here, a narrow yet easy-to-walk forest trail with a gentle incline leads to a panoramic viewpoint offering stunning views over the Adige Valley. The path is varied, passing through shady mixed forest – for some sections, a good head for heights is recommended.

At the viewpoint, turn left onto the St. Peter Trail and follow waymark no. 2. The trail winds downhill in serpentine curves through a small gorge and across a suspension bridge. Soon you’ll reach the ruins of the three-nave Church of St. Peter, an important relic of early Christian architecture. It is considered possibly the oldest church in Tyrol, believed to have been founded in the 6th century by Saint Vigilius of Trento. Fragments of frescoes by Thomas Egnolt from around 1400 are still visible – well worth a short stop.

From the ruins, the route continues toward the Rastenbach Gorge – an exciting highlight of the hike with dramatic views into the canyon. The trail descends into the gorge, where you enter at a junction and then follow it uphill. Sturdy footwear is essential here, as the stairs can be damp and slippery.

At the upper end of the gorge, you arrive at “Müllereck,” cross the road, and follow the trail to the left, leading back toward Altenburg. The return path takes you leisurely through meadows and forest until you arrive once again at the Altenburg Church – the starting point of this circular hike.