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Up until the second half of the 20th century, the Pension Astoria was one of three mills; a tanning mill and a grain mill in the village of Prad on the Stilfserjoch.Many farmers in the area brought their grains here to be ground. With lessand less grain being planted and less cultivated land the mill became superfluous and so the family Rungg looked for a new purpose for the old building. They remembered the local population in southern Tyrol´s virtue of hospitality and decided to open a small guesthouse. In 1974 they opened with just four guestrooms and continued to build so that newrooms and a small holiday house were added nearly every year.
During the 90´s the guesthouse underwent extensive reconstruction. Thecentre wing, where today the reception is located, was enlarged. In spite of the loving care and maintenance the building needed repairs and had to be adapted to today´s standards to enable visitors to relax and feel well. At the present time, we have sixteen rooms and can accommodate up to forty guests.
The guesthouse is located in the picturesque community of “Prad am Stilfserjoch”, population 3,000, at the beginning of the world famouspanorama highway leading to the Stilfserjoch. Situated in the heart of the apply valley, “Apfeltal Vinschgau” in the western part of South Tyrol, the village is part of the “Stilfserjoch National Park”; the largest in Italy.
The Vinschgau has the least rainfall in South Tyrol and is part of the driest area in the whole of the Alps. The number of sunny days is considerable and the climate is particularlay mild.
Not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter. You can read the current temperature in the box on the side.
Further useful weather information about southern Tyrol (in German language).
Boredom is a word that hardly appears in the Vinschgau vocabulary. The range of cultural activities and sports is too varied. During the summer you can explore the area using the many walking paths and hiking routes, someof which start from our guesthouse. Hikes (in German language) at all difficulty levels and degrees, some leading to thesurrounding mountain peaks, are on hand.
Accompanied by a guide, high alpine tours to the highest mountain in the southern Alps, the Ortler, may be booked. Most of the paths are, naturally, also excellent for good, long mountainbike rides.If you prefer something less strenuous, a cycle-ride along the banks of the river Etsch as far as Meran and returning on the modern Vinschgau train with its large panorama windows, watching the apple-farmers at work, may be more your kind of thing.
All the big train stations rent out bicycles so youneedn´t bring your own.The popular Cycle Day takes place every year in the summer on the Stilfserjoch. The whole road is closed off to motorised vehicles.
Swimming, tennis, canoeing, water- and dew-treading in the morning, to mention a few other activities, are all on offer in and around Prad.
Motorbike fans get their fair share too. There are many opportunities for day trips through the alpine passes of southern Tyrol, Switzerland, Austria and the rest of the neighbouring areas.
Winter brings with it a load of other sporting activities. A link to the Ortler area ascent- facilities is nearby. Prad has its own Wintersportpark since a few years, with a small ski-lift, a toboggan run and a cross-country run. Distances to the ski resorts:
Trafoi Sulden Watles St. Valentin Reschen/Resia Nauders (A)
The cultural side of Prad isn´t any less than the sporting side. Traditional “Schuhplatteln” and other local customs that have survived the centuries, such as “Zusselrennen” during the carnival week-end (the week-end before lent) just to mention a few. You could also watch a farmer´s wife baking bread or take part in a wine-tasting trip at a local Vinschgauer vineyard.
The museums are also worth a visit. Aquaprad, 200 metres from theguesthouse, explains and gives insights into fresh-water-life. It is one of three nearby, in the national park. The Churburg, a remarkably well kept castle from the middle ages, in the neighbouring Schluderns, is an exciting day trip, particularly for children. It not only shows life in a castle during the middle ages but also has the largest private collection of armour and weapons of the times in central Europe. During the summer in the fields around Schluderns, a large Knights-in-armour spectacle takes place.
Churches and other religious buildings such as the Marienberg Cloister are in the area and can easily be visited. A relic from the second world war are the many defences in the nearby three-country-triangle,Italy-Austria-Switzerland. For further information about the defences click here (in German language).
Prad and surrounding area [ click here ] Größe: 2,2 MB Map of walks [ click here ] Größe: 1,0 MB Map of ski runs [ click here ] Größe: 0,1 MB
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