Algund and the Meran High Alpine Route

Algund is a cosy village nestled between orchards and vineyards, very close to Meran. But Algund is much more than that, as Algund native and successful snowboarder Omar Visintin showed us.

**Village centre of Algund**
View from above over the centre of Algund
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Omar often runs here, accompanied by his dog, on the Algund Waalweg trail or is out with his mountain bike - in the countryside and also on the Algund pump track. He can also be found skateboarding, paragliding and bouldering. On this warm and sunny July day, Omar takes us to the Leiter Alm and along the Meran High Alpine Route.

A Algund sports star shows us his homeland

Omar Visintin, who won two medals in snowboard cross at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (a bronze in the individual event and a silver in the team event), was born in Algund. Just by talking to the friendly South Tyrolean athlete, one realises that Algund covers a wide range of altitudes. From the lowest point at 300 metres, the municipal area extends up to 2,600 metres. No wonder the 34-year-old loves to train in this varied landscape of mountains and valleys.

**Path under grapevines in Algund**
Omar Visintin on his way from the village centre in Algund to the chairlift in Mitterplars.
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**Chairlift from Mitterplars to Vellau**
The chairlift up to Vellau glides over vineyards, apple orchards and woods.
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2 lifts with a history

After a pleasant walk with Omar through the centre of Algund, we reach the valley station of the Mitterplar schairlift (where there is also a large car park). The single chairlift, built in 1957, has a nostalgic charm and takes us safely to Vellau, at an altitude of 980 metres, in about 10 minutes: we glide past vineyards, apple trees and forests. In Vellau we switch to the Gondola basket lift, which, like the chair lift, belongs to Gasthaus Gasteiger and has served us faithfully for 67 years. In the green baskets there is room for a maximum of 2 people: we enjoy the approx. 15-minute ascent with a standing view, and from the mountain station it is only a 5-minute walk to the Leiter Alm, which is located at an altitude of 1,550 metres on the Meran High Alpine Route (trail no. 24) and the Nature Park Texel Group.

**Omar Visintin in the gondola basket lift**
The uphill ride up from Vellau to the Leiter Alm takes about 15 minutes.
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2 deckchairs in hiking paradise

On the short road between the mountain station and the Leiter Alm, however, we make a stop: Omar shows us a very special vantage point with two huge wooden deck chairs and a breathtaking view. We really feel like royalty in this dreamlike place: free, light and far away from everyday things and thoughts. Happy, we take the last few steps up to the alpine pasture. As it is still a little too early for lunch, we want to walk some more.

**The 2 throne chairs at the Meran high alpine route**
A great viewing point between the mountain station of the gondola basket lift and the Leiter Alm.
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**Leiter Alm/Meran high alpine route**
View from above of the Leiter Alm at the Meran high alpine route.
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As the Meran High Alpine Route passes right in front of the Leiter Alm in Algund, there is a wide choice of hikes here: in one direction, hikers can walk the Hans-Frieden Path, a popular section of the Meran High Alpine Route, in the direction of the Steinegg inn and the Hochmut mountain station (approx. 40 minutes' walk). Alternatively, it is also possible to walk the Meran High Alpine Route in the opposite direction and reach the Hochganghaus in just under 1.5 hours. Other interesting destinations such as the Rötelspitze in Algunder or the Spronser Seen lakes await the more experienced hikers. Today we are not so ambitious and only walk a short section of the Hans-Frieden trail. But even on this short stretch we can enjoy wide views, although we must be careful where we put our feet.

**Hans Frieden Trail**
The Hans Frieden Trail is a popular section of the Meran high alpine route.
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**Lizard**
Lizards like to climb on rocks warmed by the sun.
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**Terrace of the Leiter Alm**
The Leiter Alm is a popular refreshment stop at the Texelgruppe Nature Park.
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Culinary delights at the Leiter Alm

The exercise in the mountain air makes us hungry, so we pick up the pace on the way back and don't get distracted: we have already admired the lizards, the flowers and the view on the way up.

On the beautiful terrace of the Leiter Alm, Karl Innerhofer, the owner of the hut, welcomes us: together with his team of nine, he runs the hut with 80 seats, a playground and a lively flock of chickens and geese.

**Cheese dumplings with bacon and cabbage salad**
Dumplings in different variations are a South Tyrolean speciality.
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With such a tempting choice on the menu, it is not easy for us to decide, but in the end Omar chooses the dish of the day: noodles with fresh chanterelles and I opt for the cheese dumplings with sauerkraut salad and bacon. The pasta and the 'Kasknedl' taste excellent!

Unfortunately we have no more room in our bellies for Kaiserschmarrn, a speciality of the house. But perhaps we will return to the malga in the autumn. Then, with a bit of luck, we will be able to try two special variations of dumplings: Karl collects and dries spruce needles and nettles, and the kitchen team uses them to prepare delicious spruce and nettle dumplings.

Choice between lift and hiking Trail

On this day we choose the quick and easy option and take the chairlift and basket lift, not only for the ascent but also for the descent. This has the advantage that we can end this sunny summer day with a refreshing drink in Algund together with Omar. If you would like to cover more kilometres and metres of altitude difference on foot, you can walk directly from Algund, e.g. via path no. 25, to the Leiter Alm without the aid of a cable car and only use the cable car for the descent - or vice versa.

**Alpine meadow near the Leiter Alm**
Hikers can start various tours from the Leiter Alm.
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**View of the Etschtal valley**
The mountains above Algund offer many beautiful viewpoints.
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Or you can take the chairlift up to Vellau, but do not take the Gondola basket lift, but instead follow the Vellauer Felsenweg (no. 22) to the Hochmuth mountain station and from there (see above) via the Hans-Frieden Path to the Leiter Alm. But be careful: the Vellauer Felsenweg begins very gently near the Vellau church, but higher up, particularly exposed sections are secured with wire ropes and steel chains, as the trail descends steeply right next to the narrow path. Are you sure-footed and not afraid of heights? Then you should not miss the magnificent panorama: the Vellauer Felsenweg is especially recommended in autumn.

If you've now got a taste for Algund and the Texelgruppe Nature Park - Algund not only has plenty of great hiking routes and inviting places to stop for refreshments, but also hospitable accommodation.

**Walking around Algund and the Meran High Alpine Route**
Omar Visentin shows us his home village of Algund with the Leiter Alm at the Meran High Alpine Route.
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Text: Silvia
Fotos & Video: Adam

We are a colourful mix of nature-loving, adventurous and creative editors. All based in South Tyrol, we share the love of writing and photography, the mountains and culture. Our passion is to constantly discover new stories about the land and its people, about identity and tradition, about South Tyrol's quiet places and thousand faces. With our texts and pictures, we want to show you the beauty of this contrasting region and arise your curiosity. But above all, we want one thing: to inspire you to travel.