The idyllic village of Ridnaun / Ridanna with its 850 inhabitants is part of the Three Valleys community of Ratschings / Racines. At an elevation of about 1,340 meters above sea level, Ridnaun / Ridanna is situated in a gentle valley and surrounded by the mountains of the Stubai Alps. Here near the main ridge of the Alps, you can already feel the influence of the mild Mediterranean climate. The fresh, crisp mountain air carries the scent of the South itself. Here you will find relaxation and rest. Here both body and soul can relax and regenerate themselves.
The excellent infrastructure and the wide variety of things to do are what make your holidays great and ensure that you're never bored. Immerse yourself in the wonderful mountain scenery, enjoy the unspoilt nature while hiking, mountainbiking, cycling, Nordic walking, or riding, Tennis and Fitness, and discover the unique natural wonders such as the Gilfenklamm or the Burkhardklamm.
Even in the winter, you will find that Ridnaun / Ridanna harbors a seemingly inexhaustible supply of activities: skiing, cross-country skiing, the biathlon, snowshoeing, tobogganing, ski touring – you can really live it up! Ridnaun / Ridanna has achieved international renown in particular as a center of cross-country skiing and the biathlon. On well-groomed trails, you can glide through the gorgeous winter landscape and follow in the footsteps of the world's greatest athletes: Ridnaun / Ridanna is regularly the venue for World Cup races and national and international championships. And only last year, in 2011, the IBU Biathlon European Championships U26 were held at the new stadium!
When coming today to this uniquely beautiful and tranquil resort, you wouldn’t suspect that Ridnaun / Ridanna had been dominated for centuries by mining activities. Until the 1980s, silver, lead, and especially zinc were extracted from the Earth here in one of Europe's highest mines. The ore deposits were located at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,650 meters above sea-level at the Schneeberg / Monteneve, the mountain ridge that separates the Ridnaun / Ridanna Valley from the Passiria Valley. For about a thousand years, the Schneeberg / Monteneve was one of the most important mines in Europe, and only the European mining crisis finally forced it to close down in 1985.
Today, the Schneeberg / Monteneve World of Mining recalls the long history of mining in the Ridnaun / Ridanna Valley. The Schneeberg / Monteneve World of Mining is not merely a museum – rather, it's a modern, fascinating world in which visitors can immerse themselves in the life and work of the miners. The mine and all of its equipment is, in principle, still fully functional and could resume production at any time!
But Ridnaun / Ridanna has so much more to offer! In addition to the plethora of sports, there are also a major cultural attractions and sightseeing landmarks. There's, e.g., the Wolfsthurn Castle, the only unmodified Baroque castle in South Tyrol. It is home to the South Tyrol Museum of Hunting and Fishing. The Miner's Church of St. Magdalene in Gasse or the St. Lawrence Church in Maiern / Masseria are of historic and cultural importance. Furthermore, there's the nearby ancient town of Sterzing / Vipiteno, the castle of Reifenstein and the Eisack / Isarco Valley with the bishop's city of Brixen / Bressanone and the famous Neustift / Novacella Monastery.
One more thing: Ridnaun / Ridanna and Ratschings / Racines are part of the cooperation Alpine Pearls, which stands for gentle, environmentally friendly, and thus pleasant holiday-making without a car. During your next vacation in Ridnaun / Ridanna, why not experience and use the environmentally-friendly services available here under the motto of Sustainable Mobility?