Culture and art on Renon

Summer holidays, summer theatre, bee museum and fêtes

Renon offers culture at its best! Already in the 13th century pilgrims travelled to Rome via Renon: The commandery of Longomoso testifies to this. Later city dwellers built their summer residence here in lofty heights and “summer freshness” summer holidays became fashionable. For the comfort of visitors a railway was built and for their entertainment the Renon summer theatre was created. Tradition and culture can also be experienced at church holidays and fêtes. The sun plateau of Renon offers plenty of culture to experience and enjoy!

Historic Renon railway

Since 1907 the Renon railway has taken guests from Piazza Walther in the centre of Bolzano directly to the top of Renon. The narrow gauge railway is the last of its kind in South Tyrol and runs between Soprabolzano and Collalbo. Some of its carriages are historic, some are modern. The ride is worth it for its breathtaking views of the Dolomites alone. A modern cable car takes you every four minutes to Bolzano.

Summer holidays

Renon is the cradle of summer holidays. As early as around 1576, at the time of the Black Death, many citizens of Bolzano spent the summer in their summer residences on Renon, especially the ladies and children. Nor did the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie from the Vienna region and the former Crown colonies shy away from the long journey, travelled on the Southern railway to Val Pusteria and on to Bolzano and Renon.

Bee museum

On the farm Plattner Hof, one of the oldest farms on Renon, you find the bee museum. The museum not only showcases everything there is to know about bee-keeping but also how farmers used to live. On the picturesque hill an education trail explains the world from the point of view of the bees.

Renon summer theatre

The open air summer theatre in Renon has its origins in the “summer freshness” holidays of the 17th century, when the gentry of Bolzano needed to be entertained. The backdrop of the annual outdoor plays is the thousand years old commandery of Longomoso

Tradition

On Renon ancient customs and traditions are kept alive. They are witnesses of the past and give the village its unique character. Immerse yourself into the culture of the country and experience solemn processions, the traditional Bartlmastag, when the cattle are driven down from the pastures to their winter stables, the Sacred Heart fire, the “star singing” at Epiphany, Easter traditions and church fêtes.