Castle Juval Circular Hike
Castle Juval Circular Hike
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2,707
hikers
Castle Juval Circular Hike
03:01
8.15km
290m
Hiking
The Castle Juval Circular Hike offers a moderate trekking experience through scenic South Tyrol, known for its cultural significance and beautiful vistas. This route, covering 5.1 miles (8.1 km) with 967 feet (295 metres) of elevation gain, takes about 3 hours to complete. You will follow historical “Waalwege” irrigation channels, which provide expansive views into the Vinschgau Valley, the Texelgruppe Nature Park, and the distant Ortler mountain range, all leading to the majestic Juval Castle.
While generally accessible, some sections of the trail require sure-footedness, and if you have a fear of heights, certain parts might be a consideration. The starting point often involves crossing a bridge and walking through a village before you begin your ascent to the Waalweg. You can visit the castle for guided tours during specific months, typically April to June, September, and October, and stop at the Schlosswirt inn or the Unterortl winery along the way.
The highlight of this hike is Juval Castle, the summer residence of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner. The medieval castle, originally built around 1278, houses one of his Messner Mountain Museums, dedicated to the “myth of the mountain.” Here, you can explore Tibetan artifacts, masks from five continents, and Renaissance frescoes. The historic Waalwege themselves are a unique feature, reflecting ancient irrigation systems used by local farmers since the 13th century.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
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2.88 km
Schnalswaalweg (Roggia di Senales Trail)
Highlight • Trail
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Tip by
3.31 km
Messner Mountain Museum Juval (Juval Castle)
Highlight • Castle
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Tip by
4.36 km
Sonnenhof snack station
Highlight • Mountain Hut
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8.15 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
5.56 km
966 m
639 m
528 m
458 m
Surfaces
5.80 km
952 m
712 m
411 m
274 m
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Elevation
Highest point (890 m)
Lowest point (610 m)
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Weather
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Sunday 17 May
14°C
3°C
75 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
We only touched on Juval Castle, the residence of Reinhold Messner....
Schnalser and Stabner Waalweg. Round tour from TSCHARS to the stately Juval Castle (Reinhold Messner) with a wonderful view of the huge orchards and vineyards of the Vinschgau. The connection of the Schnalser with the Stabner Waal results in a promising circular hike. In the past, the Waale in the relatively dry Vinschgau served to irrigate the fields with glacier water from the Ötztal high Alps.
Picture 26. RED APPLE JUICE 🍎 super good from "Red Moon" apples
A very beautiful hike along the Schnals Waalweg (Snaessal Waal Trail) to Juval Castle. Magnificent views of the mountains, vineyards, and orchards abound. Today, Juval Castle houses a museum, a winery, an organic farm, and a wine tavern. Unfortunately, the latter was closed today. Juval Castle has been open to visitors since 1995. The MMM Juval, "Mythic Mountain," is part of the Messner Mountain Museums. The descent follows the Staben Waalweg back to Tschars. Stop for a refreshment at the Sonnenhof farm with a view of the valley and the Adige River.
Today only a relaxed half-day round on the sunny side of the Vinschgau. Juval Castle is also a picturesque destination for repeated visits, unfortunately the castle landlord had a day of rest today (Wednesdays).
The mostly shady path along the cool Waal makes the hike perfect for such hot days. 🥵 Unfortunately, the Stabener Waal is currently dry on the way back.
With lunch at the castle host (at least 1 hour) and a look around the castle, we (A, G, I) were on the road for a total of 5.5 hours.
a good introductory round in hot weather, shady along the Waalwege. Is the entrance fee for Juval Castle worth it, hmm? in any case, a nice inspiration that reawakened my desire for Nepal🇳🇵