Eggental (Val d'Ega): what to see, do and where to stay

The Eggental, Val d'Ega in Italian, starts at the gates of Bolzano, in a gorge watched over by Karneid Castle (Castel Cornedo), and climbs to Passo Costalunga (Karerpass) at 1,752 metres, where Trentino begins on the other side. On one flank rises the Rosengarten, the Catinaccio of King Laurin's legend, on the other the spires of the Latemar, whose ridge marks the border between South Tyrol and Trentino. Between the two, in the forest below the pass, lies Lake Carezza (Karersee), which belongs to the municipality of Welschnofen (Nova Levante) and not to the Val di Fassa.

There are two municipalities. Welschnofen (Nova Levante) sits at 1,182 metres at the foot of the Rosengarten, had 2,032 residents at the end of 2025 and includes the hamlet of Carezza (Karersee). Deutschnofen (Nova Ponente), with 4,117 residents, lies on a sunny plateau together with the hamlets of Eggen, Obereggen and Petersberg. The two names share a root: in documents from 1150 the area appears as Nova or Nove, newly cleared land, and by the 13th century a German-speaking part in the west was told apart from a Ladin part in the east. Deutsch-Nove and Welsch-Nove, that is Deutschnofen and Welschnofen. The valley's tourist board also covers Steinegg (Collepietra), in the municipality of Karneid (Cornedo all'Isarco).

In winter the valley has two Dolomiti Superski areas. Carezza Dolomites has 40 kilometres of slopes between Welschnofen and Passo Costalunga; from Obereggen, Ski Center Latemar crosses to the other side of the group as far as Pampeago and Predazzo in the Val di Fiemme, with 50 kilometres. In summer the lifts of Welschnofen, Carezza and Obereggen take you to the trails of the Rosengarten and the Latemar: above Obereggen lies the Latemarium with its themed trails, and near Carezza the Labyrinth trail winds between the Latemar boulders. If you are after quiet, stay in Deutschnofen, which the tourist board describes as the village with the most hours of sunshine in South Tyrol.

When it is worth coming to Eggental (Val d'Ega), month by month: When to Go to the Dolomites: A Month-by-Month Guide.

When to go & weather — Eggental (Val d'Ega)

In summer the lifts open between late May and mid-June and close between October and early November. In 2026 the Welschnofen gondola runs from 23 May to 1 November, the Paolina chairlift at Carezza from 30 May to 11 October and the Ochsenweide gondola at Obereggen from 13 June to 4 October. These are the months for trails and via ferratas on the Rosengarten and the Latemar, and for the walk around Lake Carezza, where the visitor centre, the underpass and the toilets are open from 9 am to 5 pm. In winter Obereggen opens on 27 November 2026 and closes on 4 April 2027; Carezza runs from 4 December 2026 to 29 March 2027. The lake can be visited in the snow too, but it often freezes and the path around it can be icy: the tourist board recommends sturdy shoes, ideally with microspikes. The enrosadira, the Rosengarten's alpenglow, comes at sunset.

How to get there — Eggental (Val d'Ega)

By car, leave the Brenner motorway (A22) at the Bolzano Nord exit and follow the signs for the Eggental: the tourist board says you are in the valley within half an hour. The SS 241 climbs the gorge to Ponte Nova (Birchabruck), where the road to Obereggen branches off to the right, and carries on towards Welschnofen, Lake Carezza and Passo Costalunga, from where you drop into the Val di Fassa. By train you arrive in Bolzano, served by Frecciargento, Italo and DB-ÖBB trains. From Bolzano bus station, regional buses climb to the villages of the valley; the tourist board gives 25 minutes, depending on the stop. If you stay with a member of the Eggental tourist associations you receive the South Tyrol Guest Pass, valid for seven days on all public transport in South Tyrol.