Naturns

Naturns (Italian Naturno, from celtic ana duron "settlement at the bottom ", the coined by swamp and floodplain trough was only in the early 20th century completely drained ) is a market town with 5624 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in South Tyrol (Italy ), about 12 km from Merano. Geographically, it still belongs to the region Val Venosta, administratively, however, to Burggrafenamt.

The peaceful community has evolved in recent years become a popular vacation spot. This is due to the many hiking trails on two sides of the mountain (of which the north side is accessed by a cable car), the broad valley floor, the mild climate (315 days of sunshine / year), the wide range of entertainment facilities and the many art treasures.

Naturns is connected through the Vinschgau Railway reopened in 2005 to the public transport network.

• 2.1 ski area and cable cars
• 2.2 power plant

History

Prehistory

The first human presence in Naturns or on the Naturnser municipal area can be detected by Silexabschläge from the period of the Mesolithic, which were discovered in 1984 on the Jochübergang between Naturns and Ultimo.

Also from the subsequent Neolithic period were discovered in 1958 whether Kompatsch under an eye-catching rock shelter on the sunny side several Silexabschläge and flint tools, which suggest a hunter shelter. Popularly known as " Neuräutl ", is currently being sought by the community Naturns an appreciation of reference, inter alia, by an archaeological investigation that may prove the thesis that the silicon found does not originate from the Neolithic period, but from the Paleolithic.

Settlement features from that period are not available in Naturnser municipality, however, was at the nearby castle hill of Castel Juval an important Neolithic settlement, of which however only more Silexfunde and a large number of ceramic remains from the time of Vasi a bocca quadrata - cultural witness.

Early History

By the present land preservationists Lorenzo dal Rì conducted excavations also a continuous settlement of Naturnser municipal area in the Bronze Age could be proven. Excavations near the entrance to Schnalstal this settlement features and pottery from the Bronze Age came to light. It is worth mentioning in this context, the relatively high frequency of the Bronze Age finds at the nearby Castle Hill Juvaler or Tarsch.

About the western exit of the village can be seen at the Sonnenberg clearly two exterior steps, the "upper" and "lower" Wallburg. Through the detection of dry stone walls that were destroyed in the course of the power station - building, a well- Iron Age use of strategically located exterior steps are suspected. Interesting ( " Bürgele " local, " Little Castle " called ) is primarily the context of a direction Affairs Schnalstal nearby rocky outcrop, on the wall residues were also detected and provides an excellent view both to Schnalstal as well as on the Wallburg Naturns. Whether there was a connection path between the Schnalstal and Wallburg, has not been established, but was a Altweg, practically joined the Naturnser valley with the lower Wallburg and without curves in a constant gradient can be detected.

Antiquity

In the course of the Alpine campaign of Drusus in 15 BC under the reign of Emperor Augustus ' was the local population of Venostes - this name appeared on the Roman victory monument at La Turbie on - the Roman Empire. Through the discovery of a Roman milestone in the neighboring municipality Rabland, one can very safely assume that the famous Roman Via Claudia Augusta past led to Naturns ( despite still not completed research on the detailed course ). Specific findings from the Roman period are missing in Naturns, but the floor plan of a late antique building could be detected under the plan of St. Proculus Church during excavations 1985/86. A precise reconstruction of the structure is not possible despite burns a hearth, post holes and some verziegelter places. Burned small animal bones, Lavezgefäße, spindle whorls and a fragment of a bronze cup ear ring allow for a dating of the structure around 600 AD. In the burned ruins of this house burials were introduced, which clearly happened but stratigraphically properly before the construction of St. Proculus Church. The construction of the church between 630-650 (first phase), these burials were disturbed by the construction of the Western Wall, or other burials at that point were probably removed.

Modern Times

Naturns belonged to the end of the First World War to the judicial district of Merano and was part of the district of Merano.

Buildings and monuments

• St. Proculus Church: Significant early medieval frescoes, according to the undisputed long time dating from about 720-770 it would be the oldest in the German culture. Meanwhile, there are other dating suggestions, ranging from the 7th to the 11th century. Next to the church, the St. Proculus Museum (see links).
• Juval: residence of Reinhold Messner, which contains, inter alia, its Tibetan collection
• Texel Group Nature Park
• Youth and experience railway station
• Adventure Naturns

Ski area and cable cars

• Schnalstaler glacier a year-round ski resort at the end of Schnalstal. The ski area extends in winter from the glacier at 3,200 m to 2,011 m according to Maso Corto.

The Schnalserbach opens below by Juval Castle in the Adige River, the narrow gorge at the entrance already opens up to 2-3 km, where form a distinctive cultural landscape in summer lush meadows with woods. Ancient farmhouses are still preserved. A tributary of Schnalstal is the Pfossental, which already belongs to the part of the Texel Group Nature Park. In addition to the ski Senales is also well known as locality of Ötzi.

The cable car runs from Sonnenberg Naturns to Unterstell.

Power station

In the village there is also one of the most architecturally interesting examples of contemporary industrial architecture, the hydropower plant Naturno / Kompatsch, designed by the architects Dalla Bona & Zamolo ( Bozen ) and W. Gutweniger ( Meran ), commissioned in 1963. Builder or designer was Ing. Perwanger Leo. The engine water comes from the Vernago dam on 1689.5 m above sea level. The catchment area covers 150 square kilometers. From there it passes through a 15 km long headrace tunnel will be initiated in the four streams, as well as a two-kilometer -long penstock to the powerhouse. The pressure pipe runs well visible on the slope of the mountain Naturnser Sun and has a diameter of about 2 m. The power plant is designed as a construction with prestressed reinforced concrete shells, reflects the barren landscape of the underlying rock formations and has three Doppelpeltonturbinen of Voith and Riva companies. Together these provide a maximum of 180 MW, with the enormous drop of more than 1,150 meters. It is the most powerful hydroelectric power plant in South Tyrol and one of the power plants with the largest drop height.

Events

• Bike Transalp Challenge ( mountain bike race through the Alps )
• Ötzi Alpin Marathon ( Extreme Triathlon in MTB, running, ski tour )
• Ceramics market Naturns ( with international participation in the 2- year cycle on the first weekend in June )
• The Night of Lights ( annual star kitchen in July )
• Naturns Laughs! (International Humor summer)
• Riesling days ( Gourmet Autumn in Naturns )
• Sonneberger Bauernkuchl ( Gourmet Autumn in Naturns )
• Toerggelen at the village well (traditional taste experience, Wednesdays in October)