Vigiljoch

Seen the wide forested ridge of Vigiljoch from the northeast of the Mutspitze from

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Vigiljoch in the narrower sense of a 1743 m slm high crossing over the north-eastern foothills of the Zufrittkamms the Ortler Alps in South Tyrol (Italy). This lies between the smaller, mostly wooded hilltops and is the site of the St. Vigil am Joch with frescoes from the 14th century. In a broader sense is called Vigiljoch in addition the surrounding equipped with no prominent peak ridge that rises between the lower Vinschgau, the Burggrafenamt Merano and the entrance of Val d'Ultimo and toward clearly wins in southwestern direction only come back to Naturnser Hochjoch height.

History

As flint finds prove, the yoke was frequented already in the Stone Age hunters. The origin of the numerous Schalensteine ​​but unexplained.

The Vigiljoch since August 31, 1912 to be reached by a cable car from Lana. [Note 1] The mountain station of the cable car is 1486 m. The cable car was considered a pioneer and was built according to the plans of the Zurich mountain railway builder Emil Strub and the Viennese Walter Conrad. The work resulted from the Milan-based company Ceretti & Tanfani. The Lananer cable car pioneer Luis Zuegg took before the opening and commissioning or technical renovation work before.

Since the 60s radon mineral water ( 777 Bq / l) is the Vigiljoch promoted and used for different therapies.

Newer tourist infrastructures on Vigiljoch include the Hotel Vigilius Mountain Resort and the Vigiljoch ski area, which is part of the Ortler Ski Arena.

Legends and stories

To the Vigiljoch entwine numerous legends and stories:

The Giants on Vigiljoch

Once lived two giants in the area. One lived in the forest at Monte San Vigilio, the other in a cave on the opposite Tschögglberg at Hafling. One day she decided everyone should have a beautiful church built from stone near his dwelling. But they only had a hammer. If necessary, they therefore threw themselves to the hammer, from one side of the valley to the other. So once built one and then the other to his church. Nevertheless, they made ​​good progress, and the churches were so good and firmly built, that they still exist today: the church at Monte San Vigilio and the Church of St. Kathrein in the saddle at Hafling.

The skeleton of life mountain

Above Tscherms stands on a steep, vine-covered hills life mountain castle. The imposing castle is inhabited all year round from their aristocratic owners today. It is open to the public part and a worthwhile destination for lovers of romance and knights castle stories, because in order to mountain life entwines a love story with unhappy output. In the 15th century, two young people fell in love immortal love. It was the son of a rich farmer and the daughter of Count Heinrich. Now the Count harbored no sympathy for this unstandesgemäße relationship and tried to intimidate the young farmers through threats and stay away from his daughter. But the young man was not to prohibit his love. But one day the farmer's son disappeared without a trace. It was rumored that the Count had taken him prisoner and had immured in the tower. 1927 was found during restoration work in the yard - under a wall where a large crucifix hung - the remains of a man. Whether it really was the Son of Thalgutbauern, of the legend has it, however, could not be clarified. The owner of the castle was to bring the bones into the tower, but the day-long howling and howling of his dogs led him quickly to bury the remains on the Marlinger cemetery.

The spirit in the lake Jocher

On the Vigiljoch, high above Lana, blacks primers is ( known locally also Jocher lake ), a lake is almost dried up today. However, once he was much bigger and deeper. Around him the following of legends: Graf fox, lord of the castle of mountain life, was a very rich, but not exactly God-fearing man. He led a dissolute life, was hot-tempered and hard-hearted. In addition, it gave him great pleasure to flay his subordinates and torment. The fair he visited rarely and even on high holidays, he went on the hunt rather than in the church. Once, at Easter, when he drove it too badly - chased, courted and otherwise behaved wickedly, the old chaplain came to him and tried to convert him for inspection. The count was so incensed that he ordered his servants to throw the priest in the Jocher lake over the accusations and the sermon. Two wild companions dragged the old man to the lake and drowned him. But the Count should not long enjoy his wicked deeds himself. One day he rode alone to hunt on yoke and never returned. It is said that his horse had shied away when they came to the lake. And he would have fallen into the water, where he drowned miserably. Since that time, it haunts around the lake. The farmers want on the lake shore a wolf with glowing eyes and a wild hunter - these figures had to accept the punishment of the Knights - have seen. Also during thunderstorms want to hear from the lake an eerie rumbling and rumbling.

The Sunntigsacker at Pawigl

Until the 17th century the Pawigler had to if they wanted to Mass on Sundays, go the difficult and steep path to Lana. Only after the hamlet got its own curate. The farmer from Oberhof was a pious old man, who attended the show because of his frailty only on high holidays in Lana. On ordinary Sundays he went to the meadow near his house, because that's where he had a good view of the church in Niederlana and so was able to witness the show in mind. Since that time, names of the meadows " Sunntigsacker ". When the Oberhof Bauer once again rose to the valley to the church, the flooding of the Falschauer shared, so he came to church with dry feet and without going through the creek bed. There he saw the devil wrote the sins of the faithful on a donkey skin that was quick too small though. Therefore, the devil began to stretch the skin, but he came across with a horn to a church pillar. The farmer had to laugh about it, but the punishment was divided on the way home, the water of the creek not again. Immediately, he was now back to the church to confess his sin. Lo and behold, on the way back to the water divided again.

Gallery

Trail at Schönwies in winter

Trail at Schönwies in spring

View from Monte San Vigilio to Tschöggelberg and to the Dolomites ( Schlern, Rosengarten, Latemar )

Looking southeast to Tisenser low mountain range and into the Adige Valley