Kronplatz | ​high altitude summer culture

Culture enthusiasts will find one of the main attractions on the top of Kronplatz: the Campana Concordia 2000, built in 2003 by the founders of the San Vigilio, Valdaora and Brunico/Riscone cable cars. The artist Paul dë Doss-Moroder lent his name to create this work, which is nicknamed the Bell of Peace; Concordia 2000 rings every day at 12.00, but also every time that in a country of the world the death penalty is abolished, a person sentenced to death is pardoned or when a war ends. The bell is a symbol of the region’s community and its encounter with different cultures, thanks to its role as a focal point for skiers and hikers from all over the world. This is why the phrase „Donet Deus popolis pacem” (God give peace to the peoples) is engraved on the bell and is dedicated to Saint Bernard, patron saint of mountaineers and skiers.

The 360° circular trail begins from the Campana Concordia 2000 at an altitude of 2,275 metres, and it takes about an hour’s walk to complete.

The artist and sculptor Helmut Pizzinini, born in Val Badia in 1961, driven by his desire to experiment with different types of materials, has developed a special skill for creating compositions in wood. However, this self-taught artist, known to important art critics, also uses other materials in his works: in addition to metal, his artistic curiosity led him to study marble working techniques in quarries for two years.

Everything is linked to the legend of the „wise warrior of the kingdom of pale mountains”, Princess Dolasilla. The legend holds that the daughter of the King of the majestic Kingdom of Fanes was crowned on Kronplatz and this is precisely the event that Helmut Pizzinini wanted to celebrate as part of this joint project. The monoliths that were built for this represent Princess Dolasilla’s crown, and along the panoramic Concordia 360° trail they offer a fairy-tale view of her kingdom. If you look closely, you can see that a different type of stone was used for each of the three sculptures.

It is an easy route within everyone’s reach – both with pushchairs and for the diversely abled – and it circles the entire top of Kronplatz. The trail celebrates a breath-taking panorama: the Dolomites to the south and the main crest of the Alps to the north.

In Kronplatz you can also visit two museums: the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, opened in 2015 at the behest of Reinhold Messner, a world-famous icon of mountaineering. Nicknamed MMM Corones it is part of a museum circuit that focuses on nature and its relationship with man, and includes six locations in Trentino Alto-Adige. The museum was designed by the star architect Zaha Hadid, who created an architectural structure that is perfectly integrated into the Kronplatz Mountain. The MMM Corones is a route dedicated to modern mountaineering and how man and mountain have related over the centuries; besides showing the improvements that have been made to climbing equipment, the museum concentrates above all on the great names in mountaineering, for whom this discipline is their reason for living. The itinerary ends on a terrace, where you can fully admire the surrounding mountains, which becomes part of the museum exhibition and helps visitors realise how easily we can be in perfect Synergy with nature.

The Lumen Museo della Fotografia di Montagna, (The Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography), situated at over 2000 meters high, occupies four storeys and takes visitors on a discovery of mountain photography and how it has evolved over time in all areas of the world. It is not just a photographic journey, but also a historical, political and spiritual one, because not only can you see the photographs but also have more immersive experiences – for example the „Shutter„, a lens that can be opened and closed and used as a projective panel, or the VR viewers that simulate the flight of a helicopter over the Dolomites. Furthermore, the Sala degli Specchi (Hall of Mirrors) showcases an artistic and poetic analysis of the specific atmosphere of the mountains: an unforgettable experience between reality and illusion, aimed at combining entertainment and photographic quality. All attractions are open daily from 10am to 4pm.

Therefore, Kronplatz is the ideal choice to escape from the summer heat, while enjoying the incredible mountain panorama and absorbing culture on all the peaks in the area. The lifts are open until 5^th November 2023 and the mountain can be reached from Reischach (Bruneck) (Riscone di Brunico), Olang (Valdaora) and the Furcia pass above St Vigil (San Vigilio).

Sporting and recreational events, extravagant performances, action, adrenaline, music and fun are always guaranteed in the splendid setting of Kronplatz.