When you hand in your hiking wristband at one of the tourist offices, you’ll receive a special surprise and a hiking diploma based on the number of symbols you have punched out:
If you don’t manage to collect all symbols this year, you can continue your mission next year – but you can only hand in your wristband once.
According to legend, the long ridge of the Schlern is a popular gathering place for witches who fly in on their broomsticks from all directions and brew terrible storms there. The old folk still remember the grim tale of Hansel and the thunderstorm. Hansel lived in a hut at the foot of the Schlern. One day, as his wife was drawing a bucket of water from the well, she heard a strange hissing sound. It was odd, for not a breath of wind was stirring — and yet, with that hiss, a mighty tempest began to gather. The farmer’s wife looked up at the sky and, between the black thunderclouds, noticed a shadow. “Hansel, Haaansel!” she cried. “Come quickly and look up there!” Hansel hurried at once to the window and stared at the clouds. “God in heaven — that’s the Schlern witch! Just you wait, I’ll deal with her!” In an instant he seized his rifle, sprinkled the bullets with holy water, sprang out of the door, took careful aim and … bang, bang. A dreadful screech rang out: he had hit the witch, and with a dull thump she fell right at his feet. My God, how hideous she was! The sight of the witch was so ghastly that the farmer’s hair stood on end, and he collapsed to the ground, pale as death. Many years passed before he fully recovered from the shock, but he could never forget what happened that night for the rest of his life. From then on, at the slightest storm, he would bolt every window and door and wait, teeth chattering, until the thunderstorm had passed.
In the area around the Rosengarten there once ruled the dwarf king Laurin. His greatest pride was his garden, where splendid roses were in bloom. One day Laurin fell in love with the beautiful princess Simhild and, using his magical powers, abducted her into his realm. Simhild’s brother called on the Gothic king Dietrich for help to set her free. Dietrich rode into the mountains with his warriors, challenged Laurin to combat and defeated him.
King Laurin was taken prisoner but eventually managed to escape and returned to his rose garden. When he saw the roses in flower, he was seized by rage, for it was their bright red glow that had shown Dietrich the way into his realm.
So, Laurin cursed the roses: “Neither the bright day nor the dark night shall ever again behold the splendour of these roses!” Because the time between day and night — twilight — was left unmentioned, the Dolomites still glow rose-red today when the sun sinks behind the peaks.
Witch Martha loves children and nature. She can do magic, can transform into a squirrel, and likes Harry Potter. She is a good witch at heart. But because she is a witch, she can sometimes look a little frightening. Don’t let that put you off, though! Deep down, she wishes everyone only the very best. So there’s no need to be afraid of her. Witch Martha doesn’t live right in the forest; even so, the forest is her home. In her free time, she wanders there, breathes in the fresh air, and talks to the trees and the animals. She knows the beauty of nature — and she shows it to you, too. That is one of her magical abilities. In summer, Witch Martha also guides you through Castle Prösels and takes you back to times long past.
