Villabassa MTB circular tour

The trail leads from the Villabassa village centre over a small bridge and past the church to the Via Moosweg on the left. We follow this asphalt road uphill towards Monguelfo and past the St. Magdalene Church (Mooskirche). The higher we get, the more the view opens up on Villabassa, the valley and the Braies and Sesto Dolomites. After 5 km and past another small church and a power plant we turn into a gravel road on the left. It proceeds downhill for another 3 km until Castel Monguelfo comes in sight.

After the next long left-hand curve we branch off on the right towards the Valle di Casies valley (no. 41A, forest path) and follow this 8 km long cycle track, also known as "Gsieser Talblickweg" (Casies valley view trail). Right before the hamlet of Planca di Sopra (Oberplanken) we branch off to the right near a wooden bridge towards Franadega (Frondeigen, no. 91). This trail leads us for 5 km through the forest to a clearing and some beautiful mountain meadows. At a wooden hut, where signposts can be found, we turn off.

First we follow the steep trail on the right towards Monte Rota (Ratsberg), then a forest road on the left to the junction towards the Kurtnerhof tavern. At this point the steep forest trail leads downhill to the asphalt road near the above mentioned tavern. The downhill ride on the road proceeds to the hamlet of Valle San Silvestro and further on to Dobbiaco. The cycle track leads us back past the spa park to the train station of Villabassa, our starting point.

Please note: the first part of this relatively easy tour offers a beautiful view on the Alta Pusteria valley and the Sesto and Braies Dolomites. The ascents require stamina and a good physical condition, the Kurtnerhof in Franadega is a nice rest point along the trail.

Author: BS