Kronplatz is a young, dynamically developing resort (German: Kronplatz, Italian: Plan de Corones), equipped with the most modern equipment. Ski slopes with a length of 114 km are served by 32 lifts. There are also: 110 km of cross-country ski trails, 4 kindergartens for the youngest, 3 km of illuminated “night” trails. The resorts of the region are small villages at the foot of Mount Kronplatz (2275 m), at the top of which it seems that the sky is about to fall on your head!
An amazingly picturesque area even for the Alps and rich in skiing opportunities. From the villages of Olang, Raicha and San Vigilio di Marebbe, lifts take skiers to the mountain plateau. This region is imbued with the spirit of Tyrol, and sometimes it seems as if you are in neighboring Austria. This is also facilitated by the very wide use of the German language, which is unusual for Italy. And Innsbruck is much closer from here than from some Austrian resorts.
Kronplatz has excellent opportunities for both downhill and cross-country skiing, and the service here combines Austrian honesty and Italian traditions, and the cuisine includes the best dishes of both countries.
Nearest airports: Venice (277 km), Verona (212 km), Innsbruck (117 km).
The region is part of the Dolomites Superskipass, which unites 460 lifts.
Half-pipe 110 m, which meets the requirements of FIS.
The ski season here lasts from the beginning of December to the end of April.
Kronplatz: about the regions
The local villages and towns of the region are located on different sides of the Kronplatz peak. In this sense, the region is unique: there are few places in the Alps where from one point you can go absolutely in any direction, 360 degrees: the trails fan out in all directions.
Kronplatz trail map
The largest and most famous of the local resorts is Brunico or Bruneck. This ancient city arose in the middle of the 13th century and gradually turned into the main city of the valley. Today it has about 15 thousand inhabitants, but in winter life in Brunico is bustling, especially compared to other villages and villages in the region. Here in the “old” town there are several picturesque medieval streets with shops, bars and restaurants, but overall the town lives a modern life and has a more business-like atmosphere. You can ski down to Brunico (more precisely, to the town of Riscone), but to do this you need to overcome one of the long (more than 5 km) and quite difficult (by local standards, at least) black runs. For those who have repeatedly run over the Austrian red runs, they will not be a problem, but for beginners it is better to choose the way “home” by cabin.
Riscone (Reischach) – a village from where you can directly get to the top of Kronplatz. Since a large number of tourists come here every day in winter, a backup for the existing lift was built here. And thus, now there are two spacious cabin lifts “Kronplatz 1” (No. 100) and “Kronplatz 2000” (No. 102), which very quickly deliver skiers and snowboarders to the top – to a height of 2275 m. The third lift serves the training slopes, which are located here at the very foot of the mountain.
In the evening, when the bulk of the people go back down, the most noisy and fun après-ski parties begin here. In addition, there are two outdoor ice rinks, a toboggan run and a new large aqua and wellness center “Cron4”. In general, this is a very quiet and peaceful village, surrounded by agricultural fields, where life rages only around sports and tourist facilities. From other villages to the lifts you need to take a ski bus.
The village of Valdaora is also part of the Kronplatz ski area and is connected by bus to the ski slopes and the biathlon stadium in Antholz-Anterselva.
For snowboarders there is a modern snow park “Plan de Corones”, equipped with jumps, boxes and handrails. When purchasing a single ski pass “Dolomiti Superski”, guests of the Kronplatz resort have the opportunity to ski at 12 resorts that are part of the “Dolomiti-Super-Ski” skiing region.
The second most popular and largest resort, and perhaps the best for accommodation, is San Vigilio di Marebbe. It has several excellent four-star hotels, and those with 3* on their facades are often not inferior to them. From San Vigilio, the slopes diverge to opposite sides of the valley. Beginners and those who are learning can ski on the Piculin side in the morning, where there are several wide, easy slopes. The Piculin black run, which runs along the other side of the mountain, can be really challenging, especially at the beginning and end of the season, when there is still little natural snow. But for experienced skiers it is definitely worth a visit.
On the black-black run…
The Black Five – the five “black” runs of Kronplatz
Kronplatz is a popular resort in South Tyrol and one of the most interesting destinations in the Dolomiti Superski region, offering a total of over 116 km of runs. Most of them are comfortable and are marked in blue or red on the map. However, despite this, The resort has plenty of wide runs for carving, and there are some really challenging red runs, such as the new Ried. And of course, the pride of the resort is the “black five” – The Black Five.
Perhaps the most spectacular black run of the resort is Piculin, which has a gondola (the best option for those who have never dared to test their strength on this slope). The run is on the other side of the Piz de Plaes peak, and this is the only way you can go down on skis or snowboards to the stop of the free bus leading towards Alta Badia and “Sella Ronda”. It was Piculin that the popular German website skiresort.de recognized as the “Best Black Run”.
On a 2-kilometer slope, experienced skiers expect a height difference of more than 500 meters and a quite serious slope (according to some reports, on part of the track it exceeds 72%) – not very experienced skiers and snowboarders, having fallen in the middle part of the track, continue inertial movement almost to the rolling. Although “Pikulin” begins quite innocently – on a flat road, which gradually turns into a really steep slope.
Two more famous and long tracks Sylvester (No. 1) and Herrnegg (No. 4) are located nearby, start from the top of Kronplatz and descend to the lower station of the cable car in Riscone (they can be partially seen from the cabins going from Riscone and Perki). The difference in altitude of both tracks is about 1300 meters, the length is about five kilometers (Hernegg is 150 meters longer). However, despite the approximately identical characteristics, they are noticeably different. The Sylvester track has more bends that pass through a picturesque forest. The slope of the track makes you forget about the experiences – especially since there is a nice restaurant waiting below (it is almost always full during the day).
Herrnegg is the longest black track in the region, its length is 5100 meters (not everyone has the strength to ride it from start to finish in one breath). This track is more direct, and at the beginning it is quite flat. However, after a few turns it becomes clear why it has black markings, without discounting the fact that someone does not know how to handle a serious slope. From the top you can admire the view of the Pustertal valley and the city of Brunico (Bruneck) – the most beautiful (and largest) in surroundings.
Some enthusiasts prefer to race only on these two tracks, competing with each other in the number of completed descents. Tourists who find themselves on this slope for the first time are surprised to watch children in “shorts”, protective equipment and jackets with the inscriptions Ski Club San Vigilio (or some other Ski Club) rush past them. If the first sections of track No. 4 seem too difficult, there is still an “alternative exit” at the top – the opportunity to traverse to the neighboring red track and do without falls. For those who immediately realized that Hernegg is not yet within their power, there is a “family” option – track No. 3 runs almost parallel (Pramstall). It ends at the intermediate station of the new Ried lift (with heated seats), and further down you can only go down past Herrnegg.
Closer to the village of San Vigilio is the “sportsiest” slope in the region – Pre da Peres. It was recently expanded, and its left part is usually occupied by athletes. This is where local stars like to train – Manuela and Manfred Melgg. And everyone can go down the main slope. However, the lower part of the slope is not too difficult and more corresponds to the profile of a serious red.
Training of local ski clubs and serious athletes is also held on the other side of the skiing area, right above San Vigilio. The picturesque Erta track, which offers a magnificent panorama of the resort and the neighboring slopes, is one of the most interesting in the region, although not very long. With a length of 1650 meters, Etra has a height difference of 418 meters, and it is here that the stages of the European Cup are held (usually in December). And just before the New Year, a ski show is held on this track: instructors with torches in their hands descend to San Vigilio and jump over a burning ring.
Fans of long tracks will like the new Ried track, which leads to the lift of the same name, built right next to the railway station (it has number 16 on the map). Officially, this track is red, but its lower part, especially when there is not too much snow yet (or already), is more like a not too difficult black. As is often the case, the seven-kilometer track begins quite innocuously (sometimes you even have to push with poles), and then turn into a beautiful red, and in places – black. It is on this route that the largest elevation difference in the region is 1355 meters. However, the other red routes of Kronplatz are not much inferior to it, although they are noticeably shorter.
Restaurants and apres-ski in Kronplatz
The nightlife is not as vibrant as in many resorts in neighboring Austria, but all the villages in the region have a good selection of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Many establishments are located in four-star hotels and near the lifts. At the bottom station of the cable car are the very popular bars K1, Higgeralm and Tenne. Apres-ski Tony at the Olang lift attracts those who want to relax and warm up after skiing. Most four-star hotels have their own restaurants with South Tyrolean and Ladin cuisine. Among the favorite places for gourmets are the restaurant Schöneck and Tanzer in the town of Falzen. There are also many restaurants in Brunico, the largest village in the region, in particular, Oberraut, which has good reviews. Once a week, some hotels organize an evening trip to the Fanes National Park with dinner in a mountain hut – do not miss the opportunity to admire the mountains at night and try real, non-touristy Ladin cuisine.
Kronplatz: not only skiing
Traditionally in January The International Ski Marathon and the International Snow Sculpture Festival are held, and in March there is a carnival procession in San Vigilio di Marebbe.
The Kronplatz region includes Anterselva (Antholz) – the most famous biathlon venue in Italy. The World Cup competitions in this sport are held here every year. Recently, a new wellness center Cron4 was built in Kronplatz with 4 different pools (indoor and outdoor) and ample opportunities for relaxation. On a free day, you can go on an excursion to Innsbruck or Bolzano.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the picturesque Brunico (Bruneck) and its main Stadtgasse, where there are many shops. In December and until January 6, Brunico has a beautiful Christmas market in the afternoon (until 7 p.m.), where you can buy traditional Christmas treats, gifts, souvenirs and crafts from local craftsmen. This medieval town with its perfectly preserved ancient walls and castle is home to the MMM RIPA, a museum dedicated to mountain peoples from all over the world, created by the world-famous mountaineer and traveler Reinhold Messner. Recently, a prestigious Italian magazine recognized Brunico (Bruneck) as the friendliest small town in Italy.
The neighboring idyllic villages are memorable for their special Alpine atmosphere and also offer a wide range of entertainment. Together with the village of Riscone (Reischach) and the two main winter resorts, San Vigilio (San Vigil) and Valdaora (Olang), which are located right at the foot pistes, Kronplatz is among the best resorts in terms of accommodation options. From five-star to budget, as well as a variety of apartments and authentic farmhouses – Kronplatz has plenty to choose from.
Hotels in Kronplatz
The resort has many hotels, apartments and residences with a high level of service, which can simultaneously accommodate 24,464 people. Some have saunas, swimming pools, solariums. Hotels are located throughout the valley, in each of the largest towns there are more than 20 hotels. Parents who want to ski without children are better off choosing Brunico, Val d’Or or San Vigilio di Marebbe.
In San Vigilio di Marebbe, almost all 4* hotels are of a high standard, with their own spa centers and excellent cuisine. The Almhof Call 4* hotel has a large wellness center with saunas, a hammam, a relaxation room, and a pool with hydromassage. The suites, recently built in a separate building, are more in line with 5* hotels. Located a little further from the ski lifts (2 bus stops), the Sporthotel Exclusive 3*S is a cozy family hotel with excellent cuisine and its own recently renovated spa center (one that not every “four” hotel has): swimming pool, jacuzzi, saunas, hammam, terpidarium, and massage rooms. offices.
Spa center at Sporthotel Exclusive.
Kronplatz: with children
Kronplatz is an excellent choice for families with children. There are many easy slopes for beginners throughout the region, and you can go up without skis, which is convenient when traveling with small children. There are 12 toboggan runs in the region, two of which are 7 km long. In the season, a snow fortress with a maze is built for kids, and a special children’s entertainment program is provided. Kronplatz has six ski schools, with over 200 instructors who speak in different languages. The ski area has five ski kindergartens with safe and interesting slopes for children, children’s lifts and everything you need. The resort offers half-day children’s programs, special menus in restaurants and modern equipment. Most restaurants have a children’s menu or children’s portions. In the Kids Safety Park, children can learn about the FIS rules in a playful way (for example, with the help of cartoons) and learn how to behave correctly on the slopes while skiing. The lifts have a separate entrance for children, which allows for greater safety when boarding the cabins.
