Katharinamarkt Naturns

The Katharinamarkt in Naturns

The Katharinamarkt is one of the three major annual markets that mark the calendar in Naturns, a municipality in the Vinschgau Valley in the province of Bolzano, in the heart of South Tyrol. Alongside the Jörgimarkt in April and the Kirchtigmarkt in October, the St. Catherine's Market is one of the most anticipated traditional events, attracting locals, people from across the Vinschgau Valley, and curious visitors exploring the Merano area.

A late November market

The Katharinamarkt takes place every year on the Saturday closest to St. Catherine's Day (November 25th), from which it takes its name. For the occasion, the Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square) and the surrounding streets are transformed into a large open-air market with up to 55 exhibitors. The stalls occupy the heart of the town for the entire morning, offering a varied and lively shopping experience in the crisp air of the early Alpine winter.

What to find at the stalls

Following the tradition of the weekly Saturday market, the Katharinamarkt offers a very wide assortment of goods. Among the stalls, you will find:

• clothing, shoes, and leather goods;
• fabrics, household linens, and homeware;
• plants, flowers, and gardening supplies;
• traditional South Tyrolean farm products, such as speck and cheeses;
• sweets, gastronomic specialties, and small curiosities.

The combination of practical household items and local specialties makes the market an ideal opportunity for early shopping ahead of Advent and the Christmas holidays.

Tradition and identity in Naturns

In recent years, Naturns has established itself as a true Marktgemeinde, a municipality with a strong mercantile vocation. The three annual markets and the weekly Saturday market are an integral part of the town's life and its South Tyrolean identity, in a territory where German-speaking traditions and the farming culture of the Vinschgau Valley coexist with the tourist hospitality of the Merano region.

Nestled at the foot of the Texel Group Nature Park and along the famous Merano High Mountain Trail, Naturns is a popular destination all year round: the Katharinamarkt offers visitors the chance to discover the town in an authentic and convivial setting, immersed in the atmosphere of late Alpine autumn.

An event for everyone

Admission to the market is free. The event, which takes place in the morning, is suitable for families, residents, and tourists, and represents a simple and genuine way to experience a local Vinschgau Valley tradition.