Kirchweihfest Annatag (Certosa / Karthaus)

A patronal feast in the heart of Val Senales

The Kirchweihfest Annatag is the patronal feast of Certosa (known in German as Karthaus), a hamlet in the municipality of Senales (Schnals) in the province of Bolzano, within the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The event is dedicated to Saint Anne, the village's patron saint, and is celebrated annually around July 26th, the saint's liturgical day. It is one of the most cherished events for this small mountain community, blending religious observance with a traditional village fair.

The village of Certosa, a place of silence

The festival takes place in a truly unique setting. Certosa is built on the site of an ancient Carthusian monastery, founded around 1300 and inhabited for over four centuries until 1782 by monks who lived according to the strict rule of silence and solitude. Following the monastery's suppression, the village developed within the walls and buildings of the old convent structure, retaining a unique charm to this day. The Church of Saint Anne, dating back to the 16th century, serves as the parish church and the spiritual heart of the patronal feast.

The program: solemn mass and procession

The core of the day consists of religious celebrations. In the morning, the Festmesse (solemn mass) is held, followed by the traditional procession through the village streets. The parade is accompanied by the notes of the Musikkapelle Schnals, the Val Senales brass band, whose traditional uniforms and music mark the solemn moments of the festival, in accordance with a deeply rooted South Tyrolean custom.

The public festival in the square

Once the religious services conclude, the celebration continues with a public festival in the village square (the Dorfplatz of Karthaus). Until late afternoon, residents and guests share a moment of community amidst live music, South Tyrolean culinary specialties, and the conviviality typical of mountain fairs. The festival is also a precious opportunity to discover one of the most characteristic villages of South Tyrol during the summer.

Useful information

• Where: Certosa/Karthaus, Municipality of Senales (Schnals), province of Bolzano
• When: Around July 26th (Feast of Saint Anne)
• Main events: Festmesse (solemn mass), procession with the Musikkapelle Schnals, festival in the square
• Organization: Val Senales Tourist Association (Tourismusverein Schnalstal)