Martini Kirchtag in Kurtinig

A patronal festival in the heart of the Bassa Atesina

The Martini Kirchtag is the patronal festival of Cortina sulla strada del vino (known in German as Kurtinig an der Weinstraße), one of the smallest and lowest-lying municipalities in South Tyrol. Nestled in the Adige Valley at just over 200 meters above sea level, it sits along the famous South Tyrolean Wine Road. The festival is celebrated every year on November 11th, the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint to whom the village parish church is dedicated. On this occasion, the entire village comes alive, and St. Martin's Square (St. Martinsplatz) becomes the hub of a vibrant day of celebration.

The traditional Gänselauf, the goose race

The most famous and characteristic element of the Kirchtag is the Gänselauf, or goose race. In the morning, farmers bring the animals to the square, where they roam freely in a fenced area; in the afternoon, the geese are led to the starting line to race along a twenty-meter track. Throughout the day, visitors can bet on the race time of the fastest goose: whoever guesses the best time, or comes closest, wins a goose as a prize. It is a deeply felt popular tradition, rooted in the valley's farming culture, and remains the most anticipated moment of the festival.

Market, solemn mass, and lantern parade

Alongside the goose race, the Martini Kirchtag offers the classic repertoire of a South Tyrolean village festival. The day begins with a solemn mass in the church in honor of St. Martin. A traders' market winds through the streets with all kinds of stalls, while there is no shortage of traditional carousels (the Ringelspiel), balloon sellers, and musicians enlivening the square. Local associations offer gastronomic specialties and games for both adults and children. As evening falls, kindergarten and elementary school children parade with lanterns in a suggestive procession that recalls St. Martin's act of charity.

The tradition of goose at the table

November 11th is the day dedicated to the St. Martin's goose throughout the German-speaking world. In the village restaurants and during the festival, traditional goose dishes (Ganslessen) are served, often revisited with creative pairings and modern preparations. The Martini Kirchtag is part of the autumn calendar of the Bassa Atesina (Südtiroler Unterland), a land of fine red wines, and represents one of the most characteristic gastronomic and folkloric events of the season.

An event with a strong local identity

Although it is a small-scale event, the Martini Kirchtag in Cortina sulla strada del vino is a beloved destination for residents of the entire Adige Valley and a small jewel of South Tyrol's popular traditions. The festival combines spirituality, folklore, gastronomy, and conviviality in a single day, offering visitors an authentic immersion into the culture of Trentino-Alto Adige and the rhythm of the seasons in the Bassa Atesina.