Mühlenfest im Terner Mühlental

The Terento Mill Festival

In the heart of the Puster Valley, the small village of Terento (Terenten), in the Province of Bolzano, preserves one of the most evocative rural landscapes in South Tyrol: the Mühlental, or mill valley, where the Terner Bach stream flows through meadows, powering a long line of ancient water mills. Every first Sunday of August, this place comes alive with the Mühlenfest im Terner Mühlental, a festival that revives the customs and crafts of centuries past.

Seven mills up to 500 years old

From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the wooden wheels turn once again, powered solely by the water. The seven restored mills, some dating back over five hundred years, grind grain beneath heavy stone millstones. The farmers of Terento show visitors how flour was produced, offering a close-up look at an ancient art and highlighting the vital importance of water to mountain communities.

The day's program

The festival is a deep dive into South Tyrolean rural culture. Alongside milling demonstrations, the program features:

• traditional music and the characteristic Goaslkrocha (whip-cracking);
• Schuhplattler, the typical Tyrolean dances involving rhythmic clapping and shoe-slapping;
• bread baking in wood-fired ovens;
• a rich selection of farm-fresh specialties.

Local gastronomy is a highlight: Tirtlan (stuffed fritters), Strauben, Krapfen, dumplings (Knödel), speck, alpine cheeses, freshly baked bread, and fruit juices ensure no one leaves hungry.

A walk among the mills

To reach the mills, visitors can follow a comfortable circular family-friendly trail, taking about an hour and a half on foot from Terento; a paid shuttle service is also available. The event is a certified Green Event, encouraging visitors to arrive via public transport, particularly the Puster Valley regional train.

The 's Terner Schmelzpfandl series

The Mühlenfest is the summer centerpiece of the 's Terner Schmelzpfandl project, a calendar of events guiding visitors through the seasons of rural life in Terento: sowing in spring, grain milling in summer, and the transhumance with the harvest festival in autumn. It is an authentic way to discover the folk traditions and rural identity of South Tyrol, in one of the most genuine areas of the Kronplatz holiday region.