Palù del Fersina Festival / Kirchta va Palai en Bersntol

The festival of the Mòcheni community

The Palù del Fersina Festival, known in the Mòcheni language as Kirchta va Palai en Bersntol, is the annual village celebration of Palù del Fersina, the highest and smallest town in the Mòcheni Valley (Bersntol), in the province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige. Nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,350 meters, Palù del Fersina is considered the beating heart of Mòcheni culture and language, a Germanic dialect still spoken daily by its inhabitants. The festival, organized by the local Pro Loco, is traditionally held on the first weekend of August and represents the most cherished appointment of the summer for the entire community.

Mountain gastronomy

The heart of the festival is the food stand, carefully set up to showcase the culinary identity of the valley. Specialties to enjoy include polenta with pork chops and sausages, potatoes, goulash soup, and kiachln, the traditional local fritters. There is no shortage of signature local products, such as Burbiz Kropfen (large ravioli stuffed with mountain pasture cheese), Mòcheni braided bread, and craft beers produced in the valley. The scent of grilled meat and the crisp mountain air complete the atmosphere.

Traditions and folklore

Beyond the dining, the Kirchta is an opportunity to rediscover the customs and crafts of the past. On Sunday, activities for families and children are offered, including pony and horse rides, alongside moments dedicated to passing down traditions. A symbol of this spirit is the Bersntolerun, a playful course where participants test themselves by attempting traditional tasks to prove they are true Mòcheni.

Slow and authentic tourism

The Palù del Fersina Festival is part of a model of conscious, human-scale tourism that characterizes the entire Mòcheni Valley: mountain huts accessible only on foot, ethnographic museums, and historical mining sites like the Erdemolo mine (Gruab va Hardimbl). It is a destination that favors authentic contact with the mountains and their communities, far from mass tourism. Participating in the Kirchta means immersing yourself in one of the most precious fragments of Alpine culture in Trentino.