Schlernbödele Kirchtag

An alpine feast at the foot of the Sciliar

The Schlernbödele Kirchtag is the traditional patronal feast held every summer at the Schlernbödelehütte, an alpine hut located at an altitude of 1,693 meters on a small grassy plateau, directly at the foot of the imposing Sciliar cliffs, the iconic mountain of South Tyrol. The hut overlooks the village of Siusi allo Sciliar (Seis am Schlern), a district of the municipality of Castelrotto (Kastelruth), in the Province of Bolzano, within the Alpe di Siusi area.

The Kirchtag: faith and tradition at high altitude

In South Tyrolean culture, the Kirchtag is the feast of the patron saint, a custom deeply rooted in the German-speaking communities of South Tyrol. In its alpine version at Schlernbödele, the heart of the day is the solemn mountain mass (heilige Bergmesse), officiated outdoors in the evocative setting of the meadows below the Sciliar. Surrounding the religious service is a day of convivial celebration: hikers, families, and locals climb to the hut to share a moment of reflection and then gather at the table, enjoying typical South Tyrolean cuisine and the genuine mountain atmosphere.

A hut with a history

The Schlernbödelehütte belongs to the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS), the South Tyrolean alpine club. The structure was originally built as a base for mountaineers and was officially inaugurated in 1961 as the "Johann-Santner-Hütte am Schlernbödele". Destroyed by an avalanche in April 1984, it was rebuilt and reopened on June 15, 1986. To this day, the hut remains a prime starting point for climbing routes on the Santner and the Burgstallwand, as well as for numerous hikes in the Sciliar group.

In the heart of the Alpe di Siusi

The Schlernbödele Kirchtag is part of the rich calendar of traditional events in the Alpe di Siusi area, between Castelrotto, Siusi, and Fiè allo Sciliar. For visitors climbing to the foot of the Sciliar, the feast is the ideal opportunity to combine a Dolomite hike with a moment of authentic South Tyrolean tradition, in a protected natural environment of extraordinary beauty.