Staller Sattel Car-Free Day / sattel.fest.

A day of gentle mobility on the roof of the Antholz Valley

The Staller Sattel Car-Free Day, also known by the motto "sattel.fest.", is the car-free event that returns every September, giving the Staller Sattel (Passo Stalle) back to cyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Situated at an altitude of over 2,050 meters at the end of the Antholz Valley, in the municipality of Rasen-Antholz in the province of Bolzano, the pass connects South Tyrol to the nearby Defereggen Valley in the Austrian East Tyrol. For an entire day, the pass road is closed to motorized traffic, leaving room for the silence of the mountains and sustainable mobility.

The Staller Sattel Pass

The Staller Sattel is one of the most picturesque alpine passes in South Tyrol. Its narrow road, regulated by alternating one-way traffic lights, climbs through forests and pastures up to the small Obersee lake, a glacial jewel nestled among the peaks of the Rieserferner Group. Just a bit further down lies the famous Antholz Lake. On a day like this, free from cars, the landscape of the pass reveals itself in its most authentic form, inviting you to explore it on foot or by bicycle.

A cross-border event

The unique feature of this initiative is its cross-border dimension: the road closure does not only affect the South Tyrolean side but also includes a section of the Defereggen Valley on the Austrian side. The two border communities collaborate to transform the pass into a meeting place for South Tyroleans and Tyroleans, united by the same mountains. Around the pass, local businesses and associations liven up the day with stalls offering regional culinary specialties, entertainment, and live music. To encourage visitors to leave their cars in the valley, free e-bike rentals are also provided.

An experience for everyone

The Staller Sattel Car-Free Day is not a competitive race, but a high-altitude village festival designed for families, cycling enthusiasts, and hikers of all levels. You can climb the pass under your own steam, stop along the way for a culinary break, cycle around the Obersee lake, or simply enjoy the day in the open air in an environment otherwise dominated by traffic. It is a different and conscious way to experience the Dolomites and the mountains of South Tyrol, in the name of respect for the alpine environment.

An Olympic territory

The Antholz Valley is world-famous for its biathlon center, which will host the events of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The car-free day at Staller Sattel thus fits into the sporting and environmental vocation of a territory that makes the mountains and gentle mobility a hallmark of its identity.