Törggelefest in St. Oswald

A Törggelen festival on the Alpe di Siusi

The Törggelefest in St. Oswald is one of the most cherished autumn events in the municipality of Castelrotto (Kastelruth), in South Tyrol. The festival takes place in the small hamlet of St. Oswald, a quiet mountain village nestled at the foot of the Sciliar, in the Alpe di Siusi region.

The event celebrates Törggelen, the ancient South Tyrolean custom marking the end of the grape harvest: when the must begins to ferment and the chestnuts are ripe, people gather to savor the season's bounty. The name comes from the dialect term Torggl, the wine press used to crush the grapes.

Farmhouse cuisine and new wine

Throughout the day, the Freiwillige Feuerwehr St. Oswald (the local volunteer fire brigade) serves typical Törggelen specialties: Schlutzkrapfen (spinach and ricotta ravioli), Knödel (dumplings), sausages, sauerkraut, speck, and filled Krapfen pastries. There is no shortage of roasted chestnuts (Kastanien) and new wine (Nuier), the undisputed stars of every South Tyrolean autumn festival.

Music and mountain atmosphere

The day is accompanied by live music, with local bands and ensembles taking turns to enliven the festivities. The atmosphere is typical of South Tyrolean village festivals: convivial, familiar, and deeply rooted in rural traditions.

How to experience the festival

St. Oswald can be easily reached on foot along the hiking trails that climb from Siusi allo Sciliar (Seis am Schlern) through orchards and chestnut woods: a walk that is part of the Törggelen experience itself. Those who prefer can arrive by bus or car. The combination of an autumn hike, good food, and music makes the Törggelefest in St. Oswald one of the best opportunities to discover the hospitality of Castelrotto and the Alpe di Siusi during the season of colors.