Dream destinations in the mountains part 4: Valsugana

Where most holidaymakers turn west towards Lake Garda, here the route heads east. The Valsugana begins around 15 kilometres above Trento. A lovely wine and apple country, framed by wooded heights and mountain massifs. The tour around the two charming lakes and the cycle path along the Brenta towards Veneto are recommended as an introduction. Those with stamina can make it to Bassano del Grappa and take the train back.

Things get more exciting at altitude: for example on the Kaiserjägerweg, a narrow pass road to the Vezzena plateau, which the Austrians blasted into the rock during the First World War. Another tip is the Val di Sella, a high valley
near Borgo Valsugana, famous for Arte Sella, a fascinating area with huge works of natural art. If you choose the gorge descent via Barco, you should be a confident rider. A tour to the north leads to the Mocheni, the inhabitants of the wild and romantic Fersen valley. At the bottom of the valley, mountain farmers grow everything from strawberries and raspberries to blueberries and blackberries.

E-bike hire
Repairs and bikes of all kinds:
- At Bike Valsugana in Levico Terme, www.inbikevalsugana.it
- Valsugana Rent Bike (several hire points in the valley), www.valsuganarentbike.com

Worth seeing
- Arte Sella (art area in the high valley)
- Kaiserjägerweg (see above)
- Borgo Valsugana (nice little town with castle and Venetian centre)
- Val di Centa (Acropark with climbing forest, beautiful river valley, small mountain villages)
- Levico Terme (old town with thermal baths and beautiful park)

Accommodation
- Hotel Ambassador in Levico Terme, directly on the lake, www.hotel-ambassador.it/de
- Sporthotel Cristallo in Levico Terme, www.hotelcristallotrentino.it/de

Tour tips
- Around the two lakes of Levico and Caldonazzo: beautiful easy tour on side roads and cycle paths around Lago di Levico and Lago di Caldonazzo as well as through the historic centre of Pergine Valsugana (24 km, 400 m ascent).
- Val di Sella: from the historic centre of Borgo Valsugana into the high valley to the Arte Natura nature trail and the Arte Sella open-air art (medium difficulty, 31 km, 1,000 m ascent).
- Round of small fruits: up into the Fersental valley (Val di Mocheni), where the mountain farmers still speak a rare old Bavarian dialect and grow berries of all kinds (21 km, 980 metres in altitude, medium difficulty).
GPS data and further tours: www.visitvalsugana.it/bike

Literature/Maps
- "Mountainbike - Roadbike - Tours in Valsugana - Lagorai": Good overview map of tours for 2 euros from the tourist office.
- Compass map no. 75 "Valsugana - Trento - Piné - Levico - Lavarone" 1:50,000

Tourist-Info
www.visitvalsugana.it/de

The full article was published in E-BIKE issue 3/2017. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.