Enjoy precious family time between meadows, forests, mountains and alpine pastures, where life pulsates to the gentle rhythm of the seasons!
Advertising: We had the pleasure of visiting the family hotel Viktoria for 3 nights with our children as part of a research trip.
Bevor wir uns dem Ultental mit Kindern widmen, ein kurzer Ausflug in die Vergangenheit. We actually have a long history with the Ulten Valley. We regularly travelled to this most pristine of all South Tyrolean valleys as a couple before we had children. Val d’Ultimo combines natural tranquillity and the majestic foothills of the Ortler massif with the natural beauty of this region. This is exactly what inspired us back then. For us, a holiday in Val d’Ultimo means retreating, arriving in the here and now and immersing ourselves in unspoilt nature.
Let’s start with the geography. The Ulten Valley towers 1,190 metres above Merano. Always following the sharp hairpin bends, the path slowly winds its way up the mountain, setting the mood for a spot on earth where nature is in charge.
Ancient larch trees grow here that are over 2000 years old. The locals have a special feeling for naturalness and originality. The Bergauf social co-operative, a local wool manufactory, and the Wegleit herb kingdom, where the power of mountain herbs is expressed in various products, are excellent examples of this.
In April, we were lucky enough to return to this place of longing with our children. There was something magical about it. Here we tell you about our newly discovered favourite places in Ultental Valley with kids.
Spending the night in Ultental Valley with kids
The Familienhotel Viktoria – named after the hosts’ daughter – is one of the 26 family-friendly hideaways in the region that have joined together to form the Familienhotels Südtirol. These hotels are customised to the needs of families in order to counteract the hustle and bustle of everyday life with valuable family time.
With its 29 rooms, the Familienhotel Viktoria is small, cosy and imbued with a warm family atmosphere. It is the result of the passionate vision of the Paris Staffler family, who began to transform the hotel into a family paradise over 8 years ago. As hosts typical of the valley, warmth and hospitality are tailor-made for them. Every corner tells their story and deep connection with the region. Whether it’s the old family pictures on the walls, the home-hunted meat at dinner or the fact that all the staff are from the Ulten Valley – everything contributes to this unique, warm ambience where families immediately feel at home.
Rooms
Various areas of the hotel are gradually being renovated. Half of the 29 rooms have already been remodelled. All of them are family rooms, some with separate bedrooms for the children. The guidance system for children to help them find their way around the house is particularly well designed. Using the animal pictures with a natural object at the kids’ eye level, young guests can immediately recognise which floor and room they are on. This way, nobody gets lost.
Culinary delights
Good food and drink are of particular importance to the Paris Staffler family. The ingredients for the South Tyrolean specialities served as part of the three-quarter board come from farmers in the region: fresh, local and delicious. It is worth mentioning that the hosts themselves are keen hunters and regularly supply the in-house kitchen with meat they have hunted themselves from the surrounding area.
Pool & Wellness
For wellness and relaxation, the swimming pool and the family sauna are open to all family members. Here you can relax wonderfully after an eventful day in nature and recharge your batteries.
For the children
Under the motto “on the trail of nature” a children’s program is set up daily. In the morning, various activities such as joint cooking or crafting are on the program, in which the young adventurers are the focus. While the children discover new things and make friends, the parents have the opportunity to give themselves time – perhaps with a good book or with a massage. As a highlight of the day, a trip always awaits in the afternoon, be it to the Pferdehof, to the in-house alpine past or to the self-built forest playground with joint stick bread grilling at the campfire. Parents are cordially invited to participate.
Trips and other favorite places in the Ultental with children
The natural landscape of the Ultental offers countless opportunities for outdoor activities with steep, lush green meadows, deep forests and clear mountain lakes as well as ancient mountain farms up to a height of 1800 meters. From hiking through untouched landscapes to skiing in winter, there is something for everyone. Guests of the hotel receive the Ultner guest card and can thus use the bus in front of the house free of charge.
Schwemmalm: The Schwemmalm is a must at any time of the year. In summer, the most beautiful family-friendly hiking trails and a mountain playground by the lake await here. As soon as the snow has arrived in the Ultental, the gentle snow pleasure with 25 kilometers of slopes attracts on the Schwemmalm. They are made for fun on boards, especially for children.
Ultner Urlärchen: A trip to the Ultner Urlärchen is highly recommended. These larches are not only visually impressive, they also tell the story of over 2000 years on our planet. On site there is an inn with a playground, from which you can have a good view of the urls and be pampered by local delicacies.
Local immersion: Visit the social cooperative Bergauf. There, wool is collected by small farmers from the area, which otherwise has no use as a waste product. From this, the cooperative produces high-quality products for everyday life on its own. In the workshop next to the store you can see how the felt is made.
