From Hafling to the Stoanernen Mandl´n

This extensive hike begins in the municipality of Hafling, the "Sun Terrace of Merano". The village lies on the long ridge of the Tschöggelberg mountain, which stretches between Merano and Bolzano in the southwest of the Sarentino Alps. It is bordered to the west by the Adige Valley, to the east by the Sarn Valley and offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. The Tschöggelberg is also home to the famous Haflinger, which we meet during our hike. On the mountain range we reach the legendary place of the Stoanernen Mandl´n. Over a hundred "stone men" line up on the 2000 m high plateau of the Hohe Reisch. The mystical little towers of numerous stone slabs lying on top of each other can be found in various formations and sizes. But the figures, some of which are as tall as a man, are a mystery - did they once originate from the shepherds' pure pastime? Or were they a place of worship for witches in the dark past? On the other hand, finds of flint tools and engravings point to