One gorge, a thousand facets

Thundering waterfalls, rushing torrents and an Alpine panorama that both captivates and frees you all at once. Rugged rocks that were shaped by nature and in the middle of all this: sculptures made by human hands. Come discover the Plima Gorge.

The Val Martello in the Val Venosta is one of the most original valleys in South Tyrol and is located in the middle of the Stelvio National Park. As one of the largest nature reserves in all of Europe, it is home to a unique flora and fauna. Here the glaciated peaks of the Ortler-Cevedale Group, that are over 3,700 m high, soar towards the sky, while at the same time, the valley reaches down quite a bit. Four artistically designed steel constructions along the Plima gorge path make it possible to access these low points. The Plima Gorge – a rock formation that provides deep insights and impressive views

The trowel

Already at the entrance to the gorge path the hustle and bustle of the city feels like a faded memory. Songbirds flutter through the air and fly from branch to branch, singing sweet melodies. The sun is particularly warm on this glorious summer day. And it smells so nice: the scent of wood and fresh green grass fills my lungs. Right at the beginning, an easy and narrow path that meanders along a pond leads me into the forest. Step by step it gets rockier. But then the path ends in a soft meadow. I pass a gently bubbling brook over a small wooden footbridge. A few more meters through the shady forest and suddenly I’m standing in front of steep step stairs. Dense branches initially cloud the view, but then I see it: the “trowel”. A steel sculpture shaped like a gigantic spoon digging deep into the gorge as if trying to scoop water out of it. Green conifers, gnarled roots and rugged rocks surround me wherever I look. Partly overgrown with moss, making the edges look quite soft. In between all this, the mountain stream shoots out and sprays fine water droplets into the air. How refreshing!

The sickle

A narrow wooden path carves its way through the radiant green of a meadow. After ten minutes I’m standing on the “sickle” – a semi-circular platform over the gorge that runs close to the rocky edge. Directly below me there is a depth of quite a few meters. The view wanders all the way from the dizzying abyss up to the wooded hilly landscape. It’s not quiet here, but the roar of the Plimabach river has a calming quality to it. A wooden bench in the sun invites you to take a little break and let the relaxed atmosphere sink in for a moment.

The pulpit

Soft forest floor and flat stone slabs, then a few stairs. To my left and my right are tall, shady trees. Squirrels are having a climbing competition in the branches. Here and there sunbeams shimmer through the treetops. After 15 minutes you can already spot it from afar, towering towards the sky: the “pulpit”. The imposing steel construction was transported here in one piece by helicopter and then anchored firmly into the ground as if it were a rock. After arriving at the viewing platform, you can let your eyes fly over the gorge below and the Val Martello surrounding you. You’ll feel like you’re floating.

The hanging bridge

A roar can be heard from afar. It gets louder and louder. Until you finally stand in front of a mighty waterfall that digs its way through the gorge with the full force of nature. The water just rushes past me and covers my face with cool spray. This is nature up close. Just ahead, something shimmers metallically in the sun. It’s a spectacular suspension bridge. It spans over the deeply incised gorge and allows you to walk from one edge to the other, right over the wild Plimabach river and the sharp rocks. But don’t panic: Even if it wobbles a little bit, it is quite stable. I cover the last few meters with a light step, in front of me the Zufallshütte hut (2,264 m).

A little further in the distance there is the Marteller Hütte hut. Up here at 2,585 m above sea level, the panoramic views of the Val Martello and the Zufrittsee Lake – a reservoir that stands out with its splash of turquoise colour between all the dark green forests – is simply wonderful. It’s hard to believe that this place offers so many different insights and views. Nature here in the Val Martello has many faces.