The Val Senales is celebrating two important anniversaries: 35 years since the discovery of Ötzi and 50 years of the Texel Group Nature Park.
Focusing on humankind and the environment
This year the Val Senales is celebrating two significant anniversaries that highlight the deep connection between humankind and the environment. These are the 35th anniversary of the discovery of Ötzi, the Iceman, and the 50th anniversary of the Texel Group Nature Park, one of South Tyrol’s largest and most valuable protected areas.
The body of a Copper Age man
On 19 September 1991, on the Giogo di Tisa (3,210 m), on the border between Italy and Austria, Erika and Helmut Simon, a married couple, stumbled upon a body emerging from the ice. It was only a few days later that the exceptional nature of the discovery became clear: it was the naturally preserved mummy of a man who had lived over 5,300 years ago. Since then, Ötzi has become one of the most studied archaeological finds in the world and an international symbol of scientific research.
How life was in the Alps in the Copper Age
His extraordinary state of preservation, together with the equipment found alongside the body, including the famous copper axe, the bow, the arrows, tools and clothing, has allowed researchers to reconstruct life in the Alps during the Copper Age with great precision. Even today, new analyses continue to provide information about his diet, his state of health, the climate of the time and the final hours of his life. But the discovery of Ötzi also tells a deeper story: as far back as over five thousand years ago, people were already crossing the mountains of the Val Senales. The Alpine passes were not barriers, but rather places of connection, exchange and movement between different territories. A history that continues to this day and which shapes the valley’s identity.
The Texel is South Tyrol’s largest park
This identity is also closely linked to the Texel Group Nature Park, established in 1976, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On over 33,000 hectares it is South Tyrol’s largest nature park and safeguards an exceptionally rich Alpine landscape: glaciers, high-altitude lakes, forests, pastures, streams and habitats that are home to unique biodiversity. Much of the Val Senales lies within the park, which for fifty years has played a fundamental role in the conservation of natural heritage, scientific research and environmental education.
Guided hikes, cultural events and themed tours
The two anniversaries are therefore closely linked: Ötzi, who bears witness to the relationship between humans and the mountains in the past, while the Nature Park ensures that this heritage is preserved for the future. Together, they tell the story of a valley where archaeology, research, nature and culture coexist in a unique balance. To celebrate these anniversaries, throughout 2026 Val Senales is offering a packed programme of guided hikes, cultural events, themed tours and activities dedicated to the story of Ötzi, Alpine biodiversity and exploring the local area.
For information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.valsenales.cc
