From Nova Levante/Welschnofen, the cable car takes us directly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Catinaccio/Rosengarten and thus to lofty heights in no time at all. Once up here, we are amazed: at the mountain station, a full-blown skills centre awaits us to get us in the mood with

• Drops,
• Northshores,
• Berms
• and, of course, a small pump track.

We warm up first and get playing. We don't even realise how much time passes, so we don't start the actual trail until 60 minutes later. After the first two bends, we feel completely in our element - probably also thanks to the intensive session in the skills centre.

The trail always leads along the stream and through the wild Nigertal valley down to Welschnofen. The 4.4 km long Carezza single trail is characterised by

• its flowing lines, which follow a mountain stream
• the long Northshores
• the small bridges, jumps, berms & steep bends

There are always two lines to choose from. So we certainly won't get bored even on a repeat ride. The long wooden elements are particularly exciting and impressive as they lead us over wetter areas and thus protect the ground. It's always a bit like being in Canada, a real flow adventure when you're travelling on wood.

The Carezza Trail should ideally be part of a longer tour. The triumvirate of Rosengarten, Latemar and Karersee can easily be integrated into a mountain bike tour and then targeted when there are fewer bikers on the road. We visit the kitschy, beautiful Lake Carezza very early in the morning and enjoy the peace and quiet. It lies there shimmering cool and blue-green - the legendary Latemar massif is already reflected in it. The lake is fed underground by springs from the mountains and, according to legend, shimmers in the most beautiful colours due to the broken rainbow of a sorcerer.

Whether it's because of this or for more mundane geological reasons is irrelevant when you're sitting on the shore with your legs dangling in the cool water. South Tyrolean legends play a major role here in Val d'Ega. After all, the mighty dwarf king Laurin is said to have wreaked havoc here and cursed the Rosengarten out of anger, so that it could only be seen at dusk - during the alpenglow.

Travelling along ancient cultural trails

We enjoy this alpine spectacle of nature with a good glass of wine and the memories of a great day on the bike. Biking at the foot of the Catinaccio and Latemar mountains is also excellent: Old cultural trails run along here and connect the huts, most of which are farmed. The trails are never too difficult and never too easy - the ideal mix. And the Carezza Trail at the end of the day rounds off the experience perfectly - varied, diverse, playful and somehow also fabulous.