The '''Eisack Valley''' (German: ''Eisacktal'', Italian: ''Valle Isarco'', Ladin: ''Val dl Isarch'') [http://www.eisacktal.info] is a South Tyrolean district located in the central part of the region which borders to the South Tyrolean Wipp Valley (northern part of the valley of the Eisack) in the north-west, to the Puster Valley to the north-east and to the east and to Salten-Schlern to the west and to the south (with the southern part of the valley of the Eisack). Its capital is Brixen, the third largest town in South Tyrol. The district has a population of about 50,000.
Regions
This article is about the district of the Eisack Valley and not about the geographical valley:
Eisack Valley (district) — central part of the geographical valley
South Tyrolean Wipp Valley — northern part of the geographical valley
Salten-Schlern — with the southern part of the geographical valley
Cities
Brixen — religious capital of former Tyrol and biggest city in the whole geographical valley
Klausen — picturesque small town in the southern part of the district
Other destinations
Plose — the most important ski resort in the area
Puez-Geisler Nature Park — wonderful Dolomitic area
Understand
Part of the Eisack Valley district territory was under the direct control of the Bishop of Brixen in that state which was known as Bishopric of Brixen but that was under protection of the Counts of Tyrol before and of the Hapsburgs after. The first capital of the Bishopric was Saben near Klausen (during Roman times known as ''Sabione'' - Klausen was ''Subsabione''). In 901 Brixen was founded and in 980 it became the bishopric centre. Since then Brixen has been the religious capital of Tyrol. The diocese was founded in the 6th century, and gradually received more secular powers. The Bishopric of Brixen was elevated to an immediate principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1179, and lost its worldly powers in 1803, when its territory was annexed by Austria. The Bishopric of Brixen existed until 1964, when it became part of the Diocese of Bolzano-Brixen. The seat of the diocese is now in Bolzano but the Cathedral in Brixen remains to held this title while the Cathedral in Bolzano is officially a ''Co-Cathedral''. From 1803 to 1919 the area from between Klausen and Brixen to some kilometers northern to the Brenner Pass was part of the district of Brixen, while Klausen was part of the district of Bolzano. The district of the Eisack Valley was born in 1968 and until 1980 it included the municipalities of the Wipp Valley.
The climate in the low valley is continental with strong Alpine influences while in the upper lateral valleys the climate is strongly Alpine.
Talk
The Eisack Valley is mostly German-speaking - 86% of the district population speaks German as mother tongue. Only 13% is Italian-speaking while Ladins are a small minority - but stronger than in other districts (1%). The Italian-speaking population lives primarily in the towns of Brixen and Klausen. All road signs are bilingual, though.
The Eisack Valley German dialect (''Eisacktalerisch'', or in dialect ''Eisacktolerisch'') is a typical Tyrolean dialect in transition between that of the Innsbruck and of the Bolzano area and it's quite homogeneous. Only in Brixen the dialect could sound a bit differently (e.g. in the word usage more than in the spelling) also because the Brixen dialect is an urban dialect which shares similarities to that of Bolzano and Meran.
Get in
The Eisack Valley is very well connected by public transportation and international connections.
By train
The Eisack Valley is on the international Brenner rail line which connects Southern and Northern Europe. Brixen is the major hub and all the train stop there.
By bus
Brixen is the major hub for international connections with the whole Central Europe. In the article about South Tyrol all information about coach agency is written.
By car
The motorway A22 is the simplest way in order to reach the Eisack Valley. There are two motorway exits: one in Brixen and one in Klausen.
Get around
Value Card
If you want to travel inside South Tyrol and so inside the Eisack Valley by bus or by train you can buy the "Value Card" ("Wertkarte" or "Carta valore") for EUR 5.00, 10.00 or 25.00 and you will pay less with this card. In Brixen this tickets can be bought also in general shops like bakeries, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, other retail stores and in the tourist offices. All dealers have identification stickers. In smaller places you can find them at bus stations. For more information check on the web site of the regional transport system web site [http://www.sii.bz.it].
By train
Only three places in the Eisack Valley can be reached directly by train.
<br>
Rail stations in the Eisack Valley coming from Bolzano (the most important are written in '''bold'''):
Waidbruck
'''Klausen'''
'''Brixen'''
The rail service is operated by the Italian Railway Company '''Trenitalia''' [http://www.trenitalia.it]. For information about timetables the web site for local transportation powered by the regional government [http://www.sii.bz.it] is the most detailed.
By bus
Brixen is the major local hub for connections to other places in the Eisack Valley. On regional buses you can buy your ticket on board too. In the Brixen city buses you can't buy the ticket on board.
You can get more information on the regional transport system web site [http://www.sii.bz.it] (also in English available) or on the bus society for transportation in urban areas [http://www.sasabz.it] (only in German or Italian).
By car
Also the most isolated village is well connected by the well-kept road system. Also without maps is possible to reach small places. However, if you get a map it's better. Pay attention on mountain roads.
By bike
The Eisack Valley has a well-developed bike trail system inside the district but it's not connected to Bolzano. On the web site of the regional government you can find the maps of the bike trail systems in South Tyrol divided by districts [http://www.provinz.bz.it/raumordnung/2701/radwege/radwege.htm] (German and Italian).
See
The most impressive highlights are to be found between Brixen and Klausen.
'''Cathedral of Brixen''' with the '''Diocesan Museum''' [http://www.dioezesanmuseum.bz.it/] in Brixen
'''Town museum''' with the Loreto treasures in Klausen
'''Heimatmuseum''' about local history in Feldthurns
'''Trostburg Castle''' from the 12<sup>th</sup> century near Klausen
'''Neustift Abbey''' near Brixen is one of the biggest in historical Tyrol
'''Kloster Saben''' is an artistic, archaeologic, historical and religious highlight over Klausen
Do
The Eisack Valley is full of summer and winter activities.
'''Acquarena''' [http://www.acquarena.com] in Brixen with indoor and outdoor swimmingpool, fitness and wellness centre is considered to be one of the the most funny aquapark in South Tyrol.
On the Plose (see Brixen) there are pargliding possibilities.
Horse sled in the snow is a magic experience in winter which is possible on the Plose, in Maransen and in Villnos.
The natural sled track Geisleralm-Ranui in the Villnos Valley is the longest in the Eisack Valley (6km)
Eat
The Eisack Valley cuisine is a typical Tyrolean cuisine. The most typical local dish is the Eisack Valley Wine Soup which is particularly creamy. The in Brixen located '''Brimi''' [http://www.brimi.it] produces a lot of export dairy products like mozzarella, mascarpone and local butter. Typical speck can be found everywhere.
In the Eisack Valley you will find expecially typical '''Gasthauser''' - even in Brixen. International, cuisine and ethnic restaurants tend to be more expensive here.
Drink
In the Eisack Valley there is a small but high-quality production of wine. During the '''Torggelen''' season fresh wine most with chestnuts is served. Beer is also popular expecially during local parties. Night life is to be found only in Brixen.
Stay safe
The Eisack Valley is a very safe area.
Get out
Bolzano, the capital city of South Tyrol
Innsbruck, Austria, the capital of old Tyrol is near to Brixen
South Tyrolean Wipp Valley, geographically the northern part of the Eisack Valley
Puster Valley, eastern South Tyrol