IN AND AROUND GARDA TRENTINO
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VALLE DI LEDRO
The Ledro Valley stretches between the mountains west of Garda Trentino and the lake of the same name, offering glimpses of unspoiled nature a few minutes by car from the main towns of the northern shores of Lake Garda. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate of the surrounding highlands, the valley enjoys mild summers and sunny winters, perfect for unforgettable bike rides or hikes with stunning scenery along woodland trails or overlooking the lake.
The landscape ranges from evergreen woodlands, high mountain pastures and rocky crags to the limpid waters of Lake Ledro. The lake has picnic areas and beaches with bathing amenities, the perfect place for relaxing strolls along the shore.
The Ledro area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age: the pile-dwelling settlement discovered on the lake shore in 1929 tells the story of day to day life in a community of farmers and herders 4.000 years ago. Don’t miss the nearby LAKE LEDRO PILE-DWELLING MUSEUM to learn more about these prehistoric Alpine settlements. Admission combines a collection of over 200 original finds with a visit to the piles still protruding today from the waters of the lake and reconstructions of four dwellings. Here there are a number of ways you can time travel to the prehistoric era: the museum also offers educational workshops for families, guided tours, immersive videos, events for the public, sign language videos and guides in three languages (info & booking www.palafitteledro.it).
Each and every hamlet in the municipality of Ledro has places of historic and cultural interest like the numerous churches, Garibaldi Museum, trenches of the First and Second World Wars and Ledro Land Art, a nature trail with permanent art installations. There are also little museums of local traditions (mills) and craft workshops bearing witness to the trades of days gone by (Fucine di Prè). Don’t miss the PHARMACEUTICAL MUSEUM FOLETTO, in the centre of Pieve di Ledro: a little gem recounting the story of a family of pharmacists and apothecaries who worked there from 1850 onwards. On display are period instruments, old alembics, original recipe books, medicinal herbs and traditional pharmaceutical preparations, giving visitors an insight into pharmaceutical practices of old. The tour also offers botanical curiosities, herbal perfumes and liqueurs, still produced in the traditional manner today. Highly recommended to anyone interested in discovering the blend of memory, science and traditional which is at the heart of the Ledro Valley (info & booking www.museofoletto.it).
The Ledro Valley is a true paradise for sports lovers: over 60 km of signposted hiking trail winding between lake shores and woodlands. It is also linked to Riva del Garda by the famous Strada del Ponale, a stunning trail also suited to mountain bike, running through tunnels delved into the rock and offering breathtaking views over Lake Garda. Enthusiasts cannot afford to miss the ferrata F. Susatti to Cima Capi (from Riva del Garda) and the ferrata delle Laste e Gallerie di Cima Rocca. On the waters of the lake there is kayaking, windsurfing and SUP, while thrillseekers can go canyoning down mountain streams or take off from the mountainside to experience paragliding. In winter snowshoe outings offer a chance to enjoy a magical winter wonderland.
Die Region Ledro bietet eine typische Trentiner Küche mit böhmischen Einflüssen, die auf traditionellen Gerichten basiert. Von böhmischen Gnocchi bis hin zu Kartoffelpolenta oder Polenta aus gelbem Mehl aus Storo zeugt jeder Gang von der Vielfalt der Zutaten. Die typischen Restaurants der Region verbinden den Geschmack der Berge und des Sees und verwenden lokale Produkte wie Almkäse, Honig, frisches Gemüse, lila Kartoffeln und Forellen, kombiniert mit Pilzen und Wildkräutern und begleitet von autochthonen Weinen und Craftbieren.