Diversity and extremes

The landscape of the Matsch valley is one of many facets which are clear to be seen even as you approach the village. Black pine forests and dry grasslands of unusual steppe-like vegetation line the winding road, along with plants from the Central Asian and Mediterranean area, rare birds and butterflies. Matsch is one of the driest valleys in the Alps.

Multi-faceted mosaic

In front of the village, the view opens out over the “Matscherwiesen” meadows, a conservation area with a distinctive terraced landscape and small parcels of cultivated land clinging steeply to the lands below the village, nesting overhead. Given that every inch of arable land was a precious resource in days gone by, the villagers did not shy away from the backbreaking labour that farming this area entailed. Due to the aridity, numerous irrigation channels had to be carved out of the land to water the meadows and fields. The Ackerwaal channel, a mosaic of wetlands and dry habitats, provides resources for an enormously high biodiversity in a small space such as can rarely be seen. Today, a beautiful Waalweg irrigation channel nature trail has been created here.

Solitary mountain lakes

The Matscherjochsee Lake (3,188 m) is the highest mountain lake in South Tyrol, while the Saldurseen Lakes form the highest lake plateau in South Tyrol. Both of them are swimmable at times.

The top research valley in South Tyrol

In a small area from 1,000 to 3,700 metres above sea level, the Matsch Valley features all the altitude levels typical of a mountainous region and boasts a variety of vegetation levels, from orchards to glaciers. This is one of the reasons why the valley has, since 2014, been part of a worldwide research network which studies the long-term effects of climate change and land use. The scientists at the European Academy of Bolzano (EURAC) have set up 17 climate stations in the valley which continuously monitor temperature, rainfall and wind and explore the stimulating, foresighted question of how climatic conditions, their changes and human use of land affect biodiversity.

Excellent opportunities for game observation

„At one time, the Matsch Valley was the most chamois-rich valley of the Vintschgau Valley, both on this side and beyond the Adige. Josef Tschiggfrei, a hunter from Matsch now in his late sixties, alone shot well over four hundred chamois in this reserve, and usually with the muzzle loader …“, so Ernst Meran, or Ernst Semmler to give him his proper name, a now-forgotten 19th century novelist, wrote in his “ Edelweiss und Tannengrün” described the fauna in Matsch. A colossal boulder on the lateral moraine of the Matscherferner in the Gawellzen bears his name.

The Matsch people remain chamois hunters this day. The population of red, chamois and roe deer is on the increase, and even wild ibex herds can be seen during the long mountain tours in the area of the Saldurseen Lakes or in their winter habitat from the Matscher Alm mountain pasture and hut. The golden eagle also breeds in this area, and after the reintroduction projects in the neighbouring Stelvio National Park and the Swiss National Park, the bearded vulture has also started to make a comeback. On ski tours and snowshoe hikes you may well spot black grouse at the tree line, and snow grouse in the high mountains. Matsch is noted for its density of rock partridge, a characteristic bird of the rocky dry grasslands at and above the tree line on the sunny side of Matsch.