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Culture and Art on the Ritten
>> The artist Guido Anton Muss
>> The artist Rudolf Maria Complojer
>> The artist Hans Pattis
>> The artist Ivo Rossi Sief
The "Rittner Bahn" (Ritten railway) is an electrically driven, narrow-gauge railway on the Ritten near Bozen in South Tyrol. "S'Bahnl" (the little railway) as the Ritten railway is called affectionately in the native dialect, connects the villages Maria Himmelfahrt, Oberbozen, Wolfsgruben, Lichtenstern and Klobenstein on the Ritten high plateau. The romantic route makes delightful wood and meadow countryside accessible to its passengers and allows them panoramic views of the imposing South Tyrolean mountain scenery. The historical railcars of the Ritten railway are even still in service and used daily. To ease the strain on the original wagons, a tramcar from Stuttgart, Germany is used occasionally.
Teutonic Order of Knights hospice in Lengmoos from the 13th century.
In the year 1200, when guest houses began to be erected in the "Land der Gebirge" (Mountain country), one was also built in Lengmoos to offer shelter to travellers who had to cross the Ritten because the route through the Eisack gorge was still not negotiable. When in the 14th century the main route was transferred to the valley and thus the importance of the guest house in the mountains was made obsolete, it was transformed into a "Kommende" (a kind of hospice), a domicile for the Teutonic Order of Knights. In 1989, the Kuratorium Kommende (hospice board of trustees) Lengmoos was founded, which works to preserve the hospice and organizes an extensive cultural programme including concerts, readings and lectures. During the summer months, guided tours are offered through the rooms every week. Since 1973, the "Rittner Sommerspiele" ( Ritten Summer Plays) have been performed between 23rd July and 14th August in the picturesque inner courtyard of the hospice.
In the year 1200, when guest houses began to be erected in the "Land der Gebirge" (Mountain country), one was also built in Lengmoos to offer shelter to travellers who had to cross the Ritten because the route through the Eisack gorge was still not negotiable. When in the 14th century the main route was transferred to the valley and thus the importance of the guest house in the mountains was made obsolete, it was transformed into a "Kommende" (a kind of hospice), a domicile for the Teutonic Order of Knights. In 1989, the Kuratorium Kommende (hospice board of trustees) Lengmoos was founded, which works to preserve the hospice and organizes an extensive cultural programme including concerts, readings and lectures. During the summer months, guided tours are offered through the rooms every week. Since 1973, the "Rittner Sommerspiele" ( Ritten Summer Plays) have been performed between 23rd July and 14th August in the picturesque inner courtyard of the hospice.
Weather crosses: People hiking on the Ritten are amazed again and again by the wooden crosses with the three cross-beams which can frequently be found on the Ritten. They are weather crosses (an old custom of pre-Christian origin) which the Ritten farmers erect on the highest point of their farm, the purpose being to keep severe storms at bay. The three cross-beams symbolize the Holy Trinity. Some people even maintain that the good weather on the Ritten is just due to these weather crosses.