The path through the very narrow valley from Franzensfeste to Sterzing gives pilgrims the chance to contrast the stress of European transit traffic with little villages full of curious treasures, where time seems to have stood still. The consequences of modern mobility are obvious on the most important traffic crossing ofer the lowest Alpine pass: the Brenner.

From Franzensfeste we take the old unmade agricultural road to Mittewald. We are almost alone and not disturbed by cars along the way, and even after Mittewald where is asphalted, we only have to share it with cyclists. And old military road through the forest before Pfulters curtails the asphaltetd stretch for with our feet are thankful, and a little later, after the hamlet of Niederried, to our great delight we find the Stations of the ross going through the forest - albeit at a height of 100 m up the mounain. Anyone wanting to forego the climb, but still wanting to see the Chapel at the ancient thermal spa of Möde and the curative Peter's Spring, both on the edge of the road, should stay on the little road until they reach this unique place. For 500 years the water bubbled out of the spring in clockwise fashion. Today people collect it from the area in canisters because it is supposed to cure skin diseases. Nowadays all that's left of this late 19th century spa is the chapel, but the place still leaves a lasting impression because of its beauty and character.

Continuing along the paths towards the old Gothic Parish Church of St. Peter in Stilfes visible in the distance, we will go through a magical riverscape, which we would not have expected and which is only revealed to those of us on foot. Car drivers go by too fast to notice it: here the Eisack meanders in a leisurely fashion, winding through lus, marshy pastures, home to a great number of plants and animals. A little bit of paradise!
From here, a detour over the other side of the valley to Maria Trens in highly recommended, to the Maria Weißenstein the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Assumption, the second most important pilgrimage destination in South Tyrol.

Crossing the Sterzing marshlands and passing Reifenstein castle, for many years owned by the Teutonic order of knights, we reach Sterzing, town of merchants, knights and pilgrims. Coming from Penser Joch road we cross over the Ridnaun road and going along the agricultural road we reach St. James Church in Thuins opposite us. (For Sterzing go back the same way, but cross the motorway and immediately after turn right along the path through the meadow to the parish church.)
Thuins was the home of a brotherhood of St. James founded at the beginning of the 16th century, and also the site of the Church of St. James from the same time, because the old road above Sterzing passed through Thuins. However pilgrims' hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and the Teutonic Order of Knights were to be found in Sterzing, as were ferscoes depicting the pilgrims' apostle painted on the outer walls of private houses (one on the Geizkoflerstraße, the other on the main road in the direction of Gossensaß). The "Deutschhaus" (the living quarters of the Knights) vry close to the parish cuhrch, which is well worth seeing (the first pillar on the left was donated by the brotherhood of St. James) and the "Johannisstüberl" in the old part of the town (in the former hospital chapel) are still a reminder today of the two military Orders of Knights so important to pilgrimage routes throughout Europe. In the town's coat of arms our eyes can't fail to see the "Sterzl" shrouded in legend. Perhaps it is this devout pilgrim with rosary, and supported on crutches, who has lent his name to this historic town.

Time: 
Franzensfeste > Mittewald: 1 hrs. 
Mittewald > Niederried/Stilfes: 2 hrs. 
Niederried/Stilfes > Sterzing: 2 hrs.

Distance:
28.5 km

Height difference:
Ascent: 656 m
Descent: 442 m