In that cradle of nature, civilization and culture that is Bressanone, The event will take place from 17th to 20th September bike festa Südtirol: an event that will have cycling as the common thread through meetings, themes, tests, discoveries, and experiences.
The city's historic center will be the stage for the event. This will house the Expo Area , where partner companies will exhibit their models and innovations. Next door, in a space with the evocative and inspiring name of Innovation Gallery , they will discuss the smart cities of the future , where the bicycle can become the key to truly sustainable mobility; performance , therefore, technologies with visionary design and precision engineering capable of offering intelligent solutions; and finally, social & eco change , the dimension in which mobility also takes on social responsibility.
And while the city will also host talks, tastings, and meetings, in the surrounding areas, bicycles will be the key to discovering cyclist-friendly roads, trails, and local attractions.
The 360-degree bicycle
Not a fair nor a festival: probably a world to discover. So to understand exactly what it is, we turned to Susanne Wild, Communication & Marketing of Brixen Tourismus, which starts us on this first stage of approaching bike festa Südtirol.
"Bressanone," he explains, "had the Mountain Bike Festival for many years, an event organized by a German editorial team we partnered with, without any role in the organization. Two years ago, this collaboration ended, so we began working on a new concept. What we felt was missing was a 360-degree vision of cycling , while the new format better represents Bressanone and South Tyrol as a place where you can enjoy outdoor activities by bike, but also use it as an alternative way to experience the city."
The party is divided into four parts
The event is divided into four worlds of experience and aims to create a shared experience between the public and brand partners: the brand festa, the ride festa, the people festa, finally the gusto festa.
La brand festa Create an experience for people together with participating brands. "We see our partners as ambassadors for their brands," he explains. Werner Zanotti, Director of Brixen Tourismus – not as traditional exhibitors. Whether during a workshop or a guided tour, we create spaces for inspiration, interaction, and presentation.
La ride festa shows how diverse the bike has become. Whether it's gravel, e-MTB, racing bike, urban bike or children's bikes: new routes take participants from the city along the river, through the vineyards and into the Dolomites.
«Our goal is to unite people – he explains Vera ProfanterEvent Project Manager – venues and guests, brands and opinions, generations and interests. That's why there's a separate world of experiences for this, called people festaWorkshops, conferences, artistic activities, and games foster exchange, offering space for new perspectives. Children's areas, inclusion, and culture: Bressanone thrives on encounters, and we want to focus on this.
And since South Tyrol is a true land of flavours, culinary delights run like a red thread through the world of gusto festaFrom wine and apple tastings to many other South Tyrolean delicacies.
The cities of the future
There is no shortage of examples. Paris has seized on the opportunity for a real turning point in cycling. cargo bike offer agile and sustainable transport options. For this reason in the context of bike festa Südtirol the Innovation Gallery was born which aims to be a space in which the most interesting ideas and already concrete projects will be discussed.
It will be Schwalbe, which developed its tire recycling system: collects them from retailers and then recycles them to build new tires. There will be Ortovox, which has been producing outdoor equipment and clothing since 1980, with a new line of mountain bike apparel. In the future, they plan to focus more on fabric recycling.
The concept of the new event sees cycling as a new way to experience cities . There will be urban bikes, but also a brand called Remoove, which imports models to support blind and disabled people with original and effective solutions. With this approach, the event has become truly transversal and appeals to a very broad audience : no longer just mountain bike enthusiasts.
Bressanone and the bike
Bressanone is nestled in a natural setting that seems designed to meet the needs of every cyclist. From the great Dolomite climbs to the most beautiful mountain bike trails, passing through the white roads of the gravelAnd then there's the city, equally bike-friendly: just look around to see it. The municipality was the first to invest in urban mobility for cyclists, and other projects are under consideration.
«A development program has been made for the next few years – he explains Susanne Wild – and of course also Mobility is an important point of the program, including all sectors in the discussion, from public transport, to pedestrians, cyclists and traffic management. For this reason The Municipality of Bressanone is our partner in organizing the event. Because somehow the bike festa Südtirol It will serve to give a different shape to our city and to confirm how much good has been done so far."
The heart in the historic center
Have you ever been to Bressanone? The cathedral is clearly Baroque in style, with marble interiors. The cloister is Romanesque with medieval frescoes. The White Tower is Gothic and overlooks the Plose Peak with its hiking trails and ski slopes.
The historic center isn't huge, but Piazza Duomo and the surrounding streets will be reserved for activities and the exhibition . There will be a children's area with skill-based courses tailored to them. Saturday will be dedicated to the route from Bressanone to Novacella Abbey.
The 7-kilometer trail, already existing and popular on foot or by bicycle, has been made accessible to all through an Interreg project . This barrier-free experiential route between the historic center and Novacella Abbey (an Augustinian abbey built in the first half of the 12th century) offers a new perspective on the region's landscape and cultural peculiarities . Visitors are encouraged to explore the trail mindfully and leisurely.
Several stations along the trail are equipped with QR codes and offer access to digital audio content . These provide interesting information about the history, culture, and local specialties, brought to life by the voices of the region. The result is a modern, multi-sensory experience for residents and guests.
The project is based on the principle of "Design for All" and consciously addresses a broad audience, including families, seniors, and people with diverse needs. At the same time, the experiential path contributes to strengthening soft mobility and the qualitative development of public space.
With this new offering, Bressanone is sending a strong signal in favor of forward-looking, inclusive, and sustainable tourism development . These concepts are not easy to export to all parts of our country, but they are virtuous and worthy of consideration for anyone aiming for truly human-scale cities.
The Dolomites and the taverns
And then there will be activities for those who want to pedal seriously. We're at the foot of the Dolomites, and it would be a shame not to go and breathe in the air. There will be guided tours for all levels : from short ones for those who simply want to test a new bike, to longer ones for those who want to push themselves and put themselves to the test.
Road, mountain bike and gravelThere's a wide choice. Shuttles will take you to the foot of the mountains, and from there you can take breathtaking tours, such as the Sella Ronda.
The common denominator for each activity will, however, be knowledge of the territory, but also of its flavors, the world of wellness, customs and traditions.
«Especially in autumn – he concludes Susanne Wild – the peasant taverns are opened to eat and try the new wineThey can be reached on foot, but also via cycle paths, and this too will be one of the tours we'll include. It's a tradition called Törggelen, a very German name – he smiles – I realize, but very typical».
From the 17 to the 20 September
Bressanone is already hard at work. We'll soon know who the exhibitors will be, and the calendar of activities will gradually take shape . For now, if you'd like a suggestion, don't book any more appointments from that Thursday to that Sunday, September 17th to 20th: in fact, take your vacation. Having glimpsed what's in store and knowing the dedication of our South Tyrolean friends, we're confident it will be a wonderful journey filled with many experiences and a thousand different colors.
