Right in the village of Stange, in the heart of Racines, lies the Gilfenklamm gorge – “probably the most impressive rocky gorge in South Tyrol,” as local historian Hanspaul Menara once said. Since 1984, it has been protected as a natural monument.
In the Middle Ages, Stange was known for its customs station, the “Zoll-Stange,” and traffic once passed along the old Jaufen Road. But the real adventure was always found in the gorge itself: for centuries, firewood was floated down the stream by log rafting. It was dangerous and exhausting work, as the narrow, wild ravines demanded everything from the men.
At the end of the 19th century, tourism began to develop. Two men – innkeeper Karl Wiedner and district judge Franz Engl – set out to make the Gilfenklamm gorge safely accessible to visitors. With great courage and effort, from 1893 onward they built paths, bridges, and even a gallery carved into the rock, allowing visitors to experience the spectacular depths and waterfalls without danger.
In 1898, the gorge was ceremoniously renamed in honor of Emperor Franz Joseph – and although the name “Emperor Franz Joseph Gorge” was never completely forgotten, for us it remains simply the Gilfenklamm. Time has left its marks: after wartime damage and decay, the paths were repeatedly restored, most recently in 1961. Today, the gorge continues to captivate hikers, nature lovers, and adventurers – just as it did more than a century ago.