Waalwege Trails in Parcines

Waalwege (irrigation canal trails) are among the oldest cultural routes in South Tyrol. As early as the Middle Ages, these narrow irrigation channels were built along the dry, sun-exposed slopes to supply water to fields, orchards and vineyards. They are found mainly in the Vinschgau Valley and the Merano area, where dry conditions made water transport essential for survival.

Simple maintenance paths developed alongside the channels – today’s Waalwege. They run largely level through forests and meadows, past chestnut groves, rocky ledges and orchards. Thanks to the mild climate, they can be walked almost year-round and are popular with families, leisure hikers and culture enthusiasts.

For centuries, a key figure was the “Waaler” – the water guardian. He ensured the canal remained clean, carried enough water and wasted none. Even today, “Waalschellen"  – small bells placed within the water channel – remind visitors that in the past the absence of their sound was a warning signal.

Partschins is home to two Waalwege:
the Partschinser Waalweg runs above the village centre and carries open water for about 1.6 km. It passes historic sacred sites and offers sweeping views over the entire Merano area. It is considered one of the oldest irrigation channels in the Burgraviate, built in the 15th century by the Counts of Stachelburg.

The Rablander Waalweg stretches above the village of Rablà and carries open water for 640 metres.

Both channels draw their water from the Zielbach, the rich mountain stream of the Zieltal valley, which has supplied the fields of Parcines and Rablà for centuries. And both still have their own “Waaler” — members of the traditional Water Users’ Association, the cooperative of farmers who rely on the water and share responsibility for managing it.

The task remains the same, yet the role has changed: the Waaler is no longer a full-time guardian, armed and entrusted with defending water rights. Today, the farmers themselves maintain the flow, clearing the channel, opening and closing gates, and ensuring that the water reaches the fields — especially those without automatic irrigation.

That water was once more valuable than gold is proven by a documented dispute in 1431, when farmers from Rablà and Parcines fought for access to the Zielbach. A testament to how old — and how essential — these irrigation channels truly are.