In the middle of South Tyrol, high above the Adige Valley and surrounded by gentle alpine pastures, dense forests and imposing rock formations, lies one of the most unusual sights in the region: the Knottnkino cinema. Between the charming mountain villages of Hafling and Vöran, on the sunny Hafling-Vöran-Meran 2000 high plateau, you won't find a classic movie screen with popcorn, but a silent stage of nature. On a red porphyry rock - the so-called "Knottn", to which the cinema owes its name - 30 cinema seats made of weatherproof steel and chestnut wood have been installed. They blend harmoniously into the landscape.
What makes the Knottnkino so special is the powerful combination of nature and art. With this installation, the artist Franz Messner has created a place that invites you to linger, marvel and pause for a moment. Instead of watching a movie, you can gaze into the distance: at the wide Adige Valley, the rugged Dolomite peaks and the majestic panorama of the South Tyrolean mountains. Every view is unique, every weather mood tells its own story. Whether morning sun, clouds or alpenglow - the Knottnkino shows nature in its most beautiful and honest form.
A place that doesn't have to be loud to impress. Here, silence becomes an experience and the view becomes the protagonist.
A movie theater without a screen
What at first glance appears to be a quiet vantage point turns out to be an ingenious idea with depth on closer inspection: the Knottnkino is a completely different kind of cinema experience - without a screen or soundtrack, but with a backdrop that no film studio in the world could stage better. Instead of a projection, a spectacular 180-degree view of the Adige Valley, the Texel Group, the Dolomites and the extensive cultural landscape of South Tyrol awaits you here. The "movie" that runs here is not created by technology, but by wind, light and weather.
The centerpiece of this natural cinema is the Rotstein Knott, an impressive porphyry rock with a shimmering reddish surface that rises strikingly out of the landscape. It is here that the South Tyrolean artist Franz Messner, with a keen sense of aesthetics and space, has placed 30 individually designed cinema seats made of steel and chestnut wood. Each seat is deliberately oriented towards the west, allowing an uninterrupted view of the ever-changing spectacle of nature.
Sometimes wafts of mist drift mysteriously through the valley, sometimes the evening sun bathes the peaks in golden light and sometimes clouds provide dramatic contrasts - every hour and every season has its own dramaturgy. It is a movie without a script and without an ending, but full of emotion. The silence intensifies perception and you can feel it with every breath: This is not about entertainment, but about real experience.
The Knottnkino not only invites you to watch, but also to linger, take a deep breath and consciously let go. A place that doesn't just entertain you, but moves you.
The meaning of the "Knott"
The name "Knottnkino" carries a strong regional reference - because "Knottn" is a word from the South Tyrolean dialect and means something like "rock" or "rocky ridge". It refers to the striking, rounded porphyry peaks that protrude like islands from the green carpet of the forest and characterize the landscape of the Tschögglberg - an elongated mountain range between Bolzano and Merano. These ancient rock formations were created around 280 million years ago by intense volcanic activity and still tell the geological history of the region today.
The Knottnkino was built on one of these special places - the Rotstein Knott. From here, the view opens up like a panoramic window onto the South Tyrolean mountains: the mighty Texel Group with its peaks, some of which are over 3,000 meters high, stretches out to the north, while the bright rock of the Weisshorn shines to the east. This interplay between the dark porphyry underfoot and the bright peaks in the distance makes the attraction of the Knottnkino not only scenic but also symbolic - it is a place where time, space and geological history meet.
Knottnkino³: The extension to the nature tour
What began with a unique viewpoint was expanded in 2019 to include a visionary project: Knottnkino³ - a well thought-out circular hiking trail that connects the three most famous "Knottn" in the region. The architects Verena and David Messner, children of the artist Franz Messner, continued their father's legacy and developed a concept that combines nature experience, movement and art.
The route connects the Rotstein Knott, the Beimstein Knott and the Timpfler Knott - three geologically and scenically impressive points. Over a distance of around four hours, you hike through the diversity of the Tschögglberg landscape: light larch forests, blooming alpine meadows, wide views and quiet moments alternate. The three viewpoints have been chosen so that they each capture a different landscape - like the chapters of a book that tells of the beauty of South Tyrol. If you prefer a more leisurely approach, you can also hike the three "Knottn" individually - depending on your mood, time and fitness level.
Magical Lorenzinacht under the starry sky of the Knottnkino
In August, a summer evening at the Knottnkino cinema becomes an almost mystical experience: on the so-called Lorenzinacht, when the shooting stars of the Perseids stream provide their greatest spectacle in mid-August, the sky becomes the stage for an incomparable nature film. Right here, high above the Adige Valley, this nocturnal magic unfolds in a particularly impressive way - far away from disturbing light and surrounded by the tranquil mountain world.
The Knottnkino opens its doors for the „Lorenzinacht beim Knottnkino“ for all romantics and stargazers, usually around August 11. With a picnic blanket, telescope and the whispering of amateur astronomers from the „Max-Valier“ observatory, every view of the sky becomes a small wonder. While live music accompanies the moment and small delicacies touch the palate, twinkling shooting stars move across the night sky as if they were passing by just for the visitors. Admission is free and registration is not necessary. Those who get involved in this starry night are not simply experiencing an event, but immersing themselves in a piece of sky above the mountains that will linger for a long time.
A visit to the Knottnkino
Visitors to the Knottnkino experience more than just a beautiful vantage point. It is a place that invites you to pause for a moment without being loud. Here, art, nature and a sense of time merge into an experience that lingers for a long time. It is a successful example of creative landscape design and a place of retreat in the midst of an often hectic world.
Whether you come in the early morning, when the sun climbs tentatively over the mountain ridges and the valleys are still covered in mist, or in the evening, when the light of the setting sun bathes the peaks in gold and pink - the Knottnkino shows you a new chapter of its impressive nature every time. No two days are the same, no two views are ever the same.
The 30 movie seats look like silent spectators in a natural arena and offer every hiker a front row seat. And as you sit there, without words but with all your senses, you realize: sometimes you don't need a film to be deeply moved. Just a rock, a few chairs and the immense expanse of nature.
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Map: Knottnkino in Vöran, South Tyrol
FAQ - Knottnkino in Vöran, South Tyrol
What is the Knottnkino anyway?
The Knottnkino is not a cinema in the traditional sense, but a viewing point with 30 metal and wooden cinema seats installed in the middle of the Rotstein, a rocky plateau above Vöran. Instead of watching a movie, you can enjoy a breathtaking natural panorama of the Adige Valley, the Texel Group and the Dolomites - a real "cinema for the soul".
How do you get to the Knottnkino?
The best way to get there is on foot via one of the many well-signposted hikes around Vöran. The start from the mountain station of the Burgstall-Vöran cable car is particularly popular. From there, a leisurely hiking trail leads directly to the Knottnkino in around 45 minutes. For more ambitious hikers, there are also longer routes through the surrounding meadows and forests, always accompanied by fantastic views.
When is the best time to visit?
The Knottnkino is at its most impressive on a clear day - in the early hours of the morning or just before sunset. Especially in the fall, when the light falls warmly over the valley and the visibility is ideal, the visit is an unforgettable experience. As the Knottnkino is open all year round, you can also visit it in spring and summer - but with a larger audience.
Is the Knottnkino suitable for families and older people?
Definitely yes. The paths there are easy to walk and are just as suitable for families with children as they are for active senior citizens. The cinema seats invite you to rest and marvel, while the surrounding area offers plenty of space for short breaks or picnics. All you need is good footwear and some water for the way - and nothing stands in the way of your visit to the alpine cinema.
Does the Knottnkino charge admission?
No, a visit to the Knottnkino is free of charge. It is a public place that is freely accessible to all visitors. However, it is recommended that you respect nature, do not leave any garbage behind and preserve the tranquillity of the place.
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Video: Knottnkino in Vöran, South Tyrol
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