Villabassa's cultural success

Small ideas developed into big themes. In Alta Pusteria, the people were never interested in stylish short-term trends, but rather concentrated on the natural landscape and their own identity. Hence, the cultural offer is still authentic – this is our recipe for success.
 
Customs dating back over past centuries, and a lot of feeling for the population and the landscape have developed into lasting long-term concepts. The Tourism Museum, the collections from the surrounding areas, the International Choir Festival, and the music and custom groups in the village show this varied liveliness.

Villabassa: historic buildings, customs with religious backgrounds

Some buildings in this beautiful village are of major importance. These are the town hall and the House Wassermann on one hand, and the churches and chapels like the Parish Church devoted to S. Stefano with the Anna Chapel, and the Chapel of the Deceased or the Holy Trinity Hospital Church on the other. You can see and feel it: religion is the source of customs and culture in Alta Pusteria. For example:

Kirtamichl

The fair day, in Villabassa the 3rd Sunday in October, is the anniversary day of the consecration of the church, and is celebrated with a special event. The celebrations are also of mundane nature. A lot of time is invested in the preparation of the fair day dishes – in the Puster Valley the following menu was offered for example: noodle soup with sausages, dumplings, "Bratl" and the sweet "Niggilan" topped with sugar and honey water and sprinkled with poppy. Usually, coffee with baked mousse and fair day desserts or anise cake round off the menu. The preparation and baking of the so-called "Kirchtagskrapfen" (fair-day dessert) requires a lot of knowledge and skill.
 
A pagan custom, which is still practiced today, is the putting up of the "Kirchtagsmichel" (fair day Michel). We do not know about the real age of this custom. On Friday the young farmers usually meet in the barn in order to prepare the "Kirchtamichl". A life-sized dummy is filled with straw, and dressed in a white shirt, traditional leather trousers and a traditional woollen jacket. Then, "Michl" gets a Puster Valley hat with feathers put on his head. On one hand he carries one of the tasty "Kirchtagskrapfen", in the other a bottle of wine. On Saturday, Michl is tied to the top of the tree, which has been debarked and lubricated with soap.  The tree is then put up with entertaining celebrations and accordion music. During the night the tree has to be guarded, so the boys from neighbouring villages don't try to steal it. If the neighbouring villages succeed in stealing the tree, this would be a shame for the locals. In the late afternoon on Sunday, the tree is taken down and also Michl is taken down (in ancient times Michl was carried from bar to bar and then buried). Usually the tree is put up for auction and the revenue is used to cover the costs or is put to good cause.