House on the Stone in St. Pankraz
A stone landmark in the Ulten Valley
Location, history & sightseeing – why it's worth a visit
The ‘House on the Stone’ (in dialect ‘Häusl am Stein’) is one of the most charming and unusual sights in South Tyrol's Ulten Valley. It sits enthroned on a massive boulder not far from the village centre of St. Pankraz (approx. 718 metres above sea level), nestled between meadows, trees and the sports area below the valley road.
Its history sounds almost like a fairy tale: originally, the small farmhouse stood on lush meadowland on the banks of the Falschauer stream. But in 1882, a devastating storm swept through the valley, and the floods swept away almost all the surrounding buildings. The ‘Häusl’ was the only one to remain standing – because it had been built by chance on a huge boulder that had been hidden until then. It was only after the disaster that the owners discovered that their house had literally been built on stone.
It is a popular photo stop for visitors, especially when hiking from Vigiljoch to St. Pankraz.
Visiting information
Unfortunately, it is not possible to visit the interior of the Häusl am Stoan – it is privately owned and only accessible from the outside.
Conclusion: Anyone exploring the Ulten Valley should not miss this small but impressive architectural gem. It stands symbolically for resilience and rootedness – and invites visitors to pause, marvel and enjoy the special atmosphere of this stone witness to the forces of nature.
House on the Stone[1/1]
