Kronplatz / Plan de Corones

Kronplatz (Plan de Corones in Ladin) is the signature mountain of the Val Pusteria (Pustertal), above Brunico: an isolated peak at 2,275 m that towers over the valley on all four sides, with modern lifts going up from Brunico, Riscone, Valdaora, and San Vigilio. With 125 km of runs and 31 of the most modern lifts in Italy, it’s one of the most efficient and best-kept resorts in the country. It’s a permanent stop on the women’s Alpine Ski World Cup (Erta run) and has hosted Snowboard World Cup events in the past.

Why Go Snowboarding

Snowboarders love Kronplatz for its terrain variety: with four sides facing different directions, there’s almost always at least one side of the mountain with snow in great shape. The south-side blacks are demanding and well shaped, while the reds with views down toward Brunico give you long, satisfying runs. The resort is part of Dolomiti Superski, and the view from the top goes all the way around: the Zillertal Alps to the north, the Dolomite spires to the south. At the summit there’s also the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, Reinhold Messner’s museum of mountaineering, which makes the top even more special.

Terrain & Slopes

The 125 km of slopes are split into 51 runs: 47% easy, 29% intermediate, and 24% difficult. The longest run is 7 km. The Valdaora sector is great for carving on fast reds; the San Vigilio side is more remote and often less crowded; Riscone is the most direct side from Brunico. The Black Five Challenge, riding all five black runs in one day, is the official test for advanced riders. Every run has snowmaking.

Snowpark

The Kronplatz Snowpark on the Belvedere run is the main park, with kickers, boxes, and rails for all levels, all very well kept. The Jib Park near the Korer run is more about jibbing, with lots of different rail setups. The resort has a long history of international snowboard events, and you can see it in the quality of the features.

Getting There

Train: Brunico is on the Val Pusteria line (Fortezza–San Candido); from Bolzano it takes about an hour. Car: A22, Bressanone/Val Pusteria exit, then the SS49 for about 30 km to Brunico and the lift bases. Bus: SAD buses from Brunico to all the lift bases.

Tips

Kronplatz is ideal if you’re staying in the Val Pusteria and want to mix riding with some culture. You can visit the MMM Corones museum at the summit with your lift ticket. December and January have the most reliable snow; March can bring great spring conditions, but weekends get busier. The local agriturismi (farm stays) are excellent and very good value, both for sleeping and eating.