Panche delle Streghe (Hexenbänke)

On the plateau edge of the Bullaccia, porphyry blocks form seat-like shapes known as the Witches' Benches. Local legends associate the stones with the Sciliar witches; from the ridge there are views over Val Gardena.

Why it matters

The Hexenbänke lie on the Bullaccia, at the northern rim of the Alpe di Siusi plateau. Blocks of augite porphyry have fractured into forms resembling seats with armrests and backrests. Local tradition associates the stones with the Sciliar witches and their chief, the Oberhexe, said to have watched over the region from this perch. From the benches, the ground falls toward Val Gardena, with St. Ulrich and the Puez-Geisler group on the horizon.

What to notice

Several blocks have flat seats and upright backs. The reddish porphyry contrasts with the pale reef dolomite of the Sciliar. Nearby landmarks include the Wetterkreuz cross on the plateau edge, the Gollerspitz lookout over the Eisack valley toward the Stubai Alps, and the circular information disc at the Engelrast platform. Farms are scattered across the surrounding pasture.

Context and history

Sciliar folklore associates the massif's crags with storms and describes the witches' night gatherings, with their chief watching from the Bullaccia. The porphyry formations are natural geological structures. The stories later became part of the region's folklore, also linked to the Witches' Springs trail and the Witches' Chairs in the Tiosels forest near Castelrotto.