The 2,966 m high Rocca dei Baranci (Haunold in German) is a well-known skiing area in winter
The Rocca dei Baranci, south of San Candido, is the highest mountain of the Gruppo Rondoi-Baranci mountain group). Besides the 2,966 m high main summit, also the east summit (2,907 m a.s.l.), west peak (2,933 m) and the south peak (2,860 m) belong to the group. In 1878 the mountain was climbed for the first time.
On the southern side of the mountain, the ascent starts at the Rif. Tre Scarperi mountain hut. In approx. 4.5 hours, the route proceeds from the Val di Landro valley to the Innerfeldtal valley and with easy climbing up to the peak. On the north flank of the Rocca dei Baranci, a skiing area is located with 10 easy and moderate km of pistes.
The mountain is also well-known because of the legend about the Giant Haunold.
When Haunold’s father, a Roman captain, was killed by the Huns, the fostress hid the child in the Villgratental valley. Caused by the water of the local spring “Admirabus”, the boy became a giant. When the Huns besieged the today’s East Tyrol and the final fighting between Duke Tassilo and the Prince of the Huns was imminent, the giant was asked for help. Haunold defeated the Prince whose rib (probably of a woolly rhinoceros) was hung up above the portal of the cathedral of San Candido. Today Giant Haunold is sleeping in the eponymous mountain.
