Hidden in the heart of South Tyrol's Eggental Valley, nestled between moss-green forests and the constant rushing of the Katzenbach stream, they rise toward the sky like silent sentinels from another era: the Earth Pyramids of Collepietra. A natural wonder, shaped by millennia of erosion – and at the same time the stone echo of an ancient legend about arrogance, deceit, and divine judgment.
You can recognize their majestic silhouettes from afar: slender clay pillars, up to 30 meters high, crowned by stone caps, as if specially dressed by nature. These bizarre formations are remnants of the Ice Age – formed from moraine clay that was protected from the rain beneath hard capstones. The clay beneath remains dry and solid, while the surrounding soil is washed away by the water. What remains are these sculptural marvels: fragile yet primal.
But anyone who thinks they're just encountering a geological phenomenon here is mistaken. The village of Steinegg has its own explanation for the formation of the pyramids – one that has less to do with glaciers and much more to do with human error...
The legend of the earth pyramids
Once upon a time, so the story goes, there was a blooming meadow above Steinegg. Rich in herbs, soft as a green carpet, it had served the priest for generations. The Dosser farmer, who was responsible for its cultivation, was supposed to pay a modest rent.
But one of this lineage—proud, stubborn, and stingy—refused to pay the dues. When the dispute came before the village court, the farmer untruthfully denied the lie and even sworn to his lie. The meadow was awarded to him, as there were no documents. The priest lowered his gaze sadly, while the Dosser farmer, chest puffed out, returned to his farm.
But that very day, the sky began to darken. Thick clouds gathered, lightning danced across the valley, and a thunderstorm of such apocalyptic force broke out that even the village's elders crossed themselves in alarm.
When silence finally returned in the morning, the Dosser farmer went out to mow his meadow. But what he found was no longer lush grass – but a deep chasm from which only muddy pinnacles and barren clay pillars protruded. The meadow was gone. Forever. And in the ghostly forms of the earth pyramids, one could now see divine judgment – silent, but unmistakable.
Hiking between myth and earth history
Anyone visiting the Steinegg Earth Pyramids today is walking between science and legend. You can marvel at them on a varied circular hiking trail: Start in Steinegg and follow the "yellow pyramids" markers through the wildly romantic Katzenbach Gorge, past the Raffeinerhof farm, and up to the Dosser Cross. From here, descend to the mysterious clay giants. The return route takes you comfortably back to the village via the Katzenbachweg (marker 2).
The path is lined with rushing water, shady trees – and, if you look closely, perhaps even the silent traces of the old legend.
After all, what is a natural monument without the stories that surround it?
Perhaps you yourself sense a sense of the inexplicable when you see the Earth Pyramids—or perhaps you simply discover the impressive work of time, weather, and geology. In any case, they are a place that stirs the heart and imagination in equal measure. And perhaps also a quiet reminder that not everything we take belongs to us.
Tip for explorers: Plan your visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon – then a very special light hangs over the clay pillars, making them seem almost unreal. And don't forget to pause for a moment. If you're completely still, you might still hear the whispering of the old meadow...
