Völs am Schlern

Völs am Schlern (German pronunciation: [fœls am ˈʃlɛrn]; Italian: Fiè allo Sciliar [ˈfjɛ allo ʃʃiˈljar]; Ladin: Fíe or Fië), often abbreviated to Völs, is a municipality in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of the Schlern mountain, about 12 kilometres (7 miles) east of Bolzano.

Völs am Schlern
Comune
Gemeinde Völs am Schlern (German) Comune di Fiè allo Sciliar (Italian)
Völs am Schlern
Location of Völs am Schlern
Völs am Schlern Location of Völs am Schlern in Italy Show map of Italy Völs am Schlern Völs am Schlern (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) Show map of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Coordinates: 46°31′N 11°30′E
Country	Italy
Region	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Province	South Tyrol (BZ)
Frazioni	Blumau (Prato all'Isarco), Oberaicha (Aica di Sopra), Peterbühl, St. Anton (S. Antonio), Obervöls (Fiè di Sopra), Prösels (Presule), Prösler Ried (Novale di Presule), St. Kathrein (Santa Caterina), St. Konstantin (San Costantino), Ums (Umes), Unteraicha (Aica di Sotto), Untervöls (Fiè di Sotto), Völser Ried (Novale di Fiè)
Government
• Mayor	Othmar Stampfer (SVP)
Area [1]
• Total	44.4 km2 (17.1 sq mi)
Elevation	880 m (2,890 ft)
Population  (Nov. 2010)[2]
• Total	3,463
• Density	78/km2 (200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	German: Völser Italian: di Fiè
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	39050
Dialing code	0471
Website	Official website

Geography

As of November 30, 2010, it had a population of 3,463 and an area of 44.4 square kilometres (17.1 sq mi).^[3]

The municipality of Völs am Schlern contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Blumau (Prato all'Isarco), Oberaicha (Aica di Sopra), Peterbühl, St. Anton (S. Antonio), Obervöls (Fiè di Sopra), Prösels (Presule), Prösler Ried (Novale di Presule), St. Kathrein (Santa Caterina), St. Konstantin (San Costantino), Ums (Umes), Unteraicha (Aica di Sotto), Untervöls (Fiè di Sotto), and Völser Ried (Novale di Fiè).

Prösels Castle.

Völs am Schlern borders the following municipalities: Kastelruth, Karneid, Ritten and Tiers.

Prösels Castle is also located in the municipality.

History

The hamlet appears for the first time in the Carolingian period in a deed issued by king Arnolf in 888 named as “Fellis“, then located within the Bavarian duchy (“in Bauuariae partibus sita inter montana“).^[4]

Coat-of-arms

The emblem is party per cross, the first and the fourth are sable with central band of argent, the first represents a cross and the fourth a rose both on gules. The second and third a column of argent with an or crown on a gules background. The emblem is a combination of the insignias of three local families, the first and fourth the Knights of Völs and Prösels and the third the Count Colonna. The emblem was adopted in 1966.^[5]

Society

Linguistic distribution

According to the 2024 census, 92.75% of the population speak German, 6.45% Italian and 0.80% Ladin as first language.^[6]

Demographic evolution

Culture

Music

Every summer Semper Music International Festival brings internationally renowned musicians and students from all over the world to Vōls am Schlern.