Sarntal

Sarntal (German: [ˈsarntaːl]; Italian: Sarentino [sarenˈtiːno]) is a valley and a comune (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of the city of Bolzano. The municipality comprises several towns and villages. The largest one, seat of the mayor and council, is Sarnthein.

Sarntal
Comune
Gemeinde Sarntal Comune di Sarentino
The frazione of Astfeld in winter.
Coat of arms
Location of Sarntal
Sarntal Location of Sarntal in Italy Show map of Italy Sarntal Sarntal (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) Show map of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Coordinates: 46°39′N 11°21′E
Country	Italy
Region	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Province	South Tyrol (BZ)
Frazioni	Sarnthein (Sarentino), Aberstückl (Sonvigo), Agratsberg (Acereto), Astfeld (Campolasta), Auen (Prati), Außerpens (Pennes di Fuori), Dick (Spessa ), Durnholz (Valdurna), Essenberg (Montessa), Gebracksberg (Campo di Ronco), Gentersberg, Glern (Collerno), Innerpens (Pennes di Dentro), Kandelsberg, Muls (Mules), Niederwangen (Vangabassa), Nordheim (Villa), Öttenbach (Riodeserto), Putzen (Pozza), Reinswald (S.Martino), Riedelsberg (Montenovale), Rungg, Steet (Stetto), Trienbach (Trina), Unterreinswald (Boscoriva), Vormeswald (Selva di Vormes), Weissenbach (Riobianco), Windlahn (Lana al Vento)
Government
• Mayor	Josef Mair
Area [1]
• Total	302.3 km2 (116.7 sq mi)
Elevation	900 m (3,000 ft)
Population  (Nov. 2020[2])[3]
• Total	7,182
• Density	24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	German: Sarntaler or Sarner Italian: Sarentini
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	39058
Dialing code	0471
Website	Official website

Geography

Sarntal borders the following municipalities: Hafling, Freienfeld, Klausen, Franzensfeste, Mölten, Ratschings, Ritten, Jenesien, St. Leonhard in Passeier, Schenna, Vahrn, Vöran and Villanders. The Durnholzer See is located in the municipal territory. The main river is the Talfer, which has its source at the Weißhorn mountain in the Pensertal.

History

The village of Sarnthein was first mentioned in 1211.

Coat of arms

The emblem represents an or deer’s head on azure. The insignia looks like that of the various Lords who administered the territory since 1315, but since 1681 they were named Counts of Sarnthein (Grafen von Sarnthein) living in the Kellerburg Castle. The emblem was adopted in 1967.^[4]

Society

Linguistic distribution

According to the 2024 census, 97.19% of the population speak German, 2.69% Italian and 0.12% Ladin as first language.^[5]

Notable people

• Franz Thaler (1925 in Sarntal – 2015), an author, a peacock quill embroiderer and a survivor of the concentration camp in Dachau
• Gustav Hofer (Sarntal, 1976), film director, screenwriter, journalist and TV host^[6]