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Natural Monuments

Altar Knotto

Natural Monuments

Altar Knotto

Highlight • Natural Monument

Altar Knotto

Name: Altar Knotto
Rating: 2

Recommended by 49 hikers

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Location: Rotzo, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

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Best Hikes to Altar Knotto

4.5

(36)

168

hikers

1. Altar Knotto Trail from Curva del Tellale

5.22km

01:58

280m

270m

Mystical hike to a legendary floating boulder and ancient rock shelter steeped in Cimbrian folklore.

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Hard

4.2

(6)

hikers

2. Alta Kugela – Altar Knotto loop from Rotzo

15.0km

05:36

840m

850m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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Hard

4.4

(11)

hikers

3. Altar Knotto – Alta Kugela loop from Pedescala

10.9km

04:10

590m

580m

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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Hard

Tips

A. 🐺

January 23, 2023

It is a huge and unique boulder perched on the edge of the cliff, almost suspended in mid-air, overlooking the Astico Valley below.

Due to its surprising and magical shape, as well as its location, it has always been the source of many legends. Its name, which in Cimbrian means 'Old Stone', evokes ancient ceremonies linked to the Norse deities: pagan rites were celebrated on this natural altar, with sacrifices and gifts. In ancient times, it was believed to be a sort of small Asgard (the City of the Northern Gods), where Thor, Odin, and Freya resided, intent on watching over the Cimbrian people from above. It is nicknamed "the last pagan altar". With the arrival of Christianity, pagan sites were converted into Christian ones, and the Altar Knotto acquired the nickname 'Scagno [stool] of the Devil': from this throne, the demon dominated and controlled the valley below and its people! Another legend holds that it is inhabited by dwarfs, who hide their golden treasure there: if at night, from the valley floor, you see glimmers around the altar, it means the dwarves are opening their treasure chests!

Together with two other large stones similar in shape and position, it forms the "magic triangle" that delimits and envelops the Asiago Plateau: the western point is the Altar Knotto, above Rotzo, overlooking the Astico Valley; the northern point is the Hanepos (Thor's Anvil), in the Marcesina plain, in the Sugana Valley; the eastern point is the Spitzknotto di Stoccaredo (the Third Altar), in the Franzèna Valley.

In addition to seeing it from above, you can descend via a short, somewhat hidden, equipped passageway between the rocks, only for experienced hikers. The view is beautiful over the Astico Valley.

ilserenissimoveneto.it/altar-knotto

Translated by Google •

Flavio 🥾🚲

October 26, 2023

It is a large boulder balanced on a rocky platform, in a very panoramic position. The platform is not easily reachable, you descend from a ravine on which metal brackets are positioned to help you proceed.

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Elevation 1,330 m

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See hikes here

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Location: Rotzo, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

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Altar Knotto

1. Altar Knotto Trail from Curva del Tellale

2. Alta Kugela – Altar Knotto loop from Rotzo

3. Altar Knotto – Alta Kugela loop from Pedescala

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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