A Team Building in the Rain

There are team-building activities—and then there are Team Building experiences. What we lived transformed this spring’s cloudy skies into our greatest stroke of luck. A kind of good fortune that can be summed up like this.

Walking through eight hectares of parkland, where deer and fallow deer roam freely, we discovered that they are surprisingly selective eaters—and absolutely fascinating to observe.

At the park entrance, we were welcomed by the curious, proud gaze of a goat and her kid, and by Lukas, our host and guide. Through his stories, he shared not only the long farming traditions of La Villa, but embodied them. A small rune tattoo—Inguz, a symbol associated with ancestry and lineage—quietly revealed his deep connection to family and land.

That sense of heritage is inseparable from a territory deeply loved: a small castle perched on a hill, just as the name “Sompunt” suggests. Today, the slope appears gentler, shaped over time by the natural landslides of this ancient and beautiful valley.

The castle itself feels like a living home. On its white walls stands a painted coat of arms dated 1598, decorated with symbols of harvest, livestock, and landholdings on both sides of the stream. A crucifix showing Christ between the sun and the moon watches over it all.

In front of the entrance stands the old bread oven; behind it, the beehouse, where honey—produced for private use—is a rare treat reserved for a few guests. Nearby lies a meadow, perfect for a themed aperitivo. Just uphill, Haflinger horses graze—some award-winning, which comes as no surprise given their beauty.

As Lukas proudly told us, the castle once hosted Empress Elisabeth of Austria—Sissi herself. With even greater pride, he spoke of his family, of inherited farming rights, and of the (very pleasant) duties of a farmer: mowing the fields, organizing the hayloft—now large enough to host weddings and events for tourism professionals.

Among these “duties” is also learning to enjoy bacàn time: when rain falls outside, people gather indoors to enjoy good wine and generous platters of cheese, cured meats, honey, jams, and delicious sauerkraut-filled tirtlen.

How lucky we were to have bad weather.

After a quick goodbye to the cows, we took shelter in the tavern carved out of the castle’s former storage room—complete with a small old jail.

Once a cool place to store winter supplies, it is now a space where time slows down, flavors surprise you, and conversation flows naturally.

Talking comes easy—lighthearted and joyful—while your eyes catch unexpected details: a wooden spinning top hanging from the ceiling, a small disco ball nearby. Yes, that disco ball. Hung up (and sometimes forgotten) during “bacàn” evenings that begin as an aperitivo, turn into dinner, and effortlessly become a celebration—without anyone quite realizing how special it all is.

If this made you curious to learn more, you’re not alone—we know it will.
So write to us, and let yourself experience something we already know will be unforgettable.