Culture & curiosités dans les Dolomites

The Gunther Messner Bivacco was set up in 1972 in 2.529m above sealevel in the Pfitsch Tal under the icewalls of Hochferner and Hochfeiler near the border to Austria.

In the year when the Bivacco was built, South Tyrol became an autonomy. In 1919 Tyrol was divided due to the Friedensverträgen von St. Germain.

A Bivacco is generally a small and simple structure. It should have been a place of security, as well as encounter, understanding and confrontation.

The Bivacco project was launched on the centenary of the St. Germain peace traits. It was exhibited at the 58th Venice Art Biennale. The Bivacco is an allegory of Italy in the middle of the Alps. It shows a country, which has always been crossed by people and animals. The idea was therefore to remove the power of borders, so that people could cross them. The sea and the Alps have always been closely connected.

The Venice Biennale wanted to support South Tyrolean artists and thus tries to spread their art throughout the world. Various artists have worked with and around the Bivacco. The interpretations are mainly about the connection of nature and the mountains with humans, but also about freedom. The genetic connection between Reinhold Messner and his brother Günther has also been shown.

Message of peace should come to the world from a small country.

Situated in the Dolomites amongst the protected Viles (Ladin hamlets), this residential home stands at 1,200 meters above sea level. The house, divided into a home and a separate holiday apartment, has borrowed the wooden-clad building style of the traditional Paarhöfe (pairs of residential and farming buildings) and was carefully built on the steep meadow. The concrete construction remains visible in the interior of the building, smoothed and painted white, and the exterior is covered in darkly varnished wood. Hand-fashion, untreated, matured pine wood from the local area was used for the interior. The house is completely self-sufficient in terms of energy: it has its own source of water, geothermal power, and uses solar energy collected by solar panels integrated into the roof. The chalet has been awarded many prizes.

Cast in classy bronze, the panorama relief around the bell is made up of 24 segments stretching as far as 36 m. At the front, you can see the most important peaks visible from Mount Kronplatz and their height as well as the direction in which some key European cities lie.

biotope with a special animals and plants - descriptions during the walk

"Viles", as the hamlets are called in Ladin, are traditional rural settlements. The ancient houses, hay storage, ovens, fountains and paths today consist largely in the original form. "Les Viles" are a tangible picture of the past as well as the present, as they are still inhabited today. Two particularly beautiful trails to get to know the Viles on foot can be found in Lungiarü and Pieve di Marebbe.

The peasant chapel at the Pfaffinger (near the court Linde) is a modest building and was built in the 19th century.

The church is build in Gothic style and is dedicated to St.Nikolaus.
The church is located in Issing/Issengo.

The renovated chapel hut dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows in St. Sigmund was built in 1621 and expanded in 1644. The new construction is considered one of the most charming devotional spaces of the Baroque period. Great attention was paid to detail. The nave is covered by a dome, while the altar area is finished with a cross vault. The Stations of the Cross are copper engravings by Franz Xaver Endres from Augsburg. The miraculous image on the high altar is a Pietà set in an open landscape, flanked by Joachim and Anna, dating from the late 15th century. The ceiling paintings were created by Josef Anton Zoller. Beneath the dome, the four Evangelists are depicted, while scenes from the Book of Esther are shown in the dome itself. In the altar area, the three divine virtues—Faith, Hope, and Charity—are displayed, complemented by Courage.

The court Imberg belongs still to the parish of Rasen, even if has its access from Taisten. Like all other chapels in Rasen, the Imberg chapel has a very simple construction.

The foursquare chapel near the court Wirther in Rasun di Sopra dates back to the 16th century.

Walking through the Raintor Gate, you will reach the Oberstadt district, where the Parish Church is also located. Many years ago, this gate was not very important for traffic; in fact, it was mainly used to connect the town center with the main cemetery.

The Ursuline Gate is located near the Ursuline Church at the western entrance of the "Stadtgasse". It was enlarged in 1758 to allow a large fountain to be transported into the town. The fresco was designed by Johannes of Bruneck in about 1420.

The Parish Church Saint Cyriak was originally a gothic building. In 1851 the church was newly build (consecration in 1854).

In 1815 the present chapel was built and in 1949 the chapel Steinzger was restored.

The square in front of the Ursuline monastery was named after him in 1945 as part of a festive evening dedicated to Paul Tschurtschenthaler. At that time, the name “Tschurtschenthaler-Park” was established.

From 2023 to June 2024, the park was redesigned and changed its name to Tschurtschenthaler Square

Concerts and various events take place here today.

The waterfall Klammbach is Born directly in the glacial of the Rieserferner and comes out at Antholz Mittertal.

Site of the Roman settlement Sebatum, once spreading from the Schraffl-Bühel vis-à-vis the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche guite far downstream the Rienz on both sides (new digs have been undertaken from time to time). There are remains of residential buildings, storehouses and troop quarters.

The Antonio chapel was consecrated on 23rd September 1704. In 1998 it was restored the last time.

The Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park, Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage since 2009, measures approx. 25,680 hectares and spreads across the municipalities of Badia and La Val in Alta Badia, Braies, Dobbiaco, Marebbe and Valdaora. The Dolomite High Route no. 1 leads through the area of the Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park.

The mountains facing Val Pusteria valley form the park's northern, Val Badia valley its western boundary; in the south the Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park stretches all the way to South Tyrol's provincial border in the direction of Cortina and the Val di Landro valley marks its eastern boundary against the Dolomiti di Sesto. The steep, almost insurmountable rock faces protect a morphologically and scenically highly diverse, broad area of alpine pastures and high plateaus.

The majority of Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park's area is covered by mountain pastures and meadows which are characterised by a unique variety of plant life. Leopard's bane, gentian, orchids, bistort and golden hawksbeard are commonly found. The vegetation zones range from mountain forests near the valleys to above 3,000 metres (9,842 ft). Fanes-Senes-Braies natura preserve's fauna is representative for the Dolomites.

The natural park's part in the Alta Badia area offers some particularly interesting zones:

• the Armentara-meadows, a small but highly diverse area with an impressive variety of species:
• the Counturines cave: At 2,800 m (9,186 ft) above sea level, this is the highest bear cave in the world. In 1987, a bear's fossilised bones, skull and teeth were found in this cave. Scientists discovered that the remains belonged to a bear that had lived in the Austrian Alps around 50,000 years ago, called the Ladin bear (Ursus ladinicus);
• the Fanes high alpine pasture with its lithic amphitheatre known as the "Marmots' Parliament" is the setting of one of the prettiest of Ladin legends, the fairy tale "The Empire of the Fanes".

In contrast to Puez-Odle natural park, Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park explodes in colours, waters and life. In order to fully experience and understand its unique world and landscape, one must not just look at Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park from its boundaries.
One must hike in it, experience and get into contact with the area.

It is also called "the shining face of the Dolomites" because of the rich variety of its vegetation and landscapes, with steep cliffs rising at the edge of the Park and protecting a large area of pastures and colorful plateaus.

A hike through the Nature Park will take you to the mysterious places of the legend of the Kingdom of Fanes. The saga, which is considered the Ladin national epic poem, tells of the expansion of the mythical Fanes empire and its fall, of the princesses Moltina and Dolasilla, of the evil wizard Spina de Mul and of the fearless hero Ey de Net.

The chapel was built in 1973 by the neighbors. It retains a statue of the Madonna of Lourdes from the parish church of Oberrasen / Rasun di Sopra.

The Ragglmoos wetlands Located about 1 km east of the Casteldarne/Ehrenburg train station, directly next to the Pustertal-fietsroute, the Ragglmoos wetlands are a humid biotope on the northern slope of Mount Kienberg. A true gem of nature nestled in the heart of a forest, their fauna is still relatively well preserved and deserves further protection to make sure this striking habitat lives on. Its mossy grounds are fed by seepage water, which collects on the hillside and flows out of the biotope on its western edge. Lined with pine trees, spruces, and birches, this low moor is very well embedded in its surroundings and consists of three different sections: The east is densely populated by sedges and peat mosses. In the drier central section, sedges and peat mosses share their habitat with purple moor grasses. Flanked by alders, the west is covered in reeds and some peat moss.

Built at the start of the 15th century in the Gothic style, the frescoes in the church are by Johannes of Bruneck and date from around 1420. The crypt of the Ursuline Church is the oldest part of the entire cloister building and dates from the period around 1410; the crypt space is almost empty, but hugely atmospheric - sanctified by centuries of the silence of the dead.

Holy Mass: Mondays to Fridays at 5.30 p.m., Sundays and holidays at 10.30 a.m. (in German language)

The village of Lungiarü (1398 m), is situated at the foot of the nature park Puez-Odle (Dolomites UNESCO world heritage). Because of the beautiful location at the end of the valley, the very low level of traffic and the lack of lifts and cable cars, the village opens up like a precious pearl, showcasing Ladin traditions completely untouched by change. Because of its lack of lifts and cable cars and thanks to its unspoilt nature, Lungiarü is the perfect paradise for hikes with touring skis, snowshoes and winter boots.
Its location at the foot of the nature park Puez-Odle ensures that Lungiarü is ideal for summer holidays. The mountain visitors immerse themselves in unspoilt nature and conquer with numerous hiking paths the Dolomite peaks on foot or by climbing.

The objective of the mountaineers villages is the sustainable development in the mountain villages, the harmony between humans and nature, to support the local sectors and some more. Less but better is the motto.  Lungiarü is the first village in the Dolomites with the name “mountaineering village”.

Located at 2,050 m a.s.l. at the end of the Antholz valley, it invites you to undertake numerous activities the whole year round: We are talking about the mountain pass called Staller Saddle. Only 4 km from the Lake Antholz, the well-known alpine pass not only connects our Blue Valley with the valley called Defereggental in East Tyrol, but it also links the Riserferner-Ahrn Nature Park with the Hohe Tauern National Park. This turns the area into a real heaven for adventurous excursions and exploratory tours! In summer you can look forward to view-rich hiking tours which allow you to cross borders, while in winter the closed pass road becomes a winter hiking trail with tobogganing opportunities leading to the Lake Antholz or lake Obersee, all of which provide unforgettable memories.

This 'beach' is a flat river bank along St. Vigil Bach stream and, with its adventure playground, sunbathing lawn, 'Kneipp' treatment routes and relaxation zones, both adults and children alike will find the perfect setting for a great day out by the water – in the middle of the mountains.

The Town Museum of Graphic Arts was opened in 1995 in the restored and converted postal stables, where, in earlier centuries, horses were fed and watered, and postal coaches were prepared for travelers. On the ground floor, in addition to the entrance hall, is the permanent exhibition of late Gothic works by Michael Pacher, his assistant Friedrich Pacher and his pupils Simon and Veit von Taisten.Stadtmuseum Bruneck The first floor houses the temporary exhibitions, whilst the archive and offices are to be found on the second floor. The graphic arts gallery is located in the basement, which is made available to young artists for exhibitions. In addition, there is also an artists' workshop in the museum with all the necessary equipment for gravure printing, surface printing and relief printing (etching, lithography & woodcarving) and screen printing. The museum possesses, among other exhibits, 7500 book plates. The main focus is on the graphics of the 20th century from both the local region and abroad, and on collecting, presenting and working on them from a scientific perspective. A second area of emphasis is on restoring and exhibiting the original town museum's exhibits. In addition, numerous cultural initiatives are run by the museum. 

The Meizger-Stöckl, built in 1816, is a Mariahilf chapel in Antholz Niedertal.

Located in Enneberg / S. Vigilio at the entrance to Val de Mareo valley, nature park house Fanes-Senes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies provides a wealth of information about nature park Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies via interactive media, videos, and interpretive signs. The facility’s levels are linked via spiral ramps that enable visitors to reach the various galleries, which contain exhibitions on the following topics: the origins of the Dolomites; the 1987 discovery of the cave bear of Conturines; the park’s main habitats; and a three-dimensional relief showing the region’s geomorphology. The galleries also contain pictures of the park’s most impressive features. Next to Alpine pasture agriculture and the attendant Alpine pasture villages, the biodiversity of the park’s mountain meadows of Armentara and Plätzwiese, and the Ladin culture are on diplay. The center also features terrariums and a children’s area with games and crafts, as well as a library.

The church St. Georg in Antholz Mittertal was rebuilt in 1798 to today's baroque church. It is assumed that Antholz Mittertal had already a church in the year 1000.

At the foot of the sunny mountain side are located the courts Mairhöfe with the chapel Siebenter. The chapel was built in 1736 and renovated in 1913.