Culture & curiosités dans les Dolomites

Fallen heroes memorial of the war of 1809 in the Klosterwald in St. Lorenzen.

The chapel in the hamlet Obergoste is located at an altitude of 1328 m.

The Ilsterner Au biotope extends along a 1.3-kilometer stretch of the River Rienz/Rienza  and is located in the municipalities of Kiens/Chienes and Vintl/Vandoies. It consists of four hectares of water area and eight hectares of biotope area.
Floodplain forests are rich in water and plant nutrients, which provide an ideal setting for a colorful range of vegetation. While grey alders are the most common trees to be found in the Ilsterner Au floodplain forest, parts of it are also densely populated by spruces and pine trees. 
Ash trees are the predominant plants in the eastern part of this biotope, which is a bustling home to many different animals. Countless fascinating insects and birds live here all year round, and many migratory birds can be observed on their way north or south.
The ecological function of a floodplain forest, however, is not limited to merely protecting its native wildlife; biotopes also play a key role in maintaining the hydrological balance of their surroundings, since they act as a large water reservoir.  Moreover, in terms of landscape, it is an enriching counterpart to the intensively used landscape areas.
In the course of the sustainable revitalization project, large parts of the terrain were lowered, the river bed widened, and several groundwater ponds were created. The upper area with the theme board is also considered a nature-oriented recreation zone for the local population in general and families and schools in particular.

Next to the old Lipper saw you will find the old forge of Valdaora. With a lot of heat produced by coal, the machine workes and since hudred of years the workers forged the whole day. Today you can visit the forge and imagine how hard they worked so many time ago.

The church of St. Andreas in Oberrasen was built in the 14th century, consecrated in 1422, expanded in the 17th century and re-arched. In 1959 it was broken off in order to create space for the contemporary, modern style of the church.

In the center of Valdaora di Mezzo, not far from the St. Ägidius church, Valdaora remembers one of his famous sons. The hero of the french wars from 1809/10 is devoted a huge monument from Hans Piffrader.

The origin of the church Saint Egidio in Mittelolang date back to the period of the High Middleage. According to an ancient parchmen Viktor Gatterer discovered at the beginning of XIX Century in the parish archive of Niederolang, the church could have be consacrated on the 1st September 1138 by the bischof of Briexn Rembert to the Holy Trinity, the Victorious Cross and to the disciple Egidio. One of the fourteen aukiliary saints, Egidio was evoked from shepherd and hunters to be wokshipped as patron saint of livestock and plauge.

The church of St. John in Niederrasen is already mentioned in 1070. Today's church was built in 1822 (late baroque).

The Val dl'Ert is conceived as a work in progress, in fact it is enriched with new works after each edition of the SMACH Biennale, which this year will open on July 8, 2023 presenting 10 new installations.

Admission is free and the park can be visited independently every day of the year. You can also contact SMACH for individual or group guided tours.

Once known as "Lucke" (or hole), the gate carries a painting by the South Tyrolean painter Rudolf Stolz (1874-1960) which shows Saint Florian, the Bruneck coat of arms and the town's founding bishop, Bruno. In Florianigasse, St. Florian, a work by the Bruneck artist Josef Bachlechner (1871-1923) can be seen.

A peasant chapel is located in Oberrasen near the court Oberstallerhof.

The San Vigilio/St.Vigil church is dedicated to Saint Vigilio and was rebuilt in Rococo style between 1781 and 1782. The frescoes are from Matthäus Günther.

The plague wayside shrine is a well known landmark of Valdaora and is reminiscent of the plague epidemic from the year 1448.

The chapel is reminiscent of the famous freedom fighter Peter Sigmayr. The Tharerwirt was shot 1810 from the Frenchmen near the Baumgartner farm.

Also if the chapel in Neunhäusern / Nove Case is situated on Rasner municipality, it belongs to the parish of Olang / Valdaora.

Down the road of the kid park in Niederolang (Via Rienza) up to Mühlbach the are big stone with their signs that are about the thema of stones.

One of the biggest larches in the area is located in Valdaora di Sotto, near by the “Lexen” farm At the site there is a rest area and a wall chart with all the dates about the tree.
These are: age: 170 years, height: 37 m, diameter: 1,06 m

Stadtgasse, the main shopping street in Bruneck, is fringed on both sides by picturesque houses, some of which still display ancient frescoes; the various gable structures are noteworthy.The buildings on Stadtgasse are exclusively residential, with shops and inns located on the ground floor.

Between the Antholz Nieder- und Mittertal stands next to the street the baroque chapel "Sießl". According to an inscription, the chapel Sießl was built in 1820 and renovated in 1886.

During the First World War, several military field hospitals were located in Bruneck, where many wounded and ill soldiers, as well as prisoners of war, passed away.
As it was not possible to bury them in the municipal cemetery, the city authorities allocated a large area on the Kühbergl—a wooded hill south of the town—to the military command for the establishment of a suitable resting place. A pioneer officer stationed in Bruneck, architect and engineer A. Bechtold from Bregenz, designed the cemetery in such a way that it blended harmoniously into the surrounding forest.

A total of 669 soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army, along with 103 Russian, 13 Serbian, and 7 Romanian prisoners of war, are buried here in individual and mass graves. The 77 Italian soldiers were reinterred in 1932 in the newly built mausoleum in Pocòl, and the 45 German soldiers were moved to the memorial at the Pordoi Pass.

From the Second World War, 19 German soldiers who lost their lives in bombing raids are also buried here, as well as one Italian officer and five citizens of Bruneck who fell nearby during the final days of the war and were brought here.

The war cemetery is cared for by a women’s committee, which tends to every grave with equal attention and respect.

The Egger waterfall near the rest station Egerhöfe in Antholz Mittertal is now accessible. A unique opportunity to experience a waterfall closely. The hike takes a total of about 45 minutes (up and down).

Dark green coniferous forests, the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Rieserferner mountain chain and, in the midst of all this, shimmering turquoise-green water. This is the dreamlike scenery of the lake called Antholzer See, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Alps! And with 44 hectares and a depth of 38 m, this idyllic pearl of our Blue Valley is the third largest mountain lake in South Tyrol. Located at the head of the valley, it is also very close to the well-known Staller Saddle mountain pass and Austria. At an altitude of approx. 1,640 m, families, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy countless activities in the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park all year round.

At the parish church St. Martin in Hofern the longhouse walls are romanic, the vaults, the choir and the tower were built in the year 1473. At the inside there is a sidepiece altar which dates bach to the year 1520. Church is locked, information about the key at the tourist office in Kiens/Chienes.

Fishing becomes a precious experience for families at the idyllically located fish pond in Antholz Niedertal. No fishing certification is required

The fishing equipment can be rented directly at the fish pond itself. A playground and a bar with terrace can be found there as well.

The owl park counts more than 90 birds, including owls and other birds of prey. Besides teaching, one of the important aims is the conservation of species, some of which are at risk of extinction. We invite you to come and visit these beautiful creatures.

Opening hours summer 2025

Solo tour without guide
10am - 5.00pm - Monday closing day - July and August no closing day!
Admission: 15 € adults - 10 € children from 5-12 - 5 € children from 0-4

Didactic visit with flight demonstration:
1/7 - 07/9 at 4pm each day (duration approx. 2 hours).
Admission: 22 € adults - 17 € children from 5-12 - 6 € children from 0-4
--> Info:(+39) 393 875 54 24

OWL PARK BY NIGHT
2.7. - 27.8. (every Wednesday) from 9pm to 10pm.
Admission: 22 € adults - 17 € children from 5-12 - 6 € children from 0-4
Registration required: www.sanvigilio.com

Roman Milestone of the Emperor M. Opellius Severus Macrinus and his son Diaduminanus (located on the main road, branching off towards Sonnenburg). The Roman milestone was found in Sonnenburg in 1857. Today the milestone is located at the entrance of the Museum Mansio Sebatum.

Man’s fascination with mountains has been unbroken as long as anyone can remember.

LUMEN gives this fascination a photographic home: located at the summit of the region Kronplatz (in South Tyrol), 1,800 square metres are dedicated to mountain photography.

Spanning four floors LUMEN offers the possibility to experience the history of mountain photography from its beginnings until the present as well as displaying the art of mountain-photographers from all over the world.

Last entrance: 3.30 p.m.

Built in 1652. The black Mother of God with Infant Jesus is worth a visit. After the Mauren begin the stations of the Cross leading to the most popular place of pilgrimage of the middle Pustertal: Maria Saalen. The little pilgrimage church "Unsere Liebe Frau von Loreto" was built in the 17th century and once had a hermitage. The entrance has the year 1652 written on it and on the top right-hand side a modern painting of the Blessed Virgin of Loreto. The gable of the altar shows the Annunciation, and below the Black Mary with the Infant Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim, and above the doors Saints Joseph and Sylvester.