Cultuur & bezienswaardigheden in de Dolomieten

Ladin, the native language of the local population, is a Rhaeto-Romance tongue spoken not only in Val Badia but also in the valleys and villages surrounding the Sella massif (Val Gardena, Fodom, Fassa and Ampezzo) and as far away as in the Friuli region and in the Swiss canton of Grisons. Taught in schools and used in every-day life throughout the Ladin-speaking community, it is the mother tongue of around 30,000 locals.

For access to the internet, our guests may use the  Wi-Fi connection available at the "Istitut Ladin Micura de Rü" in the centre of the village. Open Mon-Thurs: 10 am–12 pm and 3–5 pm; Fri: 10 am–12 pm; Sat-Sun closed ;  Phone (+39) 0474523110

The "Isitut Ladin Micura de Rü" ist the cultural centre of the Ladin language.

The parish church St. Petrus and Paulus in Kiens was built between 1835 and 1838. Only the tower dates back to the 15th century. The paintings on the ceiling are remarkable.

The Plan de Corones is known in winter as a ski resort No. 1 in South Tyrol, while summer is a magnificent vantage point with lots of entertainment for children and adults. Reachable on foot in 2 hours from the Furcia Pass. From the beginning of July to the middle of September, the Ruis cableway is also open, which leads from the Furcia Pass to the top of the Plan de Corones. Visit the MMM Corones, the 6th and last museum of Reinhold Messner, which speaks about the history of mountaineering, or the new Lumen museum, dedicated to photography. For adrenaline-junkies we recommend the giant Skyscraper swing or a tandem flight with a wonderful view of the Dolomites.

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

The Wiesemann farm, situated between Antholz Niedertal and Antholz Mittertal, is one of the oldest farms in the valley. The old water mill stands and rattles on a modest foundation of lime and stones, harmoniously close to the farmhouse. Today the mill is a testimony of how dependent people were on nature at that time and what burdens they had to take on in order to survive.

Parish church St. Genesius.                                            

Together with the pre-existing buildings, summit station of the cable car and pizza pavilion, the new mountain restaurant forms a courtyard situation sheltered from the wind in the very exposed, protected landscape site.  The new building, however, crouches down, an elongated single-story building, and appears almost as if part of the site. The architecture goes against the usual style of a mountain hut: a wide, cantilevered platform roof protects the underlying perimetric floor-to-ceiling glass façade, which makes the building appear more transparent and lighter. Familiar materials, though, were used: wood terraces, wood furniture, as well as natural stone masonry for the kitchen and adjoining room area. Three timber-clad cubes divide the otherwise completely open floor plan of the spacious guest area, which feels more like a lounge than a mountain hut.

The Puez-Odle Nature Park in the Dolomites is estendet on a area of the 3 valleys: Val Badia, Val Gardena and Valle d'Isarco. 
Geologists also refer to the Puez-Odle Nature Park as the "building site of the Dolomites". Here, one can find all of the typical Dolomite rock types, strata and erosion forms. This park offers the hole year a large variety of possibilities for all nature and lovers.

The Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park lies in the midst of the Braies-Prags Dolomites and the Fanes chain. Typical karst forms such as fissures and limestone pavements, cracks, and sinkhole ponds characterize this area, the core of which is formed by the Malga Fane-Fane Alm and the broad Prato Piazza-Plätzwiese. And in the middle of the proudly soaring mountains is embedded the true gem of mountain lakes: the emerald shimmering Lago di Bràies-Pragser Wildsee.

Opened in 2001, the Ladin Ciastel de Tor Museum brings visitors closer to the history, language, culture, archaeology, geology, legendary world, crafts and tourist development of the Ladin valleys in the Dolomites.

In the halls and inner courtyard of the castle built in the 13th century, exhibitions, concerts and seminars are held as well as meetings on various themes and aspects related to the Ladin language and culture.

A visit to the museum brings to light the most important events of the past and partly present life of the Ladin people, highlighting the significant influences of extra-regional events on their lives.

The Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor is in a Mediaeval structure, so only a few of the exhibition areas are accessible to wheelchair users. However, the temporary exhibition is easily accessible to everyone.

The Castle Ehrenburg was the residence of the Sirs von Ehrenburg, who were later called von Künigl. It was built in the 12th century. During the 15th century, the castle was extended, and in the year 1512, it was extended again with the arcade yard. In the year 1732, it was converted into a baroque castle. The big hall, the bay windows, the wooden paneling, and the paintings on the ceiling, as well as the castle chapel are very remarkable. The castle is not open to visitors.

Only visible from the outside.

The Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus tells the fascinating story of the cave bear that lived over 50,000 years ago in the Dolomites and was discovered in the Conturines cave, considered the highest-altitude site in the world where the remains of the cave bear and cave lion have been found. Visitors can also explore the geological history of the Dolomites, beautifully narrated through stunning fossils.

The Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus, an annex of the Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor in San Martino in Badia, is spread over three floors.

On the top floor, the formation of the Dolomites is illustrated with unique fossils of great scientific interest, typical of the area surrounding San Cassiano.

Next is the section dedicated to the formation of the cave, its discovery, and the excavations that unearthed thousands of bones. All the essential aspects of the cave bear's life and its environment are explained through the Ursus ladinicus remains, dating back more than 50,000 years.

On the ground floor, visitors can explore a reconstruction of the bear's cave, where they can admire "the mother bear in eternal hibernation with her cub."

Accessible for people with disabilities: The Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus is fully wheelchair accessible.

A church of the village was already mentioned in a document of the 15th century.

The reconstructed building dates back to 1782. The exterior aspect of the building consists of clearly separated architectural parts, while the interior decoration presents a subdivision in pilasters.

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

Permanent exhibition of paintings by R. Mussner c/o Stüa dal Te Raetia. The works are also for sale.

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.

Brunico Town Hall Square, located between Graben and Europastrasse, is now located where the busstation and the prison used to be. The large square, which was built in 2003, is now used for many events and concerts. In the middle of the square, obliquesteles by Paul Feichter be inscriptions from texts by Norbert C. Kaser.

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.

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.

Old parish church St. Genesius.                                                         

Above the forest cemetery in Brunico, an easy family-friendly path leads to the three lakes. A beautiful recreation area on Kühlbergl next to the city center in the middle of nature.

 

Gais has a cultural and historical gem: the old mortuary chapel, the so-called ‘Beinhaus’, has been converted into a small museum. The centrepiece of the museum is a cycle of frescoes from the late Gothic period depicting the Last Judgement. Next to it are the works on the redemption of the poor souls, a kind of catechism for believers who could not yet read at the time. In addition, the Sonnenburg vestments (several precious chasubles) can be admired in a glass display case and St Constantine II (a full-body skeleton) in a reliquary.

Eight churches and chapels and at least as many different views of Olang and the Puster Valley can be seen from this viewpoint. The hill is popularly called "Preinbichl" and can be reached via the hiking trail in the intersection of the "Chill Area Stocker" after 10-15 minutes.

Churches/chaples:
- Geiselsberg
- Niederolang
- Mitterolang
- Oberolang
- Wielenberg
- Nasen
- Toning Stöckl
- Niederrasen

The "Giant Stone" is an impressive dolomite boulder located along the trail from the Kids’ World towards the Brunstalm. According to an old legend, the giant Haunold dropped it here when it became too heavy to carry. At the site, visitors can read the fascinating tale of the Giant Stone – a magical spot for family hikes and lovers of legends.

You can find the legend here: cultural life | Olang-Valdaora

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 near the court Burgfrieden on the western side of the valley is one of the youngest chapel in Rasun / Rasen. It is privately owned and belongs to the Burgfrieder farm.

On the site of a small workshop that was to be demolished, next to the existing barn, a larger studio and garage were to be built. The site was to change as little as possible; the new building was to enlarge the existing structure of the farm and its size integrated into the surroundings. The entrance is under the barn bridge, which is on the same level as the new studio’s gallery and thus establishes a link between the two buildings. The garage below is equally unseen from the street, as is the entire height of the studio − both of which are accessible from the courtyard below. The new structures were built of concrete, with an insulated outer shell made of vertical larch cladding. The roof is likewise made of larch wood and has a large studio window on the northern side. The interior of the workshop has been kept white and decorated with light-colored wood.

The Galgenbühel gravel bank near Windschnur, which is formed of ice and water, has regained its strategic importance of late.

Under the fascist regime which took hold in 1939, many bunkers were built into the Alpine Wall in order to secure the Italian border against the German Reich. This bunker will be transformed into an exhibition and venue. It also bears witness to a long-outdated strategic defence system.

Ansitz Heufler by Norbert Niederkofler

Ansitz Heufler, located in the picturesque Antholz Valley in South Tyrol, is a historic manor house dating back to 1580. Built by the noble family Hohenbühel zu Heufler, the estate is regarded as an outstanding example of Renaissance architecture and has been carefully preserved to maintain its historical value.

The wood-paneled rooms on the first floor are among the most atmospheric in the entire region—most notably the historic “Hearnstube”, adorned with an intricately crafted ceramic stove bearing the Heufler family coat of arms. Celebrated as one of the most beautiful parlors in all of Tyrol, it impressively blends artisan craftsmanship with living tradition.

On the door to the Hearnstube, one can see a fine engraving of the south façade of Ansitz Heufler: a square, three-story structure surrounded by four diagonally positioned corner towers with characteristic gabled roofs.

The old “Rauchkuchl”, now transformed into a stylish lounge bar, was once a traditional open kitchen where food was cooked and smoked over an open flame or in a smoke channel – a method that added rich flavor and ensured long preservation.

Among the most distinctive architectural features are the bay windows and the towers themselves, all topped with steep gabled roofs. The large windows on the first floor are decorated with finely wrought iron grilles, adorned with elegant floral motifs.

Today, Ansitz Heufler presents itself as a refined residence offering luxurious hospitality and culinary excellence. Guests are immersed in a unique experience where historical charm meets modern comfort – an authentic journey back in time through the preserved spirit of an ancient noble home.

Since May 2025, the estate has been led by South Tyrolean Three Michelin Star chef Norbert Niederkofler, who has breathed new life into the residence, infusing it with his signature philosophy, “Cook the Mountain”. Ansitz Heufler features 10 rooms, a public restaurant, and a bar with a scenic terrace.

Ladin Museum - Tor Castle In the very heart of the Dolomites live more than 30,000 Dolomite Ladins whose identity is characterised mainly by two important features: the uniqueness of their language, which derives from popular Latin, and the extraordinary mountain landscape at the heart of the southern Alps. It is only thanks to the physical characteristics of this landscape that the Ladin language has survived today. It is the eldest of all languages spoken in this region and is restricted by the Italian and the German cultural and linguistic areas that surround it. The way through the museum focuses on some significant aspects of the present and past lives of the Dolomite Ladins, highlighting the important influences of cross-regional events on the lives of the population and pinpointing the existing interrelations between landscape forms and lifestyles. The museum is housed in the Ciastel de Tor, a castle dating back to 1230, created as a fiefdom of the Bishops of Brixen.

The castle is available as a wedding venue for couples interested in crowning an unforgettable day and experiencing a fairytale moment in a medieval castle.