Cultuur & bezienswaardigheden in de Dolomieten

The family Kiniger promised to build a chapel in 2013 and in the same year it was inaugurated. The chapel is situated in the Waldheim, nearby the Hotel Willy.

The Herbst Castle is named after the Brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst who built the Castle in 1500. In 1511, the Herbst Castle was used as a residence by Emperor Maximilian I.

Visits available only from the outside.

The complex was bought in 1500 by the brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst zu Herbstenburg and rebuilt into a fortified complex. It was the center of a fortified complex that extended through underground passages to the so-called "Red Tower" in the northwestern part of the village. In the cellars of the castle were the prisons of the Dobbiaco court.
In the years 1508 to 1511 the castle was the seat of the court quarters of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg. It was there that in 1511 the decision was made to wage war against the Republic of Venice.

The Carnic mountain ridge appears almost insignificant compared to the stately Dolomite rock towers on the opposite side of the Sesto valley. But this impression is deceiving! From Sesto, you can not only reach the Tre Cime Dolomiti, a popular and panoramic hiking and skiing area, but also the western foothills of a mountain range that stretches for over 100 km, almost to Villach in Carinthia. Interesting detail: The Carnic Alps were formed long before the Dolomites. Numerous fossil finds indicate a turbulent, geological past. However, the mountain range also has great historical importance, as it forms part of the Italian-Austrian border. Those who want to experience a border passing on high tracks can walk from the Monte Elmo peak (2,434 m) past the Helmhaus and along the ridge - with their left foot in Austria and the right one in Italy. This is also the starting point of the popular Carnic high route, also called the "peace route", which leads in eight to eleven days of walking to Arnoldstein in Carinthia.

Do not miss out! The 3 Zinnen Dolomites mountain cable cars organise spectacular sunrise walks to the Elmo peak during the summer months. Celebrate the dawn of the day with a mountain experience to satisfy all your senses!

HOLY TRINITY HOSPITAL CHURCH: With the founding of the hospital in 1456, a chapel was built nearby (1456-1473). Further expansion to the size of the present church took place in the middle of the 17th century. The Hospital Church is decorated in the Baroque style.

In the woods near the Ristorante Genziana restaurant you find a labyrinth of river stones with a drinking water well as a source of energy in its centre.

Further information to the water treasures of Dobbiaco: http://www.drei-zinnen.info/en/dobbiaco/dobbiaco/experiencing-dobbiaco/lago-di-dobbiaco-lago-di-landro-and-dobbiaco-water-treasures.html?_ga=1.243384837.1489106145.1483110301

The Dolomites are renowned all around the world for their unique -beauty. No other place can boast such contrasts between steep rocks and grassy pastures. Michael Wachtler presents the evolving of the Dolomites and their unique genesis in the historical Villa Wachtler. THE BIGGEST MUSEUM ABOUT THE DOLOMITES It will take you from the mysterious world of myths and legends to the bottom of our existence. “Megachirella wachtleri”, the ancient ancestor of today‘s snakes and lizards. The mysterious evolution of plants. Cavern bears in the Dolomites. NEW! DINOSAUR WORLD New researches yielded that in the Dolomites originated the ancestors of the dinosaurs. Beautiful dioramas and original skeletons show you their sensational ascension. NEW! THE LEGENDS OF DOLOMITES From Aurona, the land of gold and the lights to the Snow Queen Samblana. From the legend about the "Pale Mountains" to the Croderes, the people of stone. NEW! TREASURE DIGGING ALL THE YEAR Become an adventurous gold miner and crystal hunter yourself. You might just find a dinosaur, fossils, gold or a crystal of your own.

PARISH CHURCH, ST. ANNE’S CHAPEL AND CHAPEL OF THE DECEASED: St. Stephen’s Parish Church was built between 1792-96 during the late Baroque period and it contains frescoes by Franz Altmutter, sculptures by Nissl and an altarpiece by Martin Knoller. A Gothic-style twofold chapel dating from the 15th century is located to the left of the steps of the church. The lower part of it is occupied by the Chapel of the Deceased, while St. Anne’s Chapel is found above. A fresco by Simon von Taisten may be seen in the Chapel of the Deceased. Chapel of the Deceased open to the public: Daily 8-17.00

You can find the history stones at the road of meditation. The "Schalensteine" - history stones discovered the priest Küer. They are one of the most ancient sings of habitation at Sesto / Sexten.

The married couple Johann Tschurtschenthaler and Agnes Galler vowed to build a chapel for the happy return of their son from World War II. In 1949 the chapel was built and consecrated to the Mother of God of Fatima.

The Three Peaks Nature Park visitor center is located in the Grand Hotel. It is playful and informative at the same time: touch, sense, and experience nature.                     

The Franciscan Church was consecrated by the archbishop of Bressanone in 1697. The church is characterised by being back to basics, as the friar churches built during the Counter-Reformation clearly differ from traditional Collegiate Churches dedicated to belongings and culture through their simple and clear method of construction (planning: Franciscan friar Vitus Rastbichler from the Ötztal Valley). The Order's ideal of simplicity and poverty is reflected in the absence of a high bell tower and complex vaults and frescoes. After the entrance there's the small Chapel of Saint Anthony annexed to the nave destined for private meditation. The Fathers originally recited the choral prayers from the gallery. Not much of what distinguished the initial version of the church remains to be seen today, with the exception of the large oil paintings behind the side altars and the Franciscan saints on the southern wall. Today's altars are nice examples of Rococo art. The careful restoration works performed between 1992 and 1994 provided the Convent with its original appearance. The restoration project was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in June, 1994. Visiting hours: daily (except Monday morning) 8 am - 6.30 pm

On 23 May 1915, the Kingdom of Italy declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Italian army occupied Cortina, the Austro-Hungarian troops retreated to Lagazuoi to defend Val Badia and Pusteria.

Under the Croda dell'Acqua in a place now called Sorgenti, the Austrian dressing station was located. Those who died in the infirmary were buried in the immediate vicinity of the Austrian central aid post, without distinguishing between nations. Thus in 1915 the War Cemetery was born.
After the annexation of South Tyrol to Italy, the Italian army took on the task of grouping the numerous small cemeteries scattered along the war lines into a few central cemeteries. The transfer of the bodies took place in the years between 1926 and 1938. In the War Cemetery, the bodies of the fallen soldiers buried in cemeteries in the surrounding area were brought together. While the “Germans” were transported to other cemeteries, the bodies of the fallen of other nationalities arrived at Sorgenti. 1,259 soldiers found eternal rest in Sorgenti.

It all began in 1871 with the construction of the railway line from Lienz to Fortezza, which was owned by the Südbahngesellschaft in Vienna. In 1878 the Grand Hotel in Toblach was opened, thus giving rise to tourism in South Tyrol. Dobbiaco and the Grand Hotel soon became a destination for illustrious guests, especially in summer. The Hotel Südbahn became a prestigious meeting place for prominent personalities and, thanks to continuous investment, the building was gradually expanded.

The development of the Grand Hotel in Toblach
During the First World War, the Grand Hotel suffered little damage and became a military hospital. At the end of the war the complex was totally abandoned. In 1934 the building was auctioned off and bought by the ‘Istituto di Credito Fondiario delle Tre Venezie’. Fortunately, Italy was experiencing a phase of commercial growth and Italian customers discovered Toblach as a charming place for Alpine summer tourism.

In the period following the world wars, the building housed various institutions and facilities, going through a new phase of life. In the 1990s, it underwent a major and costly renovation.

The Grand Hotel today
What for its time was a luxury hotel now houses a Culture and Congress Centers, youth hostel, first class restaurant, Nature Parks Visitor Centre, Music School, Youth Service, training centre and social flats. The centrepiece of the entire complex is the splendid ‘Gustav Mahler’ Auditorium, dedicated to the Bohemian composer of the same name: with a capacity of 460 seats and excellent acoustics, it represents the beating heart of cultural activity.  
Today, the Grand Hotel in Toblach is home to the Euregio Cultural Centre, which houses the impressive Gustav Mahler Hall and a Guesthouse. 

With the opening in september 2004 the alpine dairy Three Peaks offers for the first time the possibility to visit the production of cheese and dairy processing. After taking a view on the history and development of cheesemaking in the museum the production can be visited on a guided tour.

Certainly all the products of the alpine dairy can be degustated afterwards.

 

Welcome to the newly opened Pragis Park! This idyllic place offers both locals and tourists a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature and be active. The park is not only a place to relax, but also an adventure for young and old.

A particular highlight is the new climbing frame in the shape of a majestic stag. This creative design invites children to test their motor skills and unleash their imagination. The stag is not just a piece of play equipment, but also a work of art that symbolises the connection to nature. Surrounded by shady trees and blossoming flowers, families can experience unforgettable moments here.

In addition to the play facilities, Pragis Park offers extensive green spaces where you can enjoy picnics or simply breathe in the fresh air. Hiking and cycling trails invite you to explore the surroundings and discover the beauty of the region.

The newest part of the village from a settlement point of view is located on a gigantic scree. Only the church, which usually provides the centre of the village, is located on a panoramic hill. It is definitely one of the most beautiful church hills in the region! The parish was devoted to the patron of water St. Nicholas. This saint was often chosen in villages prone to overflowing by raging rivers (ancient German winnen = raging). In 1507 the Prato Drava parish church was first mentioned in a document within the framework of consecration. The traditional rectangular floor-plan of proto-Romanic construction was transformed and renovated in Gothic style around1500. The elegant construction with ogive windows and portal has maintained all its Gothic charm, including the floor-plan, the section with support pilaster and pilaster strips , the triumphal art and the polygonal choir stall. Unfortunately in 1821, the vaults were stripped of their ribs, and only a Coronation of Mary and a representation of the legend of St. Nicholas (approx. 1505) are all that remain of the original frescoes in the Church of Prato Drava. The epitaph of the Klettenhammer family with its architectonic frame dates back to the 17th century. The altars, pulpit and confession boxes that date back to the early 19th century exemplify a unified and extremely rustic Baroque style. A steep path with the Stations of the Cross and four wayside shrines leads to the church hill. The wooden statues in these wayside shrines realised in rustic, realistic Baroque style show scenes from the Passion of Christ: The Mount of Olives, the Flagellation, the Crowning with Thorns, Jesus carrying the Cross; the Crucifixion group located in the graveyard is also of the same genre and period (1700 circa). Visiting hours: The church is only accessible during mass celebrations (during the summer season every day).

The historical museum dedicated to the First World War is located on the summit of Monte Piana, a place that also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

As the border between Italy and the Habsburg monarchy of Austria-Hungary crossed Monte Piana, during the war this peak (2,324 metres high) became the scene of intense fighting between the Italians and Austrians, both eager to control this strategic position. The northern peak was occupied by the Austrians, while the southern one was under Italian control. The positions, trenches and tunnels of both fronts were only a few metres apart, making the location an extremely bloody battlefield.

The 14,000 soldiers who lost their lives during these battles are now buried in the Sorgenti War Cemetery. For two years, a bloody positional war was fought, which, however, did not lead to a decisive breakthrough in the conflict.             

The church of St. Mary is built in Gothic style. The Gothic middle relief and the side figures are significant. From the church there starts a path of meditation which leads to the chapel San Pietro in Monte/St. Peter am Kofl.

Dobbiaco receives its drinking water from two different high quality sources: from the Dolomite limestones and the ferrous primary rocks from the Central Alps.
A drinking water well with an idyllic viewpoint at the edge of the town invites you to taste the two waters of Dobbiaco.

Further information on Dobbiaco’s Water treasures

ST. MAGDALENE'S CHURCH IN MOOS (Mooskirche): St. Magdalene’s Church was built in the year 1490 through a donation provided by Countess Paula von Gonzaga, wife of Margrave Leonhard von Görz. The early baroque high altar dates back to approx. 1600. A relief plaque depicting the Adoration of the Magi, a work by Michael Parth from the late Gothic period (around 1520), adorns the high altar. The church is located a short distance outside of town in the direction of Welsberg/Monguelfo. Open to the public: Early April – early October 8am - 7pm

Lake Lago di Dobbiaco is situated at 1259 m in the Val di Landro which links Dobbiaco with Cortina. It is located in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. The lake with its varied lakeside vegetation is the ideal resting and breeding place for many kinds of water birds, including those which breed in South Tyrol only rarely and infrequently. During the bird migration periods in the spring and the autumn several rare migratory birds can be spotted here.
Lake Dobbiaco is a safe and relatively undisturbed habitat and one of the few remaining wetlands in South Tyrol.

A nature discovery trail with 11 stations around the lake provides important informations on the vegetation, wildlife and geomorphology of the area. The viewing platform on the western shore offers a place to rest and views of the lake’s plants and wildlife and of the silted areas. Walking time approx. 2 hours from Dobbiaco.

In the summer the lake is refreshingly cool for tired feet. Boat trips (contact boat hire: +39 0474 973 267) and fishing are also recommended: fishing licenses for foreigners can be obtained from the Tourism Association Dobbiaco, day tickets in the restaurant by the lake.

In winter you can enjoy ice stick shooting, curling and ice skating.

The Red Tower is named after the red color of its paint, but it is also named Hornberger Tower. It was bulit in 1430.                                                     

"Haus Sexten" ist the Eventcentre/Congress hall of Sexten                      

In the summer the lake of Braies reflects every colour. In the winter it is covers of ice and snow. Both as in the summer and winther it is the trail head of hikes, skitouren, snowshoe hikes and walks. Also nordic-walker are going to have walks in this territories. And everyone who likes to go to the limits of one's capacity can go to one of the three climbing crag.

See it, hear it, feel it, understand it ... The visitors' area in the new building of the Dobbiaco - San Candido district heating plant offers visitors an insight into the process of generating electrical and thermal energy using biomass.

Opened on June 25th 2005, the visitors’ area is the first of its kind in Europe. Come by and learn more about how the forest stores energy, about wood chips, combustion, the ORC module, filter technology, district heating and about the story of how the heating plant was developed. The visitors' area is particularly suitable for school classes.

guided tours: December - March & June - September: Wednesday at 4 p.m.

During its 750 km long journey to the Danube the Drava flows through 5 European countries. It has its beginning in Dobbiaco. sily reached on foot or by bike. Starting point, especially for families is the forest WoodWonderland.

Further information to the water treasures of Dobbiaco: http://www.drei-zinnen.info/en/dobbiaco/dobbiaco/experiencing-dobbiaco/lago-di-dobbiaco-lago-di-landro-and-dobbiaco-water-treasures.html?_ga=1.243384837.1489106145.1483110301

Although this church originally built in Romanic style dates back to the 12th century, renovation performed after 1735 transformed it to the Baroque jewel we see today with the lavish ornamentation that recalls the exuberance of Rococo. The outside is characterised by arched windows, niches with statues, the impressive main facade crowned by a cross, angels blowing trumpets and bearing glowing braziers, and the walls' buttresses in the form of scrolls. Without doubt, this church is one of the most beautiful sacral buildings in Tyrol.

The 5 chapels (1519) representing scenes from the Passion of Christ. Together with the former "Görz" chapel in the parish church and the circular chapel in Lerschach, they form the so-called "Calvary Mountain" pilgrim road. The chapel was built to commemorate the fallen in the war against the Republic of Venice.

Even though Versciaco only became an independent parish in 1891, the church was first consecrated in 1212. The lower part of today's nave walls date back to this period. The initial construction consisted of a rectangular room with a small apse added to the east and a flat wooden ceiling. The last preserved remains of a proto-Gothic fresco date back to around 1300 and can still be admired: Saint Ursula and her companions. The church might originally have been devoted to this saint of noble lineage, also because all the Saints venerated until Late Medieval times were of princely blood or at least nobles. Every year, three processions from San Candido to this church took place on the Saint's feast day (22nd of July). During the course of the 18th century, the Gothic furniture was replaced by Baroque pieces. The Baroque altar sheets that were replaced by neo-Gothic altars (by Josef Stauder, San Candido) in the 19th century, were carefully preserved and hung on the walls of the choir stall with three pictures: S. Magdalene, S. Sebastian and S. Peter. Even though only the last of the three bears the signature of Seb. Unterberger, it is very likely that all three pieces were realised by his hands. Visiting hours: daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Carnic mountain ridge appears almost insignificant compared to the stately Dolomite rock towers on the opposite side of the Sesto valley. But this impression is deceiving! From Sesto, you can not only reach the Tre Cime Dolomiti, a popular and panoramic hiking and skiing area, but also the western foothills of a mountain range that stretches for over 100 km, almost to Villach in Carinthia. Interesting detail: The Carnic Alps were formed long before the Dolomites. Numerous fossil finds indicate a turbulent, geological past. However, the mountain range also has great historical importance, as it forms part of the Italian-Austrian border. Those who want to experience a border passing on high tracks can walk from the Monte Elmo peak (2,434 m) past the Helmhaus and along the ridge - with their left foot in Austria and the right one in Italy. This is also the starting point of the popular Carnic high route, also called the "peace route", which leads in eight to eleven days of walking to Arnoldstein in Carinthia.