Val Pusteria (Pustertal in German, Val de Puster in Ladin) is a long valley that extends east of Bressanone toward the border with Austria. This is one of the most popular Alpine valleys, renowned for its historic towns and villages, ski resorts, and beautiful natural environment.
Places to see in Val Pusteria
Brunico/Bruneck
Brunico (Bruneck in German) is a town in South Tyrol located at the center of Val Pusteria/Pustertal, of which it is the most important city. The town was officially founded in the 13th century and quickly rose to prominence as a stop along the trade routes that crossed the Alps. After being ruled by Tyrol and Austria for centuries, it joined Italy after World War I, and it is now a renowned tourist destination.
✪ Plan de Corones/Kronplatz
Plan de Corones is a mountain south of Brunico, dividing Val Pusteria from Val Badia. The top hosts a ski resort with an amazing view over the Dolomites and features various attractions. These include the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, a museum focused on the history of climbing, and the Museum of Mountain Photography.
Address: Plan de Corones, 39030 Marebbe BZ
Coordinates: 46.7388, 11.9583
Brunico Castle
The medieval Brunico Castle (Castello di Brunico/Burg Bruneck), located on a hill overlooking the town, was built during the 13th century and it was for a long time one of the main fortresses in the area. Now it still features various decorated halls and it hosts the Messner Mountain Musuem Ripa, an exhibition dedicated to the people who live among the mountains all over the world.
Address: Vicolo Castello, 2, 39031 Brunico BZ
Coordinates: 46.7944, 11.9396
Museo degli Usi e Costumi/Südtiroler Landesmuseum für Volkskunde
This ethnographic museum, located in Teodone/Dietenheim, just outside Brunico, is an exhibition on the culture and history of the area. It features various historic objects and reconstructions of traditional houses.
Address: Via Duca Diet, 24, 39031 Teodone BZ
Coordinates: 46.8030, 11.9541
Val Badia/Gadertal
Val Badia (Val Badia in Ladin, Gadertal in German) is a valley among the Dolomites of South Tyrol. Officially trilingual, it is mostly inhabited by Ladin speakers. Val Badia is a popular destination for tourists thanks to its location among some of the most prominent mountains of the Dolomites.
Museum Ladin Ćiastel de Tor
The Museum Ladin Ćiastel de Tor is one of the two sites of the Museum Ladin, located inside the 13th-century castle Ćiastel de Tor. The exhibition showcases the history of the Ladin people with various archaeological findings, and also features a section on the natural history of the Dolomites.
Address: Str. Tor, 65, 39030 San Martino In Badia BZ
Coordinates: 46.6807, 11.8929
Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus
The Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus is one of the two sites of the Museum Ladin. This section is focused on the natural history and geology of the Dolomites, with a special focus on an ancient spieces of bear, called Ursus Ladinicus, that inhabited the area.
Address: Strada Micurà de Rü, 26, 39030 San Cassiano BZ
Coordinates: 46.5707, 11.9323
Visitor Center of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park
This visitor center hosts an exhibition on the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, one of the largest parks of South Tyrol. The exhibit displays the beautiful natural environment of the park and its geological history.
Address: Str. Catarina Lanz, 96, 39030 S. Vigilio BZ
Coordinates: 46.6946, 11.9359
Braies/Prags
Braies (Prags in German) is a municipality in South Tyrol composed of some small villages in a lateral valley of Val Pusteria/Pustertal. It is a popular destination for tourists thanks to its beautiful natural environment, especially its lake.
✪ Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee
Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee is one of the most popular lakes for tourists in South Tyrol. It is located in a valley among the Dolomites and, thanks to its stunning beauty, it earned the nickname “Pearl of the Alps”.
Address: St.Veit, 27, 39030 Braies BZ
Coordinates: 46.6934, 12.0846
Dobbiaco/Toblach
Dobbiaco (Toblach in German) is a town located in Val Pusteria/Pustertal, a valley among the Dolomites of South Tyrol. Thanks to its position near some of the most famous mountains of the area, and at the crossroads of various mountain valleys, it is a popular stop for tourists.
Grand Hotel Dobbiaco/Grand Hotel Toblach
The Grand Hotel is a historic hotel in Dobbiaco, built in the 1870s, and for centuries one of the most prestigious places in the area, visited by many nobles. Now the large complex also hosts a cultural center, a youth hostel, and the Visitor Center of the the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Natural Park.
Address: Via Dolomiti, 41, 39034 Dobbiaco BZ
Coordinates: 46.7232, 12.2254
Lago di Dobbiaco/Toblacher See
The small lake located among the mountain south of Dobbiaco is known for its stunning beauty. Its placement close to some of the most famous mountains of the Dolomites, makes it a popular destination for tourists.
Address: Lago di Dobbiaco, 39034 Dobbiaco BZ
Coordinates: 46.7039, 12.2189
San Candido/Innichen
San Candido (Innichen in German) is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Dolomites, located in Val Pusteria/Pustertal in South Tyrol. It is known for the incredible beauty of its natural environment and its ski resorts.
✪ Innichen Abbey
The Innichen Abbey (Collegiata di San Candido/Stiftskirche Innichen) is a former Benedictine monastery in San Candido, and one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in the Alps. Originally founded in the 8th century, the current structure was built between the 12th and 13th century, and adorned with frescoes and artworks still preserved to this day. Next to the church, a small museum hosts an exhibitions with various pieces of religious art.
Address: Via Atto, 1, 39038 San Candido BZ
Coordinates: 46.7329, 12.2827