The famous Alpe di Siusi- a wonderful place

Exploring a natural paradise in the heart of an UNESCO world heritage…

Since 2009 the Dolomites are a part of the UNESCO world heritage and offer a singular landscape and mountain world, the Alpe di Siusi South Tyrol is situated in the heart of this famous mountain treasure. It represents the highest alpine plateau of Europe and it’s surface measures 57 km², it’s a wonderful place and a real hiking paradise. In every season of the year the area offers a large assortment of leisure activities as for example hiking, climbing, Nordic Walking, Horseback- riding, mountain biking or skiing and cross- country skiing in winter. The Alpe di Siusi village is composed by three small hamlets called Saltiria, Compaccia and Piz, they are characterized by old an traditional farms embedded in the picturesque alpin landscape. In Compaccia you can find also the modern Alpe Siusi funicular, as the Alpe is connected to the near Val Gardena, another mountain paradise belonging to the Italian Dolomites. 

The western part of the Alpe di Siusi belongs to the famous Sciliar – Catinaccio Nature park which was established in 1975, the Catinaccio area became part of it in 2003. The Catinaccio area is also a real hiking eldorado, it is called the “kingdom of king Laurin”, a legend says that a dwarf king governed the area and that the red rock bankes- becoming red only in the dust- are his accursed rose garden. The Alpe di Siusi has some famous peaks as for example the Sciliar, which is the most popular and one of South Tyrols emblems. The Alpe is situated on a hight of 1800 to 2950 and afford more than 300 alpine huts and rest stops during a wonderful hiking tour,  the Alpe belongs to the minicipial area of Castelrotto, there are two other picturesque townships in the area: Siusi and Fié allo Sciliar. 

In summer the Alpe di Siusi offers countless trails and hiking tours, a rich and multitude flora and fauna is waiting in the area. In winter guests can explore the area on skiers and also on cross – country skiers, there are 60 km of cross- country ski trails and modern lift facilities, perfect for a skiing holiday in the Dolomites. Here you can experience nature up to close and discover a wonderful nature protection area in South Tyrol…

The mountain area Catinaccio Latemar and its legends

The legend about Catinaccio and king Laurin

The famous Catinaccio mountain massif is also called the “Rosengarten” or the Rose Garden, this because the rock faces in the sunset often appear in a wonderful red coloring and represent a popular photo motif. There exists a fascinating legend about this mountain group also named “the kingdom of king Laurin”, the legend tells about king Laurin, who was a powerful dwarf living inside the Catinaccio. He lived inside the mountains where he conserved a great treasure, he also possessed a magic hood, which permitted him to become invisible.

The dwarf also possessed a wonderful rose garden, which was protected by a silk golden wire, the roses bloomed throughout the whole year.His rose garden was his most precious treasure and nobody should enter in it. In the neighboured castle there lived a beautiful princess, princess Simhild, king Laurin felt in love with her and used his magic cap to abduct her and to bring her in his kingdom, so Simhild had to live in the midst of King Laurin’s unmeasurable treasures together with him, she was very sad and full of homesickness.

So her brother Dietleib called the king of the Goths Dietrich of Bern, who came to help him, together with some knights they broke the silk wire and trampled king Laurin’s precious rose garden. King Laurin came on his small white steed and fighted with him, at the end Dietrich won the fight and enchained the dwarf, he delivered the princess and brought her back to her brother. After that king Laurin spoke out a spell, which implied that the Rose Garden should never blossom again, nor at day nor at night, but he forgot the twilight. And so the palid mountain walls glows red only in the sunset.