The municipality of the famous Lake Braies, among scattered farmsteads, the Fanes-Senes-Braies Park and the loop around the lake.
A short history
Braies, Prags in German, sits at 1,383 metres in a side valley of the Upper Val Pusteria that closes at the foot of the Croda del Becco. It is not a single village but a municipality of hamlets and scattered farmsteads, with old communities of farmers and herders settled along the valley.
Its worldwide fame is born of Lake Braies, the most famous Alpine lake of the Dolomites. In the early twentieth century a great hotel was built here, and since then its green waters and wooden boats have become a symbol image of the mountains. Above the lake watch the Croda del Becco and the peaks of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park.
Today the municipality lives on this appeal, with a flow of visitors that in recent years has been regulated to protect the lake and the valley. Beyond the postcard remain the farmsteads, the pastures and the trails of an environment still tied to the real mountains.
Old Ladin legends run over the lake. It is said that wild men lived among these mountains, guarding the gold of the peaks, and that to defend it from the herders they made the waters spring up from the depths of the earth, throwing the gold and the stones into the lake. Lake Braies was considered a gateway to the underground kingdom of the Fanes, the ancient people of the Dolomites at the centre of a cycle of oral tales.
To the old fame a recent one has been added. In the summer of 2010 the first scenes of "Un passo dal cielo" were filmed on the shores of the lake, the series with Terence Hill as the forest ranger commander Pietro. The success of the show made Lake Braies one of the most sought-after destinations in South Tyrol, with all that this means for managing the crowds.
How to fit Braies into a three, five or seven day trip: The Dolomites in 3, 5 or 7 Days: How to Plan Your Trip.
What to see
- Lake Braies with its wooden boats, the Alpine lake that is a symbol of the Dolomites.
- The loop of Lake Braies, the walk that goes all the way around it at the foot of the Croda del Becco.
- The Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, the protected area of peaks, plateaus and mountain huts surrounding the valley.
How to get to Braies
By car you leave the A22 Brenner motorway at Bressanone, follow the Val Pusteria main road as far as Villabassa or Monguelfo and climb along the Braies valley road toward the lake. The nearest station is Villabassa, on the Val Pusteria railway line. In high season car access is regulated and it is best to use the valley shuttles.
When to go
Summer brings many visitors to Lake Braies, so early morning and late evening are the best times to find it quieter. Autumn brings the colours of the woods and a calmer valley. In winter the lake often freezes and the silence is total, but services are reduced.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Braies?
Lake Braies with its wooden boats is the main draw. The loop around the lake is also worth it, along with exploring the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, between the Croda del Becco and the surrounding plateaus.
How do you get to Lake Braies?
You climb from the Val Pusteria near Villabassa and Monguelfo along the Braies valley road. In the busiest periods car access is regulated, with shuttles and booking to reach the lake.
Is Braies a real village?
Not a single centre, but a municipality of hamlets and scattered farmsteads along a side valley of the Upper Val Pusteria, at the foot of the Croda del Becco. To the life of farmers and herders the fame of the lake has been added.
When should you visit Lake Braies?
In summer it is best to arrive at dawn or in the evening, when there are fewer people. Autumn offers the colours of the woods and more calm. In winter the lake often freezes and the silence is total, but services are reduced.
Is Lake Braies the one from "Un passo dal cielo"?
Yes. In the summer of 2010 the first scenes of the series with Terence Hill as forest ranger commander Pietro were filmed on the shores of the lake. The success of the show made Lake Braies one of the most sought-after destinations in South Tyrol.
What legends are told about Lake Braies?
Ladin tradition tells of wild men guarding the gold of the peaks, who made the waters spring up from the depths of the earth to defend it from the herders. The lake was considered a gateway to the underground kingdom of the Fanes, the ancient people of the Dolomites.