Historic village of the Upper Pusteria with its painted square and the Wassermann house, near Lake Braies.
A short history
Villabassa, Niederdorf in German, sits at 1,158 metres in the Upper Pusteria, between Dobbiaco and Monguelfo. It is an ancient village, grown along the old road that linked the valley to Austria and the Cadore, and for centuries it was a stopping place for carts, merchants and travellers.
The centre keeps a compact, well-kept look, with the village square, the houses with painted facades and the historic Wassermann house, now a museum that tells of life in the old days. From here, in the early twentieth century, passed those climbing towards Lake Braies when the great hotel on the lake was a destination of European holidaymaking.
Today Villabassa is a quiet holiday village. On the Val Pusteria cycle path and a few kilometres from Lake Braies, it remains a good base for exploring the Upper Pusteria while keeping the atmosphere of the historic village.
What to see
- The old town with its painted square and the Wassermann house, a record of the Villabassa of former times.
- The Val Pusteria cycle path, which passes through the village along the valley floor.
- Lake Braies, a few kilometres away, historically linked to Villabassa.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Villabassa?
The old town with its square of painted facades and the Wassermann house, which tells of the village's life. The village sits on the Val Pusteria cycle path and is a few kilometres from Lake Braies.
Is Villabassa close to Lake Braies?
Yes. Villabassa is a few kilometres from Lake Braies and was historically its gateway, when the hotel on the lake was an early twentieth-century holiday destination.