Val Pusteria - Pustertal
Val Pusteria - Pustertal
Landscape, snow | © Kottersteger Manuel
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The broad, green valley that reaches the UNESCO Dolomites World Heritage Site

Broad, gentle meadows, lovely forests and plateaus, the tiny villages beautifully presenting the sun, that is what characterizes the Val Pusteria-Pustertal valley. The further the valley extends toward the north, east, and south, the more mountainous it becomes, until it is completely occupied by the world-famous pale giants of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites At the beginning of the Val Pusteria, the road leads past the Rio Molino-Mühlbach Gap, which once served as a customs station.  As if the road knew what it was doing, it then makes a lovely arch around in order to briefly detach itself from the main road to head past the communities of Chienes-Kiens, Issengo-Issing, and Falzes-Pfalzen. In this section, it does justice to its name, the Sonnenstraße [the “Sun Road”]. The main route, on the other hand, makes a determined beeline for the main city, Brunico-Bruneck.

Kronplatz Gipfel | © Skirama Kronplatz
Kronplatz Gipfel | © Skirama Kronplatz
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Bruneck - Brunico

This small medieval city at the foot of its own local mountain, the Plan de Corones-Kronplatz, is the heart and soul of the valley.  Its first impression is colorful and full of life.  Val Pusteria delicacies and traditional handicraft is to be found here, as is the lovely pedestrian zone with its numerous shops and cafés.  And Brunico Castle looks down from its hilltop upon the colorful hustle and bustle.
Meanwhile, the Plan de Corones-Kronplatz mountain, South Tyrol-Südtirol’s number one ski mountain, towers above everything.  A mecca for winter sports enthusiasts during the wintertime, in the summer it becomes a staging area for mountain bikers, paragliders, hikers, and families.  Yes, the Val Pusteria is best experienced in an active state!
This is also where fantastic side valleys branch off, with undisturbed nature, lots and lots of castles, and a unique cultural landscape: the Valle di Casies-Gsieser Tal, Valle Anterselva-Antholzertal and Val Badia-Gadertal.