Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park
Discover enchanted woods and animals
In the Nature Park between the valleys of Fiemme, Fassa and Primiero, on a discovery of the animals and enchanted woods
The music of the wind and the music of the violins carved from the resonant fir trees of the Paneveggio forest, where the world’s most prestigious sound boxes come from: this is the true hallmark of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park.
The Park, which was established in 1967 to encompass the woods of the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme, a source of fine wood for Venice (La Serenissima) for centuries, also includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Pale di San Martino mountain group and the Fradusta glacier described by English explorers and the Italian writer Dino Buzzati.
The protected area is also home to deer, which can be admired in all their glory in the Park. Above the woods and the mountain cottages, where you can sample local butter and cheese, loom the Pale di San Martino Dolomites, with their vibrant colours in stark contrast to the dark rocks of the rugged Lagorai.
Many trails and lodges offer memorable hiking and climbing experiences. Ancient Mesolithic hunters once lived in Colbricon, among the lakes and volcanic rocks of the Lagorai. Now, centuries of mountain life, customs, traditions and tastes are on display at the excellent Vanoi Ecomuseo, with its ethnographic trail.
The park’s main hub, with the Visitor Centre, is at Villa Welsperg in Tonadico, in the beautiful Val Canali valley. Other centres are located in Paneveggio and San Martino di Castrozza, while Canal San Bovo is home to the Vanoi ethnographic trail.