Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park

It covers an area of almost 26,000 hectares and is the second largest nature park in South Tyrol after the Texelgruppe Nature Park. It is characterised by extensive plateaus, which are enclosed by steeply sloping dolomite rock faces. Apart from the breathtaking, unique views of the mountain world of the Dolomites, which are easily accessible in many places, the fauna here is one of the special highlights, because a large part of the species living in the Dolomites find their natural habitat here. For example, 20 years ago the "Megachirella Wachtleri", a primordial lizard, was found between these mountains and, thanks to today's technical possibilities, in May 2018 it was classified as the mother of all pangolin creepers. It is the oldest specimen known to date and lived a whopping 250 million years ago. This was made possible above all by the diversity of habitats at that time, which still persists, both in the valleys and in the mountainous areas that are difficult to access. The different vegetation zones also range from low mountain forests to the typical vegetation of the rocky regions. Their altitudes vary for the most part between 1,500 and 2,500 metres above sea level, only the Conturiness peak stands out at over three thousand metres. The Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park House was built in San Vigilio di Marebbe at the entrance to the Val de Mareo. The visitor centre is like an open window on the nature park: interactive media, videos and panels immerse visitors in the secrets of the protected area. Ramps connect several levels, the visitor moves like in a spiral through the different exhibition areas: the formation of the Dolomites, the Conturines cave bear discovered in 1987, the most important habitats in the nature park as well as a three-dimensional relief that makes the morphology of the area visible.