The Hochpustertal is the high-lying middle section of the valley Val Pusteria as the connecting valley of Brixen (Italy) to Lienz (Austria). The article covers the Italian part of the Hochpustertal.
Regions
Hochpustertal is the region on the upper reaches of the Outside located part of the Val Pusteria designated. The term is not precisely delimited.
The South Tyrolean Hochpustertal is the high valley section of the Val Pusteria between the Pragser Tal (southern side valley) and the border with Austria, in the strict definition the Hochpustertal only includes the valley regions.
In an expanded definition (tourism association), the Sex Valley, another southern side valley of the Pustertal, and the south adjoining parts of the eastern dolomites also counted. Some of the most famous Dolomite regions are located in these parts of the mountains, including the Prags and the Sexten Dolomites with the Three Peaks.
The Toblacher saddle (1,210 m) is the high point in the valley floor of the Puster Valley and an important European watershed: In the east of the Toblacher saddle and in the pipe forest at the foot of the Haunold (mountain group Neuner) is the source region of the Drau, whose water over the Danube flow into the Black Sea. The Rienza comes west of the Toblacher saddle in Höhlensteintal from the Dolomites, it flows into the Etsch and leads the water to the Adriatic / Mediterranean.
The Dobbiaco field is the valley section of the Puster Valley on the Toblacher Sattel.
The East Tyrolean Hochpustertal extends from the border to South-Tirol (State border with Italy) to Anras.
places
The places in South Tyrolean Alta Pusteria:
- San Candido (1175 m), market town with a historic town center, collegiate church;
- Dobbiaco (1256 m), vacation spot;
- Braies (1213 m), with the Pragser Wildsee;
in the Sex Valley:
- Sexten in the Sexten Dolomites;
Other goals
- Three Peaks on the border with the Belluno region
- Prags Wildsee
background
The Hochpustertal has been an important traffic junction since ancient times and was therefore also of strategic importance: Even under the Romans, an important trade route led through the Pustertal, here the route branched through the Höhlensteintal to the Adriatic Sea and beyond Venice from, in the Middle Ages as "Strada Regia" and later as "Strada d´Alemagna" an important trade route for goods to Germany.
The Hochpustertal is a geological boundary: the regions in the north belong to the main Alpine ridge and consist of primary rock, on the south side they close Eastern Dolomites, an they consist of main dolomite.
language
In the South Tyrolean part of the Puster Valley, German is usually the mother tongue. However, many of the South Tyroleans speak fluent Italian. All labels (buildings, street names, etc.) are also given in two languages.
getting there
mobility
The Pustertal can be explored both by train and by public bus. In Austria there is the ÖBB, in Italy Trenitalia. The side valleys of the Pustertal can only be reached by bus. But you are particularly flexible with your own car.
Tourist Attractions
- Pragser Wildsee, largest natural Dolomite lake;
- Plätzwiese, High plateau at 2,000 meters above sea level, one of the highest cultivated alpine pastures in Europe and popular hiking area;
activities
kitchen
A particular specialty of the Pustertal are the dumplings, especially Schlipfkrapfen (with potato filling). The delicacies also include various smoked dishes (e.g. sausages, ham, handles, etc.)
nightlife
security
The whole of South Tyrol is a safe region. Of course, the usual security measures apply, according to which valuables should not be left lying around unattended. This applies increasingly to the tourist centers with a large number of visitors and also to the ski areas.
climate
The Hochpustertal is already in the area of influence of the north and south currents of the main Alpine ridge (north foehn and south foehn). Compared to the rest of the Dolomites, the result is longer, colder and snowier winters and shorter, cooler summer months. The Hochpustertal is considered to be the cold pole of South Tyrol.
With the location of the Alta Pusteria in the Southern Alps and in the area of influence of the low-lying areas over the Adriatic Sea, the summer months are more rainy than the rest of South Tyrol and the winters are quite snow-reliable. The statistics count around 2000 hours of sunshine a year and are thus slightly above the South Tyrolean average (annual average in Germany between 1300 and 1900 hours, depending on the location).
For general information on the climate, see also the Dolomites and in the travel guide too South-Tirol.
