The pearl of the Dolomites
At the end of the Val di Braies, a side valley of the Val Pusteria, at about 1,500 metres, Lake Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is one of the most famous and photographed lakes in the Alps, called the "pearl of the Dolomites". Its water, of an incredible emerald and turquoise colour that changes with the light and the seasons, reflects the forests of spruce and the vertical walls of the Croda del Becco (Seekofel), the mountain that closes the lake to the south, part of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park and the Dolomites UNESCO site. On the shore, the wooden boathouse, with its pier and the old rowing boats for rent, is one of the most iconic images of the Dolomites, made famous also by the Italian TV series "Un passo dal cielo".
An easy path of about 3.5 kilometres runs around the lake in about an hour, through woods, small beaches and scree, with ever-changing views. The lake is also the starting point of the Alta Via 1 of the Dolomites, one of the most famous long-distance trekking routes in the Alps, which leads in about ten days to Belluno. Its fame has brought huge crowds in recent years, and to protect it, in the summer months access by private car is restricted: during the day, from about mid July to mid September, the road can only be travelled with a booked parking ticket or by public bus. In the early morning, before the crowds, the lake is magical; in winter, when frozen and covered with snow, it has a silent charm.
Tip: check the access rules and book parking online in summer; go at dawn for the best light and fewer people.
Where it is
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