Be enchanted by the impressive flora and fauna of the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park! The Nature Park comprises almost 7,000 hectares and is located on the western part of the South Tyrolean Dolomites. The Nature Park is divided into the communities of Tires, Fie' allo Sciliar and Castelrotto. The renowned peaks Sciliar and Catinaccio, and the biggest high alpine plateau in Europe, the nature resort Alpe di Siusi, are symbols of the Nature Park. The oldest nature park in South Tyrol also offers a lake – Fie' Lake. In winter the lake is very popular amongst ice-skaters, in summer this beautiful place in the vicinity of the village is a renowned sunbathing and swimming destination!

Flora & Fauna

The conditions are very special from a geological point of view, and the reason for the extraordinary flora and fauna in this protected area. Here you can find game, woodpeckers and owls. The alpine forests surrounding the Sciliar Mountain are the home of many different bird species.

Alpine pastures and flowering meadows of Tschapit

From legends and moor findings we can tell that Alpe di Siusi and the Sciliar area have been covered by dense needle forests up to an altitude of at least 2,200 metres above sea level for many thousands of years. The clear areas that resulted from slash-and-burn areas represent a coloured carpet of moorland, meadows and marsh vegetation from different origins. The much vaunted flowerage of Alpe di Siusi is shrinking however into smaller areas due to site development measurements, and the use of fertilisers. Very old types of flowering plants can be still found in this area. Alpine roses grow in the areas that are not mowed anymore. In the area of the forest line and above you can see black grouse. Sometimes you can see alpine chough flying very close to alpine hotels while they search for food. The numbers of some animals even increased after the construction of alpine huts in the area.

 

The Dolomite rocks

The walls of the Sciliar massif towered above the firn even during periods of the strongest glacial ice flood. Some plants were therefore even able to survive the Ice Age. A group of 20 and more chamois is not uncommon in the Sciliar Nature Park. The park area is also home to eagles, jackdaws, common ravens, rock swallows and Alpine swifts.

 

INFO: A brochure of the Nature Park is available in the Tourism Office.