Description of the attraction
Famous for its spectacular views of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, Dobbiaco is a small town in the Bolzano province of the popular ski resort of Alta Pusteria. It is often called the "Gateway to the Dolomites". The city is located at an altitude of 1256 meters above sea level at the entrance to the Val di San Silvestro and Val di Landro on the border of the Dolomiti di Sesto and Fanes Senes Bryce national parks. Its population is approximately 3200 people.
In the Iron Age, the territory of modern Dobbiaco was inhabited by Illyrian tribes, then they were replaced by the Celts, and about 15 BC. all of these lands were colonized by the Romans. The Romans, on the other hand, paved the Strada d'Alemagna nearby - the road to the Germans, which was a strategically important transport artery connecting the Apennine Peninsula with Northern Europe. The first mention of Dobbiaco dates back to 827 - then it was known as Duplag, and later this name was modified in German Duplach and Toblach.
Today, Dobbiaco is known as part of the popular ski resort Alta Pusteria. First of all, tourists are attracted here by the beautiful natural landscapes, the panorama of the Dolomites and the snow-covered ski slopes. The picturesque lakes of Dobbiaco and Landro are also worth noting of natural attractions.
Lovers of history will enjoy visiting the ancient Herbsthenburg castle, located in the very center of the city. It was once a lonely watchtower that Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg gifted to the brothers Christoph and Kaspar Herbst in the 16th century. In the following centuries, the castle was rebuilt and expanded several times, and today it is an imposing military structure with high walls with loopholes. Also noteworthy are the Rother Thurm - the Red Tower, built in the 15th century for defensive purposes, the 16th century City Hall, the churches of Santa Maria and San Silvestro and the ancient churches of San Nicola, Franadega and San Giovanni Battista - an outstanding example of Baroque architecture.
