Castelrotto & surroundings – Nature park Sciliar
The tourist area comprises about 64 square kilometres. The three villages within this large holiday region are Castelrotto, Siusi and Fiè. A further large plateau of woods and meadows called Alpe di Siusi (the highland pastures of Siusi) is enclosed by the Gardena valley and Fassa Dolomites towards the North, East and South. The variety of the landscape as well as the crafts, tradition and character of the local inhabitants confer this part of South Tyrol a unique attractiveness.
The area around Mount Sciliar has an interesting past: here you will find ancient settlements, town walls, the remains of a Roman castellum, mediaeval castle ruins and historic buildings and residences of the 17th and 18th century. The entire area is scattered with numerous churches, chapels, towers, old farms, wayside crosses etc. Locals and visitors alike cannot but become interested in the history of the buildings and people behind them.
The nature park Sciliar-Catinaccio (67 km2) and the landscape protection area of the Alpe di Siusi create a large continuous nature paradise. The Sciliar is an impressive mountain. Its highest peak, called Petz, reaches 2563 meters above sea level. Together with its two towers, Santner and Euringer, Mount Sciliar has become a well-known South Tyrolean landmark. The woods around Siusi, Fiè and Tires are part of the park, so is the picturesque Ciamin valley. In 2003 the area of the Catinaccio mountain range has been added to the nature park. In 2009 the UNESCO Natural World Heritage committee has recognised the uniqueness of the nature park Sciliar-Catinaccio (as part of the Dolomites) and has placed it under its protection.
