Institutional Brochure - Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi

REGIONE DEL VENETO
FEASR
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
HISTORY
The territories that are today included within the Park have
been assiduously inhabited for millenniums and preserve
precious evidence of the ancient presence of humans. Among
the most important vestiges we must remember the numerous
pre-historical archaeological sites; the mining centre of
Valle Imperina, which has a history of over half a millennium;
the Chartreuse of Vedana, a building complex of exceptional
value; the chapels of the piedmont belt; the old medieval
hospices of the Val Cordevole; the “military roads”, which are
a remnant of a troubled period in European history; the Alpine
dairies, and all the so-called “lesser” signs indicating
the presence of human dwellings in the mountain areas.
THE TERRITORY
The territory included in the Park
comprises mountain environments
of high and medium altitude. It is located
between the Cismon Valley to
the West and the Piave Valley to the
East; with offshoots North towards
the Maè Basin (Val Prampèr) and
the lower Agordino. The mountain
groups involved are the Alpi Feltrine (Vette, Cimónega, Pizzocco-Brendòl-Agnelézze),
the Pizzón-Ferúch-Monti del Sole
group (between the Mis and Cordevole Valleys), the Schiara-
Pelf group and Mount Talvéna, in the North-Eastern sector.
The main peaks are: Mount Schiàra, 2.565 m, Mount Sass de
Mura, 2.550 m, Mount Talvéna, 2.542 m, Mount Pavióne, 2.335
m, Mount Pizzón, 2.240 m. The main streams: Stién, Caoràme,
Vesés, Falcìna, Mis, Imperìna, Cordévole, Vescovà, Ardo, Prampèra.
These mountains have always been a part of the history
and culture of the residing populations. Myths and legends,
hard work and emigration are one and only with the harsh
Sass de Mura
Monte Fornèl
Dolomite peaks, which here overlook the first valleys taking
to the Veneto plains. The history of the park territory is also
and above all the history of the communities that for centuries
have lived there and have worked in a hostile environment,
with which they have managed to establish a delicate balance,
which is today often menaced by the global transformations of
world economy and society. These are tough mountains, steep
and covered with dense vegetation. Perhaps on account of this
they have been left more in peace than other Dolomite peaks
that have been exploited by mass tourism.
WORLD HERITAGE - UNESCO
Since June 26th 2009, all the protected areas of the Dolomites,
the Dolomite Sites of Community Importance and the
Special Protection Areas in the provinces of Belluno, Bolzano,
Trento, Pordenone and Udine have been included in
the UNESCO World Heritage list: a great acknowledgement
of the work done in the attentive conservation of very beautiful
but also very fragile environments.
DAIRIES
One of the main livelihood activities of the populations that
inhabited this territory, up to the years after the Second
World War, was cow and sheep breeding. The Park has given
great importance to upgrading the mountain economy and
improving the shepherds’ life conditions: restoring the Alpine
dairies, supplying power plants from renewable sources,
creating innovative plants for milk transformation directly on
the spot, are only a few of the activities undertaken to give
dignity back to the life and economy of the Alpine dairies.
Monte Pizzocco
THE FLORA
The Bellunese Dolomites are
mountains rich in beautiful flora,
with some rare species or of high
phytogeographical value. The Park
flora comprises approximately
1.400 species (almost a fourth of the
Italian flora). Many are rare, such as
the Campanula Morettiana, which
has become the symbol of the Park. Besides, there is the extremely
recent and exclusive Alchemilla lasenii (dedicated to
its discoverer, the first President of the Park, Cesare Lasen).
Woods have always been one of the most fluctuating elements
of the landscape, the first to be cut down in order to
obtain new pastures or cultivable lands, get wood for fire,
and in order to stoke the melting furnaces of the mines, when
demographic pressure or unfavourable economic conditions
became heavier. Wood vegetation has undergone selection
by giving space to more useful or profitable species. In the
Park the vegetation is characterized by different altitude
belts: the mid-European belt, with broad-leaved tree woods,
with hornbeams and oaks; the sub-Atlantic belt with extensive
beech woods, sometimes mixed with conifers; the boreal
belt with conifers, especially spruces. At high altitudes
Paradisia liliastrum
Malga Erera
Campanula morettiana
beech woods are replaced by mugho-pine woods. A true and
proper belt of spruce woods is almost everywhere missing.
The belt of dwarf shrubs is dominated by rhododendrons,
dwarf junipers, and, in fresh habitats, green alders and
weeping willows. The Alpine belt is characterized by primary
pastures with different types of vegetal communities: blue
moor grass, matgrass, festuce and sedges.
THE FAUNA
The Bellunese Dolomites are
beautiful mountains, with a
large range of habitats enabling
many animal species to find
suitable conditions for living and
reproducing. Among the mammals
present, the most significant
species are the ungulates:
chamois, roebucks, deer and
mouflons. The Park has successfully reintroduced the marmot,
at the same time of the first presence of the bearded
vulture being reported. Practically all other species of the
Alpine fauna are present: mountain hares, foxes, badgers,
stoats, weasels, pine martens, stone martens, squirrels,
dormice and hedgehogs. More and more frequently the
lynx and bear have been spotted, since these animals have
started to enter the territory of the Park. The bird fauna is
rich and diversified, even thanks to the variety of ecosystems
in the Bellunese Dolomites. Well represented are both
day and night raptors. Important are also the populations of
capercaillies, black grouse, mountain francolins, and snowgrouse.
Forest habitats are enriched by the presence of the
great black woodpecker.
The herpetic fauna is well represented, despite the relative
scarcity of damp habitats in the Park. Together with frogs
and tritons, the uncommon black salamander must be
mentioned.
Chamois
Golden eagle
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
The history of the Bellunese Dolomites
is long and complex. It started
in warm tropical seas more than
two hundred million years ago and
was successively featured by key
events which have brought about
a unique geological variety, with
high altitude karstic-nival environments,
which have been modelled by glaciers and subsequently
by snow and karstic activity. Today inside the Park
we can admire large meadow dells, wide and deep valleys,
vast and solar mountain walls, but also sombre narrow
gorges, cliffs hanging over dark ravines, high solitary gorges,
tormented plateaus where the karstic nature of the rocks
has allowed a subterranean landscape to develop made of
potholes, cracks, halls, tunnels, and abysses penetrating
into the bowels of the earth.
The karstic complex of Piani Eterni, with its over 30 Km of
tunnels, is the largest of the Dolomites, and one of the most
extensive caves in the Veneto Region and in Italy.
In the Bellunese mountains there are numerous ore bodies.
The most interesting one is the former mining complex of
Valle Imperina, which for at least five centuries provided the
raw material for the Veneto copper industry. Extraction of
the mineral, which began presumably in the 15th century,
continued until 1962. Really noteworthy, from an architectural
point of view too, is the building hosting the old furnaces
for melting the cupriferous pyrite and refining the copper.
In this site the Park has invested considerable energy and
resources, in order to make it possible for citizens and visitors
to enjoy it from a cultural point of view and for tourism.
Activities producing lime by heating up lime stones of excellent
quality, abundant along the pebbly riverbanks, were
also widespread. In the territory several “calchere” can still
be seen: these are small stone furnaces, which were used
until the fifties and sixties of the twentieth century.
Valle Imperina. Inside the melting furnaces
The Cadini del Brenton
PIERO ROSSI CULTURAL CENTRE
Piazza Piloni - Belluno
UOMINI DI VALLE IMPERINA VISITORS CENTRE
MINING CENTRE OF VALLE IMPERINA
Rivamonte Agordino
IL SASSO NELLO STAGNO VISITORS CENTRE
Piazza 1° Novembre, 1 - Pedavena
CAMPANULA MORETTIANA
BOTANICAL GARDEN
Loc. Val Brenton - Sospirolo
LA SANTINA
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE
Val Canzoi - Cesiomaggiore
CANDÀTEN CAMPER - REFRESHMENT AREA
Loc. Candàten - Val Cordevole - Sedico
CROCE D’AUNE INFORMATION POINT
Croce d’Aune - Sovramonte
Initiative funded by the Rural
Development Programme
2007-2013 for the Veneto, Axis 4 - Leader
PIAN FALCINA CAMPER - REFRESHMENT AREA
Valle del Mis - Sospirolo
PIAN D’AVENA REFRESHMENT AREA
Pian d’Avena - Pedavena
AGRE VOLUNTEERS’ CENTRE
Val Cordevole - Sedico
DOLOMITI BELLUNESI NATIONAL PARK
Piazzale Zancanaro, 1 - 32032 Feltre (BL)
T 0439 3328 - F 0439 332999
info@dolomitipark.it - www.dolomitipark.it
Body responsible for the information:
Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi
Managing authority:
Regione del Veneto – Direzione Piani e
Programmi del Settore Primario
GOOD IDEAS
The Park has managed to integrate the safeguard and conservation
of a protected area with socio-economic development
plans oriented towards environment sustainability and
of great scientific and cultural value.
The Park is the first protected area in Europe which has obtained
the ISO 9001-14001 and Emas certifications, and that
has contributed to the Emas certification of 5 of the 15 townships
of the territory. It has also received the Emas certificate
for vast areas, for the first time in Italy, for the whole territory
of the “Park Community” too. For this activity, the Ag-Emas
project has been reported by the European Union as one of
the best European projects, with a special mention in 2009.
FOSSIL FREE
The Park has carried out a
general plan of installation
of solar panels, by creating
over twenty five power
plants utilizing renewable
energy sources, tailored on
the basis of the location and
specificity of the buildings.
All refuges, Alpine dairies,
bivouacs, Park tourist facilities and surveillance bases
have been provided with solar plants. The realization of the
Fossil Free project has involved other administrative bodies
too. The CAI (Italian Alpine Club) has actively collaborated
in the installation of solar panels in the Park refuges. This
project has received several awards at national and international
levels and, on initiative of the Ministry for economic
development, has been “exported” to the National Park of
the Pollino.
Photovoltaic canopy at Park premises
Photovoltaic roof at Candàten
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
PROJECTS
International cooperation by the Park was at first addressed
to Latin American countries, characterized by historic emigration
by people from Veneto and Belluno. With time activities
have increased, involving the Balkan area too. The
project “from the Dolomites to the Andes” is a fund raising
campaign in favour of the Chile Park of Omora and the Argentinian
Park of Nahuel Huapi (whose main city centre,
Bariloche, was founded by Bellunese people).
The Durmitor project, co-funded by the Veneto Region and also
involving UNESCO, pursues the aim of institutionally strengthening
the Montenegrin Park and promoting sustainable socioeconomic
activities, with the collaboration of local partners.
Some experiences of socio-economic promotion carried out
by the Park, in particular the project “Carta Qualità” (Quality
Card), have been the object of international exchanges of
experiences with parks of the National Park Service of the
United States of America. The positive experience of the
Park has given a decisive contribution to the assignment of
the Dolomites as a Human Heritage by Unesco.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
During these years the Park has
funded and supported over 150
research projects, since these are
necessary preconditions for managing
the territory. A true and proper
“inventory of biodiversity” has
been drawn up, which has resulted
The Project “from the Dolomites to the Andes”
Great black woodpecker
in being of great help in the elaboration of instruments for
planning (Park Plan and SIC-ZPS Management Plan).
As concerns vertebrates, besides simple qualitative research
(in order to find out what species there exist), quantitative
research has been carried out (in order to find out how
many animals are present in the Park), with censuses repeated
through the years concerning fish, ungulates (chamois,
deer and mouflons), capercaillies, mountain grouse,
Greek partridges, snow-grouse and golden eagles.
Among the most recent work done is the reintroduction of
the marmot, the new atlas of nesting birds, which required
three years of field research, studies on grasshoppers and
on bats. Important research has also been carried out on
invertebrate fauna, in particular on terrestrial and fresh water
molluscs (of which 134 species have been reported); on
day butterflies (which are present with 96 species, i.e. 40%
of those present in Italy) and night butterflies (present with
435 species). Of great interest is the research on the subterranean
fauna with the discovery of 5 new species living in the
karstic complex of Piani Eterni. A lot of research has been
focused on mapping the habitats existing within the Park.
This research is important for territory management planning
from a naturalistic point of view.
Fox
Marmots
CARTA QUALITÀ
In order to promote the protected
area and the contiguous territories
as a whole, the project “Carta
Qualità” (Quality Card) was created,
which awards the Park logo
to services and products guaranteeing
high quality standards and
respect of the environment. Protocols
have been worked out for each productive sector, setting
the quality and environment protection requisites which
the economic activity must observe in order to be able to
bear the Park brand and be mentioned in the “Carta Qualità”.
The products and services inserted in the circuit can
take benefit from the promotion activities carried out by the
Park at local and national levels. The single businessman is
constantly updated on Park activities, takes part in periodic
verification and project sharing meetings, joins by observing
environmental and cultural targets proper to the “mission”
of the Park and of the “People of the Park”.
Currently the circuit joiners are more than 250, and make up
what in Italy is the biggest socio-economic promoting com-
Products of the Park
Mountain dairy cheese
“L’Om Selvàrech”
munity operating with
a protected area.
The products of “Carta
Qualità” are obtained
by traditional and/or
organic methods, and
are a perfect synthesis
of the binomial
man-nature. They are
foods boasting a long
productive tradition
and creating unique
flavours from the environmental
peculiarities
of these mountains.
“Carta Qualità”
also promotes
modern food and agricultural
businesses
on the territory, as far
as they operate in consistency
with the “mission”
of the Park.
PHOTOS: Archives PNDB, M. Minute, A. Borgo, B. Boz, F. Friz
CTA-CFS, N. Martino, G. Poloniato, E. Vettorazzo, CAI Feltre.
TEXTS: Nino Martino
GRAPHIC PROJECT: EVIDENZIA immagine&comunicazione
PRINT: Linea Grafica srl
Chair maker at work

PARK LODGE
CULTURAL CENTRE “PIERO ROSSI”
KEY TO SYMBOLS
“AL FRÀSSEN” HOUSE
Loc. Fràssen - Val Canzói - Cesiomaggiore
T 0439 42723 - C 329 0040808
frassen@dolomitipark.it - www.dolomitipark.it
3 bedrooms (5+5+12 beds), 5 bathrooms
In Val Canzói, in the heart of the Park, at the start of the tracks
leading to two of the most extraordinary places in the Bellunese Dolomites,
the Erèra plateau and the Cimónega dell, there is a lodge
called “Al Fràssen”. An old rural house, bought and restored by the
Park, has become a cosy lodge with 22 beds, toilets, a completely
equipped kitchen, a large dining room with a fireplace, and a teaching
room. At a very short distance from lake de La Stua, it is the ideal
place for animal-watching, environmental education, school camps
and as the starting point for excursions to Piani Eterni.
It is possible to book a single bed, a room, or the entire facility.
Lunch and a shuttle service are available by prior booking.
Piazza Piloni - Belluno - T 0437 27030
centroculturale@dolomitipark.it - www.dolomitipark.it
This Park facility, located in the former Fire Brigade barracks, has
not by chance been called a “cultural centre” and not a “visitors’
centre”, because it has the aim of becoming a centre for cultural
aggregation open to all citizens.
Here it is possible not only to get information about the Park or to
buy books and other publications on the protected area, but also to
stop by and drink a glass of wine together with friends. The Centre,
dedicated to one of the father founders of the Park, is also a
bar and a shop with products with the Park brand “Carta Qualità”,
where events such as concerts, art exhibitions and book presentations
are organized.
VISITORS CENTRES - INFO POINTS - REFRESHMENT AREAS
Cultural centre “Piero Rossi” - Belluno
Old Mining centre of Valle Imperina - Rivamonte Agordino
Visitors’ centre “Il Sasso nello Stagno” - Pedavena
Botanical garden “Campanula morettiana” - Sospirolo
Environmental education centre “La Santina”
Cesiomaggiore
Refreshment and camper area - Candàten - Sedico
Information point Croce d’Aune - Sovramonte
Refreshment and camper area - Pian Falcina - Sospirolo
Refreshment area - Pian d’Avena - Pedavena
Volunteers’ centre - Agre - Sedico
MUSEUMS
Town museum - Belluno
Archaeological area - Feltre
Diocesan museum - Feltre
Ethnographic museum - Seravella
Ethnographic museum - La Valle Agordina
Park boundaries
Regional boundaries
Bivouac
Refuge
Hiking base, accommodation facility
Area for campers
Villa Binotto - Premises of the Park Authority
Information point
Station of the Forest Rangers
NATURALISTIC ACCESSES TO THE PARK
Val Prampèr
Val del Grisol
Cajada
Valle dell’Ardo
Val di San Martino
Val di Lamen
PONENTE
MAESTRALE
LIBECCIO
TRAMONTANA
OSTRO
GRECALE
SCIROCCO
LEVANTE
VOLUNTEERS’ CENTRE
AGRE HOSPICE
Loc. Agre - Val Cordevole - Sedico
T 0439 3328 - info@dolomitipark.it - www.dolomitipark.it
Agre is an old medieval hospice, which used to give hospitality to wayfarers,
merchants, pilgrims and cavaliers coming down from Northern
Europe towards the Plains and Venice. It has been restored, and hosts
a Park Study and Research Centre, and it is the heart of our volunteering
activities. If you want to merge into the wild nature of the Park and
contribute to the upkeep of the tracks by working side by side with the
Park personnel in their daily activities… Agre is the right place for you.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
“CAMPANULA MORETTIANA”
Loc. Val Brenton - Val del Mis - Sospirolo
T 0439 3328 - www.dolomitipark.it
The garden enables one to observe high altitude species, without
having to go on difficult and exhausting hikes, which are not within
the reach of all people visiting the protected area. It is subdivided
into sectors recreating the main habitats of the Park: rocks and
screes, damp areas, meadows and pastures, and woods.
The garden is completely accessible to the disabled, may be visited
by people on wheelchairs, and is provided with didactic supports for
sightless and partially sighted people.
REFRESHMENT GIARDINO BOTANICO AREA
PIAN D’AVENA
Loc. Pian d’Avena - Pedavena - T 0439 3328
Along the road leading to the Croce d’Aune pass, there is the picnic
area of Pian d’Avena, which has a refreshment and information
point.
Loc.
Candàten
VALLE IMPERINA
REFRESHMENT AND CAMPER AREA
PIAN FALCINA
Loc. Valle del Mis - Sospirolo - T 0437 950909 - valledelmis@dolomitipark.it
HOSTEL AND RESTAURANT VALLE IMPERINA
Loc. Le Miniere - Rivamonte Agordino - T 0437 62451
ostelloimperina@dolomitipark.it - www.dolomitipark.it
7 bedrooms (37 beds), 15 bathrooms
The Imperina Hostel is an extraordinary building of industrial archaeology,
which has been obtained inside the old and important
mining centre (dating back to the 15th century and still working
until 1962). In the area the mine infrastructures (today restored)
are still visible, among which roads, tunnels, stables, and the old
building with the melting furnaces, which dates back to the 16th
century. The hostel is placed at the crossroads of two thematic
routes created by the Park, “The Hospice Route” and “The Forgotten
Mountain”, and has 37 beds, in rooms with 4 or 6 beds, a TV
room, a reading room, an internet room. The Restaurant menu offers
dishes prepared mainly with products coming from farms that
have obtained the Park brand Carta Qualità. Booking is welcome
for groups with more than 10 people.
REFRESHMENT AND CAMPER AREA
CANDÀTEN
Loc. Candàten - Val Cordevole - Sedico
T 0437 847508 / 950909 - www.dolomitipark.it
A large picnic area with tables and barbeque, a small bar, a shop
with local products with the brands “Carta Qualità” and “Zero Kilometres”,
a camper parking area: you can find all these things together
in a single place at Candàten, next to the Cordevole stream
and next to the Agordina regional road.
The recreation centre of Pian Falcina comprises a camper parking
area with facilities, a bar, an equipped picnic area, a playground for
children, and a wide area for outdoor cultural activities. The parking
area guarantees enough parking spaces for about 100 cars and a
couple of buses. The camper parking area is provided with 12 clear
spaces for campers, and toilets.
Bungalows are also being built, for a total of 24 beds. The picnic area,
on the banks of the lake, is provided with public toilets. Completing
the facilities of the area is a small amphitheatre for outdoor cultural
activities, sheltered by a tensile structure, and an athletics course.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE
LA SANTINA
Loc. La Santina - Val di Canzoi - Cesiomaggiore - T 0493 3328
In Val di Canzoi, one of the most frequented Park accesses, stands
the centre for environmental education of the Park.
The facility is provided with laboratories, scientific equipment,
a teaching room and a documentation centre.
The centre aims at being a point of reference for environmental education
activities within the Bellunese Dolomites National Park.
WWW.DOLOMITIPARK.IT
PARK ITINERARIES
Thematic track “I Cadini del Brentòn”
Evortion potholes in Val del Mis
30’ - 1 km - difference in height 50 m
Thematic track “I Circhi delle Vette”
A geological - geomorphological itinerary through
the Buse delle Vette
5 h 30’ - 7 km - difference in height 400 m
Thematic track “Piedmont chapels. Warrior saints
and healer saints in the Bellunese Dolomites”
approx. 40 h - 110 km - difference in height 4.200 m (in 13 stages)
Thematic track “Covoli in Val di Lamen”
An archaeological itinerary on the footsteps of the Mazarol Man
2 h 30’ - 2,5 km - difference in height 200 m
Thematic track “The forgotten mountain”
Military tracks and old miners’ roads
36 h 30’ - 39 km - difference in height 2.250 m (in 6 stages)
PARK BIVOUACS
BRENDÒL - 1686 m. - Erèra-Brendòl
CAMPOTORÓNDO - 1763 m. - Erèra-Brendòl
LA VARETTA - 1709 m. - Talvéna
LE MANDRE - 1378 m. - Pizzón
LE PRESE - 1442 m. - Vette Feltrine
MALGA ALVÌS - 1573 m. - Cimónega
MONSAMPIÀN - 1902 m. - Vette Feltrine
RAMÉZZA ALTA - 1485 m. - Vette Feltrine
TAVERNÀZZO - 1104 m. - Vette Feltrine
Thematic track “The Route of Hospices”
On the old traces of wayfarers in Val Cordevole
8 h - 20 km - difference in height 540 m
Nature tracks: “Val Falcina” - “Val Canzoi”
GTP: Great Park Crossing
The Walk through the Dolomites
PARK REFUGES
7 REFUGE 7° ALPINI
Loc. Pis Pilon - 32100 Belluno
T 0437 941631 - C 339 7864925
info@rifugiosettimoalpini.it
www.rifugiosettimoalpini.it
58 beds
8 REFUGE B. BOZ
Loc. Conca Nevetta
32030 Cesiomaggiore
T 0439 64448 - C 348 7248949
danieleboz@libero.it
38 beds
9 REFUGE PIAN DE FONTANA
Loc. Pian de Fontana - 32013 Longarone
C 335 6096819
piandefontana@livecom.it
www.goldnet.it/piandefontana
26 beds
10 REFUGE
SOMMARIVA AL PRAMPERÉT
Loc. Prà della Vedova - 32013 Longarone
C 337 528403
30 beds
11 REFUGE F. BIANCHET
Loc. Pian dei Gat - 32036 Sedico
T 0437 669226 - C 333 8668891
ivanicadore@alice.it
40 beds
12 REFUGE G. DAL PIAZ
Loc. Cesta - Passo Vette Grandi
32030 Sovramonte
T 0439 9065 - C 348 2208808
info@rifugiodalpiaz.it
www.rifugiodalpiaz.it
26 beds