Val Pusteria is one of the longest and most captivating alpine valleys, stretching roughly 100 km between Bressanone and Lienz. Framed by the Pusteria Alps, it offers views that stay with you long after you leave - gentle green slopes give way to the jagged peaks of the Dolomites.

The valley splits into two distinct sections - the western part, known as the 'green valley', through which the Rienza river flows, and the eastern part (Alta Pusteria), drained by the Drava. The watershed lies at the Dobbiaco Pass. The scenery shifts constantly, from meadows and forests to alpine ridgelines. In summer the valley is a base for hiking and cycling, in winter it serves as a gateway to ski resorts, while side valleys like Val Badia, Valle di Sesto and Val di Braies hide some of the most beautiful corners of the Dolomites.

How to get there

• Bressanone (Chiusa di Rio di Pusteria) — SS49 road, starting point of the western section, easily reached by car or train
• Lienz (Austria) — eastern end of the valley, accessible by road or the Val Pusteria railway line

Practical information

• The valley is served by the Val Pusteria railway line and the SS49 road
• A popular cycling path, the Ciclabile della Pusteria, runs along the entire route
• The Italian-Austrian border lies at Prato alla Drava, not on the natural watershed

The ancient Via Claudia Augusta, connecting Verona to Augsburg, once ran through here, and the fierce First World War battles around Croda Rossa di Sesto are a lasting reminder of the region's dramatic history.