UNESCO Dolomites

The legendary Dolomites

The Dolomites are characterized by limestone-white peaks, steep rock faces, gentle alpine pastures and deep blue lakes. They emerged from the sea over 200 million years ago and are particularly striking today because of their light color.

Called "Monti Pallidi - Pale Mountains", they shimmer brightly, but then glow in warm red tones at sunrise and sunset. This breathtaking natural phenomenon is called alpenglow, in the Ladin language "Enrosadira", and is caused by calcium carbonate and magnesium in the dolomite, but there is also another explanation for the "Enrosadira": the legend of King Laurin and his rose garden.

"Neither in daylight nor at night shall the magnificent glow of my roses be seen by the eye of man," said King Laurin and put a curse on his rose garden, but what he had forgotten are the few minutes of twilight. The rose garden glows from dull red to ruby red at this time, marvel at it and fall under the spell of this imposing, fabulous mountain vine!