It is situated in the eastern part of Trentino among Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa in the North, Valle del Primiero with the stream Cismon in the South and Valle del Vanoi in the West.
Its 197 sq km include essentially three geographical-landscape units: the big forest of spruce firs, the Dolomitic complex of Pale di San Martino, and the eastern part of the large porphyry chain of Lagorai. For a better management, the territory is divided into some areas with a different level of protection, the so-called "RISERVE" (Reserves), with different vocations and economic and social development. The Plan of the Park, an essential planning and management instrument definitively approved in 1996, has settled their extension and borders.
They are the following:
- the so-called "RISERVE INTEGRALI" with the highest level of protection;
- "RISERVE GUIDATE" where activities which are compatible with the protection of natural environment are accepted;
- "RISERVE CONTROLLATE" with a higher level of urbanization
- "RISERVE SPECIALI" presenting some important and peculiar natural aspects which should be protected in a specific way.
Paneveggio State Forest
It is a big area in the northern side of the Park (about 2700 ha, between the 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level) covered by woods of spruce firs, which have been managed for centuries with a wise policy focusing at the same time on production and conservation activities. These well-structured and ecologically complex conifer woods with very high trees (over 40 metres) and with such an extension are rare in Europe. However, this forest is also well-known all over Europe for another reason, and famous violin makers come and visit it: since its trees (the so-called "abeti di risonanza", or resonance firs) are particularly suitable for the production of violins which assume a particular resonance, this forest is called "La Foresta dei Violini" (The Forest of Violins). For a few years, the Forest has been object of specific scientific research activities dealing in particular with the damages caused by ungulates on the forest renewal and on the ecology and growth of spruce firs, and this year a specific study on the resonance of the Paneveggio spruce fir will start.
Visitor Centers
The Visitors Centers represent for the Park a sort of visit card, a means to inform, to provide a first idea of the naturalistic-environmental reality of the involved area. This is the reason of the privileged interest in these structures since the beginning and this is the reason why, after years of experience, we have differentiated by meeting the environmental diversities on which they work and favoring the cooperation and the gaining awareness of the local population.
Each center is a small museum where everyone, besides receiving all the information on the initiatives organized in the Park and subscribe to them, can buy publications, the map of the Park, and material of naturalistic interest.
Opening hours of the Park Visitor Centers - Year 2006
Visitor Center in Villa Welsperg Tel. 0439/64854 |
Every day from 2nd June to 30th September 2006 |
On weekdays from 1st October 2006 to 30th March 2007 |
Visitor Center in San Martino di Castrozza |
Every day from 18th June to 3rd September 2006 |
In the other periods of the year, the Center will be closed. |
Visitor Center in Paneveggio |
Every day from 2nd June to 17th September 2006 |
From the end of December 2006 to the end of March 2007, two openings per week. |
Ethnographic Trail in Caoria |
Every day from 1st July to 3rd September 2006 |
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Ethnographic Trail in Prà de Madègo |
Every day from 1st July to 3rd September 2006 |
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Villa Welsperg: The "House of the Park"
Water and History
Villa Welsperg, not far from the beginning of Val Canali near to the homonymous small lake, has been since 1996 the administrative seat of the Park.
Besides a hall with a huge model relief of the Park, it houses a modern and articulated visitor center provided with a video room and a historical hall dealing with the Welsperg dinasty, the ancient owners of the Villa. Moreover, there are also new and modern exhibit halls like the hall of the aquaria, the collection of wood, a library dedicated to wood and trees, the collection of minerals, the collection of rock books, the herbarium, and the collection of shrubs.
A long tree-lined road leads to the villa's chapel which is surrounded by a garden rich in scented roses, to the entrance of the center, to the garden of the medicinal plants, and finally to the nice garden-labyrinth.
The library with its reading room gives visitors the opportunity to stop and read, in the open air or indoors; visitors can not only consult books and magazines, but also watch some videos. It will be soon provided with a multimedia system.
Finally, to complete the center, there is a laboratory for didactic activities, both for groups and for individuals, a reconstruction of a stable used as exhibit hall for temporary displays and a multifunctional hall in the ancient barn.
Opening times in Spring 2006 and holidays:
From Sunday 16th April every holy day (including Easter, Easter Monday, 25th April and 1st May): 10.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. / 3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Open every day from 2nd June to 30th September: 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
For information: Loc. Val Canali - Via Castelpietra, 2 - 38054 Tonadico (TN) - Tel. 0439/64854 - Fax 0439/762419.
Visitor Center in San Martino di Castrozza
Geology and High-Mountain Life
Small but nice and rich in information, with photo-murals explaining the ecological conditions of the Dolomitic environments, this center provides information on naturalistic aspects linked to climate, geology, archaeology - as far as the Mesolithic site near Laghi di Colbricon - high-mountain vegetation and fauna of this protected area. The center is surrounded by a small park, a small lake with a bunker gives the opportunity to carry out underwater observation, and a rocky garden with local flower species enrich the visit to this center.
For information and bookings in summer: Tel. 0439/768859. In autumn, winter and spring, groups can visit the Center by booking in advance. Info at the Park Headquarters: Villa Welsperg.
Visitor Center in Paneveggio
Forest Land
It is not far away from Lake of Forte Buso, along the SS road no 50 leading to Passo Rolle from Predazzo. The Center in Paneveggio, which has been recently renovated, lies near the homonymous big forest of spruce firs, which is well-known as Foresta dei Violini (Forest of Violins) for the quality of the trees which were once used by ancient violin makers.
It deals with the most representative local animals of the wood, among which the black grouse and the deer. Not far away visitors will see a corral where some ungulates live. A naturalistic itinerary (Italian text) with some observation points starts from this Center.
Opening times in Spring 2006 and holidays:
From Sunday 16th April every holy day (including Easter, Easter Monday, 25th April and 1st May): 10.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. / 2.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Open every day from 2nd June to 30th September: 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.
For information: Loc. Paneveggio - Statale per il Rolle - 38037 Predazzo (TN) - Tel. 0462/576283 - Fax 0462/577221
The Visitor Center in Prà de Madego
In the westernmost section of the Park, represented by Valle del Vanoi, there is the town of Caoria. Here, the building that once was used for elementary schools welcomes now a Visitor Center entirely dedicated to the historical, ethnographic and anthropological aspects of the area. For this reason the Center is called "Casa del Sentiero Etnografico" (House of the Ethnographic Trail), a project of the Park to recover not only the handicrafts of a territory which has been by now partly abandoned, but also the historical memory. In the Center, during the summer, there are interesting temporary exhibits. Not far from the Visitor Center, following the old "Sentiero dei Reversi", it is possible to reach the western gate of the Protected Area where tourists will find the small museum "Pra de Madègo", dedicated to human activities linked to the mountain where, with the help of drawings, photos, and historical videos, it will be possible to reconstruct things and places, houses and buildings, forges and sawmills, and become aware of the history of a recent past.
Closed during the winter.
