View of the 3 Peaks

The 3 Peaks are one of the most well-known landmarks of the Dolomites and of South Tyrol. The impressive mountains with their imposing rock formations originated over 200 million years ago and attract visitors from all over the world. Because of their extraordinary beauty the Dolomites with the 3 Peaks have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2009.

Landro in Val di Landro near Dobbiaco affords stunning views of the north faces of the 3 Peaks: these are visible only from the valley. 3 Peaks View is situated some 7 km from Dobbiaco. You get there on the road Dobbiaco-Cortina, or on the easy and popular cycle path or the cross country ski track. There is also a bus-stop nearby. Before you are the impressive north faces of the 3 Peaks, and in the South arises the impressive mountain range of Monte Cristallo and its reflection in nearby Lago di Landro. The majestic Monte Piano, one of the main theatres of the Dolomites War, is also visible from here.

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Viewpoint to the north faces of the 3 Peaks

You reach the vantage point through a portal, which represents the formation of the mountains. It is designed in concrete made from Dolomite rock and refers back to the nearby fortresses that were built by Austria at the end of the 19th century to secure the border (until 1918 South Tyrol belonged to Austria). A wooden platform provides information on the nature and landscape and the history of the exploration of the Dolomites by mountaineers. Through a free telescope visitors can admire the panorama of the Dolomites from a distance. The rugged and distinctive rock formations are very close, and you can even watch climbers on their vertical challenge. A relief model of the peaks shows the most important climbing tours of the north faces. The routes are also added in Braille.







The 3 Peaks: an important centre for climbing

Among climbers the 3 Peaks are one of the most popular destinations in the Alps, offering numerous climbing routes of various levels of difficulty.

Alpine climbers began to conquer these most important peaks in the Dolomites from 1860. Paul Grohmann from Vienna was the first climber of many of the summits of the eastern Dolomites. In 1869 Grohmann started from Landro and, together with Franz Innerkofler and Peter Salcher, conquered the Cima Grande di Lavaredo. With the construction of the Val Pusteria railway line in 1871 the number of alpine climbers increased steadily.

Because of its lower height, Cima Occidentale was always seen as a less desirable goal. Only ten years after the first climb of Cima Grande Luigi Orsolina and und Gustav Gröger attempted it. In August 1879 they reached a jagged rock on the southern flank, which, because of the fog, they assumed to be the summit. A few days later, on 21 August 1879, Michel Innerkofler and Georg Ploner discovered the error and reached the highest point.

Because of its distinctly steeper rock faces Cima Piccola was long considered to be unsuitable for climbing. Attempts by Pietro Dimai and Richard Ißler (1878), and Santo Siorpaes and Ludwig Grünwald (1881) to conquer it via the north face failed. Siorpaes and Grünwald did, however, reach the peak of Punda di Frida. On 25 July 1881 mountain guides Michael and Hans Innerkofler were meant to take Josef von Schlögl-Ehrenburg from Vienna up to Cima Piccola. Instead, they left him at the access point to the final summit attack and reached the peak via the southwestern face. This climb was considered to be the most difficult of all climbs accomplished by that time (difficulty IV) and represented a milestone in the development of climbing in steep rock.

• Paul Grohmann
• 1st recordings of the 3 Peak
• Reiner Kauschke, Peter Siegert, Gerd Uhner

The other summits of the 3 Peaks group were only conquered later: In 1911 Paul Preuß and Paul Relly opened up the Preußriss on the smallest peak that was then re-named Torre Preuß. Torre Lavaredo was first conquered in 1928 followed by Croda degli Alpini and Croda Longéres in 1929. Il Mulo was first climbed in 1937 and Torre Comici in 1945.

For a long time it was thought that the north faces of the 3 Peaks could not be climbed. This only became possible in 1930 when the IV level of difficulty had been achieved. In 1933 Emilio Comici, Giovanni and Angelo Dimai finally succeeded in climbing the north face of Cima Grande. In 1935 Riccardo Cassin and Vittorio Ratti were the first to conquer the north face of Cima Occidentale. This was the most difficult tour on the 3 Peaks at that time.

The creativity and achievements of these alpine climbers knew no bounds, last but not least thanks to the constant development of the materials. After the first climbs of ever more difficult routes, sensational winter climbs such as the Superdirettissima on Cima Grande in 1963 by Reiner Kauschke, Peter Siegert and Gerd Uhner were added to the tally. Equally impressive are the many free solo climbs of these breathtaking north faces.






The history of Val di Landro and theme path

As early as the 15th century there has been an inn in Landro. In 1832 it became a postal inn and in 1870 the Hotel Baur, which was blown up for military reasons before the start of the Dolomites war in 1915. The front line between Italy and Austro-Hungary was nearby and Monte Piano, east of the 3 Peaks Views, was particularly hard-fought for.
Only many decades later a new simple hotel was built again in Landro.

From 1921 to 1964 the Dolomites railway from Dobbiaco ran through Val di Landro via Cortina to Calalzo. Today, the cycle path and the cross country ski track run along the former railways line.

• Landro at 1900
• Landro at 1900
• railway Landro at 1930

In order to show the diverse, interesting and eventful history of Höhlenstein (Landro), suitable sculptures were erected at 4 locations, which evoke associations with the topics covered (view of the Three Peaks, history of tourism, traffic and war) and make them easily understandable for everyone. Here you can find all information about the theme path „The story of the Val di Landro/Höhlensteintal".


Nature parks in South Tyrol

3 Peaks View is situated in the 3 Peaks nature park. This nature park impresses with world-renowned mountains such as the 3 Peaks, the Sesto sundial and fascinating landscapes. The nature park house in Dobbiaco is also worth a visit.

Val di Landro separates the 3 Peaks nature park from the nature park Fanes-Senes-Braies. This, too, excites with beautiful landscapes and majestic mountains and is known particularly because of the lakes Lago di Braies and Lago di Dobbiaco. Both nature parks belong to the European network of nature reserves Natura 2000, which focuses on protecting the habitats of wild animals and plants.
South Tyrol benefits from a total of seven nature parks.




Worth seeing in the near of the 3 Peaks

Lake of Toblach/Dobbiaco 7 km   ↑
War cemetery 4 km   ↑
Fortresses Höhlenstein/Landro 0,5 km   ↑
View of the 3 Peaks 100 m   →
Big Peak 5,9 km   ↗
Lake Dürrensee/Landro 1 km   ↓  
Mount Cristallo 7,7 km   ↗
Schluderbach/Carbonin 3 km   ↓