The best road cycling routes around Imer

The enchantment of the Calaita basin with its lake

Splendid alpine lake within the Pale di San Martino and Paneveggio Park. Rich in char. Panorama of the Pale di San Martino

Splendid alpine lake within the Parco delle Pale di San Martino and Paneveggio. Rich in char. Panorama of the Pale di San Martino

Small refuge at the bottom of the Caoria valley. Good hospitality and excellent food.

Small refuge at the end of the Caoria valley. Good hospitality and excellent food.

Welsperg Lake is one of the symbols of the Canali Valley, its waters reflecting the peaks of the southern slope of Cimerlo. Near the lake is the "Palù Grant," a large marsh, an area of botanical and wildlife interest, home to rushes and thistles, as well as the typical common reed, and several interesting orchid species. In recent years, the lake has undergone significant environmental redevelopment and renaturalization, recreating a suitable habitat for amphibians and trout. This project has led to the naturalistic landscaping of the banks, the creation of floating and semi-submerged vegetated areas, and the establishment of refuge zones. The lake is also home to a significant number of crayfish, an aquatic invertebrate of considerable scientific value.

The villa, built in 1853 and once the residence of the Counts of Welsperg, has housed the Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino Natural Park Authority and its Visitor Center since 1996. The complex of three buildings—the villa itself, the small church, and the barn (tabià)—is surrounded by a garden and a large meadow-pasture that, in the lower section, fades into a small peat bog. The Visitor Center offers an experiential tour through six rooms where visitors can experience the unique characteristics of each geographic sector of the Park. Coincidentally, the layout of the ground floor spaces bears a striking topographical resemblance to the actual territorial layout. The first room is dedicated to the entire Park and the value of biodiversity. The other five rooms each present a portrait of the major sectors: the Val Canali, the Pale di San Martino Plateau, the Paneveggio Forest, the Lagorai ridge, and the Vanoi. Within the Villa Welsperg complex, the ancient Tabià is a typical example of rural architecture. Having undergone a conservative restoration, it has been transformed into a large multipurpose room. The ground floor, the stable, which retains its original "salesà" (packed earth) flooring, is used as a support space for environmental education activities, while the first floor, the hayloft, can be used for conferences, meetings, and as a space for temporary exhibitions. Adjacent to the Tabià is the "Barch," a structure always open for rest and shelter. A monumental beech tree, estimated to be 300 years old, stands in the driveway leading to the villa. Centuries-old lime trees and horse chestnut trees welcome visitors and lead them to a pond with various aquatic species. To the side of the main building are the fern garden and the ancient rose garden, while opposite the large barn are the medicinal herb garden and the caretaker's field. The former hosts plants once used in the local folk pharmacopoeia; the latter cultivates food varieties no longer commonly used in the gardens of Primiero and Vanoi. https://parcopan.org/poi/centro-visitatori-di-villa-welsperg/

Small alpine lake at 1605m altitude.