Piz Cunturines

The Piz Cunturines with its 3,064 m is the highest mountain of the Fanes Group in the Dolomites and part of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. In the north, the Piz Lavarela, another important peak is located. The Piz Cunturines was climbed for the first time in 1880, today the well-known Conturinessteig path resp. the Tru-Dolomieu-Via Ferrata proceed up to the summit.

The tour starts in San Cassiano in the Val Badia valley, here the mountain is called Piz dles Conturines. The alpine tour takes about 7.5 hours, it proceeds to the Capanna Alpina mountain hut (1,726 m a.s.l.) and through the high alpine Lavarestal or Cunturinestal valley. The summit structure of the Piz Cunturines is distinctive, the last section must be managed along a via ferrata.

But the mountain is not only famous among alpinists: in the area, at 2,800 m., the Conturines Cave can be found, the highest find-spot of cave bears and cave lions worldwide. In 1987, bones of a cave bear were found here, which today is known as Ursus Ladinicus. The Museum Ladin – Ursus Ladinicus in San Cassiano is dedicated to this cave bear.