Monte Paterno

The South Tyrolean part of the Monte Paterno mountain in the Sesto Dolomites is under protection in the Three Peaks Nature Park

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The Val Sassovecchio near Sesto offers a beautiful view on the Crode dei Piani peaks (2,668 m a.s.l.) and Mt Paterno (2,744 m).
Foto: AT, © Peer
In front of the Crode dei Piani and Mt Paterno there are the Piani Lakes, well-known hiking destinations in summer.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The steep rock faces of Mt Paterno on the border between Italy and Austria were a hotly contested area during WWI.
Foto: AT, © Peer

The 2,744 m high Monte Paterno (Paternkofel) is one of the important peaks of the Sesto Dolomites. Located just at the borderline between South Tyrol and Belluno, the mountain was hard-fought terrain between Italian and Austrian forces in WWI. Still today some remains of the mountain warfare between 1915 and 1918 can be seen.

In 1882, Monte Paterno was climbed for the first time by Franz Innerkofler and Erich Künigl. Franz Innerkofler, a mountain guide of the Val Pusteria valley, was instrumental in opening the Sesto Dolomites and made numerous first ascents.

Today, the South Tyrolean parts in the Three Peaks Nature Park, are under protection. By the Monte Paterno saddle, the mountain is separated from the famous Tre Cime, but is located in close vicinity to them. The mountain can be rounded starting at the Lavaredo Mountain Hut, also some climbing tours proceed up to the peak, for example along the Innerkofler-De-Luca Via Ferrata.

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