The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (‘Three Peaks of Lavaredo’) or Drei Zinnen in german, are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in the Eastern Dolomites of the Italian Alps, near the border of Austria. They are one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. The three peaks, from east to west, are: Cima Ovest (“western peak”)., Cima Piccola (“little peak”) and Cima Grande (“big peak”).
Until 1919 the peaks formed part of the border between Italy and Austria-Hungary. Now they lie on the border between the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno and still are a part of the linguistic boundary between German-speaking and Italian-speaking majorities. The Cima Grande has an elevation of 2,999 metres (9,839 ft). It stands between the Cima Piccola, at 2,857 metres (9,373 ft), and the Cima Ovest, at 2,973 metres (9,754 ft).
The most easily accessible support point around Drei Zinnen is Rifugio Auronzo (elevation: 2320 m). The cottage is located immediately south of the massif above Forcella di Longeres, and has good road connections to the tourist resort of Misurina (toll road). The cabin can be reached on foot from Lavaredodalen in the southeast.
About one kilometer east of Rifugio Auronzo and from there via a wide hiking trail lies the privately run Rifugio di Lavaredo (2325 m) at the southeast foot of the Kleine Zinne.
Northwest of the peaks is the summer-open, privately run farmhouse Lange Alm at 2296 m. One hiking trail goes from the Auronzo hut over the Forcella Col di Mezzo, another from the north comes from the Rienztal.
Rifugio Locatelli (2438 m) is located approximately one kilometer northeast of Drei Zinnen. The cabin, which is well known for its view of the north wall, can be reached from Auronzohytta via Paternsattel on a wide hiking trail. Other access options are from Sexten through Fischleinboden from the east, and also from Sexten from the north through the Innerfeldtal and through the Rienztal from Höhlenstein (Landro) in the Höhlensteintal (Valle di Landro). From the southeast, the cabin can be reached from Lange Alm.
The visitor centre provides information concerning the trails, natural and man-made landscapes of the Sexten Dolomites and it is located at the former Grand Hotel in Dobbiaco. Some information is also available at Rifugio Auronzo but its only open during peak season between late Spring and early Autumn June through early October).
Numerous well-marked routes lead from the surrounding communities to and around the peaks. The most common route is from Paternkofel/Monte Paterno to the alpine hut Auronzo at 2,333 m (7,654 ft), over Paternsattel (Patern Pass) to the Locatelli alpine hut (Dreizinnenhütte) at 2,405 m (7,890 ft), and then to the peaks. There are a number of other routes as well.
Since the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary during World War I ran through the Tre Cime peaks, there are a number of fortifications, trenches, tunnels, iron ladders, and commemorative plaques in the area. There was intense fighting throughout the so-called “White War” between 1915 and 1917.
The unique peak formation and the surrounding mountains are a great source for popular Instagram pictures, Drone footage and Movies. This includes famous movies like ‘The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’ and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’. The ‘Peaks of Mordor’, located across from Cima Piccola, is named so, inspired by the ‘Lord of The Rings’ trilogy.
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