Compatsch

Compatsch sits on the eastern shoulder of the Alpe di Siusi plateau, among meadows facing the Sciliar and Sassolungo groups.

Why it matters

The Alpe di Siusi, at 56 square kilometres, is Europe's largest high-altitude alpine pasture. Compatsch sits at roughly 1,840 metres on the plateau's eastern shoulder. Meadows extend west toward the Sassolungo and Sasso Piatto groups, while the Sciliar lies to the south.

What to notice

The Sciliar's flat crown and pinnacles of Santner and Euringer rise to the south; the long wall of Sasso Piatto and the needle profile of Sassolungo define the west. The Bullaccia and Witches' Benches are features of the plateau. Compatsch's built environment includes hotels, a modern church and lift infrastructure. The plateau is farmed and grazed, with paths and tracks used alongside agricultural land.

Context and history

The Seiser Alm was placed under landscape protection along with the surrounding park landscapes. From the 1970s onward, transport infrastructure and planning rules shaped development on the plateau. Compatsch grew from a farm cluster into a settlement within this protected high-meadow landscape. The church of St Francis, built in the shape of a dove, is a later architectural feature.