A subway marks the transition from the Upper Val Pusteria into the idyllic Braies Valley. At the entrance to the valley, the farms of Porcara come into view, scattered on the mountain slopes, then the houses of the small village stretch out along the road. At the settlement of Segheria, the Valle di Braies divides: If you follow the road, you will continue to enter the valley, to Braies di Dentro with the turn-off to the Prato Piazza and to the end of the valley with the famous lake.

On the left at the turnoff, however, you will reach Braies Vecchia (Altprags, literally: Old Braies), which - like many other spas in South Tyrol - experienced its heyday at the turn of the century from the 19th to the 20th. In those days, famous personalities came to the Hischbrunnen fountain to relieve disorders of the autonomic nervous system and circulatory problems. A spa was already mentioned in 1490: The 9 degrees C cold healing spring has been proven to contain sulphate, calcium and magnesium. After the world wars, the facility in the flower meadows fell into decay.

Today you can experience Braies Vecchia as a starting point for the hike to the Putz Mountain Hut below the Braies Dolomites. Also in winter the offer remains varied: Whether it's a snowshoe tour on the Monte Specie, cross-country skiing on the high altitude track of Prato Piazza or a walk around the snow-covered Lake Braies - Braies di Fuori (Ausserprags, also called Braies Nuova, that's to say New Braies) is a relaxing place to stay even in the cold season. Braies Vecchia even offers its own small ski area with three slopes and a restaurant to warm up with a hot drink.