Legends of the Catinaccio and Latemar
Ancient Stories from the Dolomites
King Laurin’s Rose Garden
Perhaps the most famous legend of the Dolomites tells the story of King Laurin, the king of the dwarves. Deep inside the mountains, he was said to have ruled over a magnificent underground kingdom. In front of his castle lay a beautiful rose garden, so stunning that its fame spread far beyond the mountains. According to the legend, Laurin fell in love with Princess Similde. But when he failed to win her heart, he abducted her and took her to his underground realm. The knights of the land set out to rescue the princess. Among them was the famous hero Dietrich of Bern.
After a long battle, Laurin was defeated. In his anger, he placed a curse on his rose garden. No one should ever see it again – neither by day nor by night.
But in his rage Laurin forgot one moment: twilight. And so, something special still happens today. When the sun sets and the light gently touches the peaks, the rocks of the Catinaccio suddenly glow in warm shades of red and pink. This natural phenomenon is called Enrosadira. Many say that in this moment, the enchanted rose garden of King Laurin becomes visible once again.
Anyone who has watched a sunset at the Catinaccio understands immediately why this story is still told today.
The Mysterious Water Nymph of Lake Carezza
Just a few minutes from Nova Levante lies Lake Carezza, one of the most famous alpine lakes in the Dolomites. Its water shimmers in changing colours depending on the light – from deep green to bright turquoise. This place is also surrounded by an old legend. It is said that a beautiful water nymph once lived in the lake. A wizard who lived in the Latemar massif fell in love with her and tried to win her heart. But the water nymph showed no interest. The wizard then asked a witch for advice. She gave him an unusual idea: he should create a rainbow over the lake to attract the nymph’s attention.
The wizard followed the advice and made a brilliant rainbow appear above Lake Carezza. Curious, the water nymph rose from the lake.
But when she saw the wizard, she disappeared immediately back into the water. Disappointed and furious, the wizard shattered the rainbow.
Its colourful fragments fell into the lake – and ever since then, the water of Lake Carezza has shimmered in so many colours.
The Dwarves of the Latemar
The Latemar massif, rising opposite the Catinaccio, also appears in many ancient Dolomite legends. People once believed that deep inside these mountains lived mountain dwarves. They were considered skilled craftsmen. According to the stories, they built vast underground halls and guarded precious treasures. Some tales even speak of secret passages inside the mountains, known only to the dwarves.
Anyone hiking through the forests around the Latemar today might discover an unusual rock or a small cave – and may find themselves wondering whether dwarves might once have lived here.
Stories that Belong to the Dolomites
The legends of the Catinaccio, Latemar and Lake Carezza are an essential part of the culture of this region. Long before the Dolomites became a famous travel destination, people shared these stories in the evening in their mountain homes or while working on alpine farms. Even today they remain part of the identity of the mountains.
Many locals still know these legends from childhood and enjoy telling them to visitors. When the evening light touches the peaks of the Catinaccio and the rocks slowly begin to glow red, it becomes easy to understand why these stories have lived on here for centuries.
Discover the Places of the Legends
One of the most beautiful aspects of these stories is that the places where they unfold can still be visited today. The Catinaccio continues to shape the landscape around Nova Levante.
The most magical moment comes in the evening, when the rocks glow in the warm light of the setting sun. Lake Carezza is another place where nature and legend meet in a unique way.
The small alpine lake lies only a few minutes from the village and, on clear days, reflects the peaks of the Catinaccio and the Latemar in its waters. The Latemar massif, meanwhile, is a wonderful area for hiking through forests and across alpine meadows – a landscape where it is easy to imagine the ancient stories of the Dolomites.
Why Children Love These Dolomite Legends
Many children hear these stories for the first time during a holiday in the Dolomites. And often something special happens.
Suddenly the mountains take on a completely new meaning. The Catinaccio is no longer just a mountain range – it becomes the place where King Laurin once hid his magical rose garden.
And Lake Carezza is no longer simply a mountain lake – but the lake where a water nymph lives. During hikes around Nova Levante, Lake Carezza or the Latemar, small moments of imagination begin to appear. Children discover an unusual rock, a small cave or a hidden clearing in the forest – and start wondering what story might once have taken place there.
In this way, the Dolomites become a place full of small mysteries for many children, and a walk through the mountains sometimes turns into a little journey of discovery.