Villabassa is located only 5 minutes from Dobbiaco, 10 minutes from San Candido and 20 minutes from Brunico. It is embedded in the Dolomites and thanks to the favourable altitude of 1,154 m it enjoys many days of sun – the best prerequisites for a
healthy and recreational holiday.
The
high-alpine spa resort looks back upon a long tradition in tourism. Villabassa was one of the first touristic destinations in the Puster Valley. Thanks to the construction of the Southern Railway line between Fortezza and Vienna / Munich, Alta Pusteria developed into a touristic destination already during the second half of the 19th century. Vienna was only a one-day journey and Alta Pusteria developed into a summer resort for the noble population of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy. The first summer guests from Veneto visited Alta Pusteria already during the 17th century. The fresh and clear air in the cooler altitude of Alta Pusteria was regarded as a protection from the plague.
Emma Hellenstainer, nèe Hausbacher from St. Johann in Tyrol, was famous beyond her homeland and she took a lot of credit for the work to promote tourism in the area. As the landlady of former "Schwarzadler" Hotel - our Hotel Emma - she was well-known for her hospitality and excellent cooking skills. In the "
Wassermannhaus" you can explore an exhibition about Miss Emma.