Secrets from the Past

A long time ago, the Braies mountains were inhabited by savages. They were neither evil nor bad, but were called so because they had the shape of mountains. These savages spent their days searching for precious stones and gold, the lustre of which they loved above all else. They not only traded in these precious goods, but also made various objects from them. After a while, shepherds from the valley came to graze their cattle on the beautiful, flower-strewn meadows around Lake Braies. This also brought them into contact with the savages, who showed the shepherds their treasures and even gave them chains or rings that they had forged themselves.

However, the shepherds were seduced by the glamour of gold and became increasingly greedy over time. This greed became an obsession and they began to steal from the savages. The savages realised this and became angry and tried to defend their treasures. They were stronger than the shepherds, but the shepherds were cleverer and managed to steal more and more gold and precious stones. To protect their treasures, the savages saw only one solution and opened up the underground springs, which merged to form a large lake and swallowed up the riches. The resulting lake now separated the valley of the shepherds from the mountains of the savages, and as the savages were responsible for its creation, it was called "Wild Lake". The valley from which the shepherds came was the Braies Valley, which is why the lake was given the name "Braies Wild Lake".

The summits of the „Spitzköfl“ are five striking rocky peaks at the end of the western branch of the Braies Valley. They stand next to each other, rather crooked and crooked, which is why they are also known as the "Five Drunken Guys". They are rugged peaks that are difficult to access.

The following legend tells about it:

Back then, Braies was still a mountain pasture. Some people from Braies had come together - as they often did - to play cards and drink a few schnaps in the Green Forest Hut under the Black Mountain. The more they drank, the more exuberant they became.

"Shall we call the Little Green Forest Man?" asked one of them. Some shuddered, because they had often called the mischievous little man when they were celebrating.

But then someone shouted: "Little Green Forest Man, come here!" Everyone looked excitedly at the open chimney hole. But nothing happened. Then another got up, stood under the black maw and shouted up: "Little green woodman, don't you dare?" Some of those present looked up through the chimney. The others trembled.

Then there was a shrill whistle. And then it bumped and rumbled in the chimney as if the whole mountain was coming down. The guys staggered back in fright. But then the Little Green Forest Man stood in the middle of the table and scolded loudly: "So you think you can make fun of me by mocking me? Just wait!" And then it started: the little man clicked his fingers. Then he began to clap his hands on his lederhosen and shouted wildly: "Up, up, up!" and pointed up the chimney with his crooked finger. The drunken guys took off one after the other, one with each clap, and flew through the black hole one after the other. Finally, the little man flew after them. "Hop, hop, upwards!" he croaked behind them. "Up, up through the hole, up through the chimney!".

The men flew wildly through the air towards the large mountain plateau. At the saddle in front of the Hochalpe mountain, the Little Green Forest Man then let them sleep petrified for eternity.

And that's how they still stand today. Crooked, crooked and hunched.

The origins of the „Braies Vecchia spa (Old Braies spa) are shrouded in legend. It is said to be due to a deer that found healing in the spring.

This is the legend:

A long time ago, many deer lived in the forests of Braies. One of them, the most magnificent of all, used to graze in the forests of Old Braies. Hunters were always keen to hunt it, as such a magnificent stag was rare to find.

One day, some hunters saw him and lay in wait for him. Suddenly, one of them managed to hit the stag, which was very badly injured. The hunter was delighted that he had finally managed to kill the deer and was excited to see how the horn trophy would look on the wall of his parlour. However, the deer did not die, but simply disappeared into the forest and was not seen again for some time.

Time passed, then one day the stag reappeared. Its previous deep and severe wound was no longer visible. And so the hunters tried to kill it again and again. But every time someone shot at the animal, the mighty stag disappeared into the forest again for some time, only to reappear stronger and healthier than ever. The hunters could not quite explain it all. They therefore decided to continue observing the stag.

One day, one of the hunters managed to wound the deer with a shot and then pursued it. When he caught up with it, he was amazed to see the wounded stag bathing in a crystal-clear spring and its wounds disappearing as if by magic. Once again, the stag was wounded by hunters and again its wounds closed up in the healing spring water. Only another and final shot killed the mighty animal.

The healing spring was then called the "Deer Fountain".

The coat of arms of Braies shows a stag drinking from a spring - a reference to this legend.