Tre Cime di Lavaredo in Sexten — online webcam
Tre Cime di Lavaredo — the pearl of the Dolomites
The Three Peaks of Lavaredo are three distinctive grey dolomite battlements that rise above the snowy plateau at nearly three thousand metres. Tre Cime di Lavaredo is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the signature landmark of the Dolomites. This webcam in Sexten lets you see the legendary peaks in real time — without the need for a gruelling multi-hour climb up mountain trails.
The camera is positioned at an altitude of 2450 metres, providing a panoramic view of the entire massif. In good weather, you can make out the finest details of the rock walls, snow caps and passes between the peaks. This is one of those rare online broadcasts where the mountain landscape appears in all its pristine grandeur.
The Three Peaks: history and names
The mountain range consists of three peaks aligned from east to west. The Small Peak (Cima Piccola) reaches 2857 metres, the Great Peak (Cima Grande) stands at 2999 metres, and the West Peak (Cima Ovest) rises to 2973 metres. It is these three battlements that form the iconic silhouette which has become the symbol of the Sexten Dolomites.
The name of the massif has a dual origin. The Italian "Tre Cime di Lavaredo" translates as "Three Peaks of Lavaredo", while the German "Drei Zinnen" means "Three Battlements". This reflects the bilingual history of the region: Sexten historically belonged to South Tyrol, where German was spoken, and only came under Italian administration in the 20th century.
European fame came to the Three Peaks in 1861, when an engraving by English travellers Josiah Gilbert and George C. Churchill helped popularise the peaks across Europe. Since then, Tre Cime has become a place of pilgrimage for mountaineers and travellers from all over the world.
The First World War in the mountains: trenches and tunnels
Between 1915 and 1917, these silent rocks became the scene of fierce fighting. The peaks served as a natural border between Austria and Italy until 1919, and during the First World War the front line ran right through here. Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops fought at altitudes above 2500 metres — this was one of the highest mountain fronts in the history of warfare.
Tunnels, labyrinths and trenches were carved into the mountains — some of them survive to this day. Today, looking at the webcam feed, it is hard to imagine that these peaceful slopes were once lined with barbed wire and artillery positions. However, an attentive observer on the trail can spot remnants of fortifications — they are visible in certain sections of the plateau.
How to reach the Locatelli Hut
The point from which this online camera broadcasts is located near the Antonio Locatelli Hut. The Dreizinnenhütte sits at an altitude of 2405 metres in the Tre Cime Nature Park. It is a popular base for climbers and hikers, serving as the starting point for routes to the peaks.
The most popular approach to the hut is the Le Tre Cime circular trail. The circular route around the Three Peaks covers 10.5 km with an elevation gain from 2000 to 2400 metres. The starting point is the Auronzo Hut (Rifugio Auronzo), which can be reached from Misurina via a toll road. For those who want to see the Three Peaks with their own eyes, this is the most accessible option.
Selva di Cadore — the gateway to the Three Peaks
The municipality of Selva di Cadore lies to the south of the massif and serves as one of the departure points for trips to Tre Cime. It is a small municipality in the province of Belluno with a population of around 490–523 people, situated at an altitude of 1335 metres in the Val Fiorentina valley. The municipal area covers 33 km².
Selva di Cadore borders Alleghe, Borca di Cadore, Colle Santa Lucia, San Vito di Cadore and Zoldo Alto. Key attractions include Monte Pelmo, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as local churches. From here you can reach the Three Peaks by car or bus via the mountain pass.
Seasonal changes: winter and summer on the webcam
Tre Cime di Lavaredo looks completely different depending on the season. In winter, the webcam shows a fully snow-covered landscape: white slopes, snow caps on the peaks, and frequent cloudiness and snowfall. This time of year attracts skiing enthusiasts and winter hikers.
In summer, the picture changes: snow melts from the lower slopes, revealing the grey dolomite and alpine meadows appear. The peaks may still be dotted with patches of snow, but the overall palette becomes more contrasting — grey stone, greenery and white snow. It is in summer that the main flow of tourists passes along the trail around the Three Peaks.
Geographical location and administrative division
The mountain massif lies on the border between the Italian provinces of Belluno (south) and Bolzano (north) in the Sexten Dolomites. This means the Three Peaks are divided between two regions: Veneto (province of Belluno) and Trentino-Alto Adige (autonomous province of Bolzano). The camera in question is installed on the southern side — facing Sexten and Selva di Cadore.
Sexten is a German-speaking municipality in Alta Pusteria that was historically part of Tyrol. Only after 1919, under the Treaty of Saint-Germain, did these lands become part of Italy. That is why local place names have both Italian and German versions — and both are used equally.
Nature park and territory protection
The Three Peaks of Lavaredo form part of the Tre Cime Nature Park (Parco Naturale Tre Cime), established to protect the unique high-mountain ecosystems. The park covers territory in both the province of Belluno and the province of Bolzano. Typical alpine species inhabit the area: chamois, ibex, marmots, golden eagles and other birds of prey.
For park visitors, routes of varying difficulty have been laid out — from easy walking trails to serious climbing routes. The webcam allows you to assess conditions on the ground before your trip: see whether there is snow on the trails, what the weather is like at altitude, and how busy the route is with other hikers.
What you can see on the camera
This webcam in Sexten broadcasts a panoramic view of the famous Three Peaks of Lavaredo — one of the most recognisable mountain landmarks in the Dolomites. The image shows three characteristic sharp rocky peaks, partially covered with snow, rising above a snowy mountain plateau. In the foreground are wide snowy slopes.
In the upper right corner of the frame is the red logo of the Sexten (Sexten) region. At the bottom is a text overlay reading "Tre Cime di Lavaredo Drei Zinnen LIVE" along with a time stamp showing the date, time and altitude of 2450 m. This is a real broadcast from a real location, showing the mountain landscape in real time.
The camera operates around the clock, so you can watch the Three Peaks both day and night. During daylight hours, details of the rock walls and snow cover are visible, while at night the starry sky over the mountains is on display — especially impressive on moonless nights. The online broadcast lets you check the current weather at altitude and plan a potential visit to this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.
