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Braies: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Bolzano/Bozen, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Braies

The report looks at the exact point: landslide and flood risk, seismic zone, price per square metre for the area, services and nearby stops.

For example: Via Braies di Dentro 1, Braies.

Braies, the lake and a side valley of the Puster Valley

The municipality of Braies (Prags in German) fills a side valley of the Val Pusteria, above 1,200 metres, known around the world for its lake, the Pragser Wildsee, at the foot of the Croda del Becco cliffs, inside the Fanes-Senes-Braies nature park. German is the most widely spoken language, and the municipality is made up of farmsteads, small hamlets and hotels spread along the valley.

The lake's fame cuts both ways for buyers. It brings jobs in tourism and services, but also visitor numbers so large that car access to the valley is regulated in the peak months. Public transport data list 26 bus stops in the municipality, and for each address the report shows how far the nearest one is. On the slopes and along the stream that runs down the valley, landslides, debris flows and floods are checked plot by plot on the official maps.

Here the population is rising: 696 residents in 2023, 24 more than in 2011. It is also young, with an average age of 43.0 against 43.4 in South Tyrol, over-65s at 18.0% and large households of 2.60 people on average. Average declared income is close to the provincial figure.

All 116 municipalities in South Tyrol are in seismic zone 4, the lowest in the Civil Protection (Protezione Civile) classification, and in Braies the expected ground acceleration is about 0.061 g. At this altitude insulation, heating and the roof matter more.

South Tyrol uses the tavolare system: ownership is shown in the Land Book (Libro fondiario), and the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) does not publish cadastral maps. The report does not trace the plot and says so; the other checks on the address still work. Provincial rules on residence and second homes should be checked with a professional before buying.

Key points

  • Side valley of the Puster Valley, home to Lake Braies.
  • Growing: 696 residents, average age 43.0.
  • All 116 municipalities in South Tyrol in seismic zone 4.
  • Tavolare land registry: Revenue Agency maps not published.

Overview

Braies is a municipality in the province of Bolzano/Bozen, in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. At the end of 2023 it had 696 residents, among the smallest in the province (109 of 116).

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Braies is in seismic zone 4, the lowest-risk zone, where strong earthquakes are very rare. All 116 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.061 g, a moderate value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

In zone 4 the risk is low, but for an older building it is still worth asking about the state of the structure.

Population

Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has grown by 3.6%. The estimated average age is 43 years, in line with the province. 18% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 22%). Foreign residents make up 4.6% of the population. On average, a household has 2.6 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Braies declared an average taxable income of 27,651 euros, in line with the province (28,222 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Braies is in climate zone F, with 4,487 heating degree days, with no limits on when heating may be used. The same table puts the town hall at 1,213 metres above sea level.

Services

In the Overture Maps data, Braies has 3 sports facilities and 2 parks and green areas.

The data shows no schools within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.2 per 1,000 residents.

Public transport

Within the municipality there are 26 public transport stops, served by 5 bus lines. That is about 37.4 stops per 1,000 residents.

How built-up it is

Buildings, roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces cover 1.0% of the land in Braies, compared with 2.7% in the province and 2.9% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Braies is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Provincia autonoma di Bolzano in 2026. According to the ISPRA map, the estimated radon emission in the municipality is medium. Radon varies from building to building and can only be known by measuring it, especially on ground floors and in basements.

Official databases list no contaminated sites in Braies.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Braies: the report checks the address against the ISPRA maps.

House prices

The Revenue Agency's price ranges per square metre (OMI) apply to zones, not to whole municipalities: the report gives the range for the address's zone.

Land registry

For Braies the Revenue Agency does not publish cadastral maps: the land registry here uses the tavolare (land book) system. The report cannot give a parcel reference, but it still checks risks, services and transport at the address and states this clearly.

Liveability area by area

The Vicinalia liveability index runs from 0 to 100 and looks at the place, not the people who live there: services within walking distance, transport, green space, natural hazards, air, quiet, buildings and connection. Here it is worked out at the centre of each of the 19 inhabited census areas in Braies. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 62 or more.

Residents by band

  • fair 76.4%
  • good 23.6%

Vicinalia index by census area, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Data: IdroGEO ISPRA (2026), Istat, INGV, EEA, AGCOM, Overture Maps and OpenStreetMap.

The colour is the value at the centre of the area. For an exact address, search for it above: the free check looks at that exact point. How the index is worked out

Data sources

ISTAT code 021009. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.