I live in Vienna, Austria, and I enjoy travelling (especially to England and Scotland). --> See ...
I live in Vienna, Austria, and I enjoy travelling (especially to England and Scotland). --> See my detailed profile for more <--
Member since:16.02.2001
Reviews:39
Members who trust:71
Do you like mountains? Do you like to enjoy breathtaking views of the Alpine scenery, glaciers with snow in summer, and lovely small rural villages along the way up the mountains? If the answer is yes, then this is something for you.
The Alps, Austria, Grossglockner Road - the very first Alpine highroad which was opened in 1935, is certainly worth a visit.
If you arrive via Salzburg, drive to Zell am See, then to Bruck, where the Grossglockner Road officially starts. If you arrive from the other side of the mountains (Carinthia), drive to Heiligenblut and start from there (which is what I did when I was there two years ago).
A word of warning first: You cannot use the Grossglockner Road during winter, because there is too much snow (up to 5 meters of snow on the road). In May, they start to remove the snow so that the Road can be opened again.
And even in summer, make sure that the brakes of your car are working well. The Road is about 75 km long, but you move from altitude 755 m (Bruck) up to 2505 m (Hochtor) and then down to 1288 m (Heiligenblut). You can enjoy a view of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, which is 3797 m high.
I recommend that you drive this road and stop whereever you like the scenery. There are many viewpoints where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Alps.
Some of the best viewpoints are Edelweissspitze and Fuscher Törl. There is an observation tower at the Edelweissspitze (altitude 2577 m) with a panorama view that you should not miss. Cars are not allowed at the top, you’ll have to walk.
At the Hochtor tunnel, the Road reaches it highest point (2505 m) and then moves on towards Heiligenblut.
After Guttal, make sure you turn right into the Gletscherstrasse (Road of the Glaciers) to take you to Franz-Josephs-Höhe, the endpoint of the Road, which is a long panorama terrace (altitude 2369 m), built into the rock, and named after the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848 - 1916).
You have now reached the foot of the Grossglockner and you look at the impressive Pasterze Glacier which is 10 km long.
Guided tours to the Grossglockner peak via the glacier are available.
There is a restaurant (not the cheapest, of course) and a souvenir shop at the Franz-Josephs-Höhe.
You then drive back to Guttal, turn right onto the main Grossglockner Road again, towards Heiligenblut, a lovely village with a very famous church. You might want to take a photo of the church with the Grossglockner behind it (or buy a postcard with exactly this photo).
The costs (toll) for using the Grossglockner Road are EUR 29.80 per car (which is approx. GBP 18.-).
If you want more information, visit the Grossglockner Road website www.grossglockner.at
I've driven over this road twice. Your review captures it very well indeed.
SusanLesley 05.06.2001 15:58
My parents went to Austria a couple of years ago - their first time out of the UK - and they told me about this particular area. Mom said it was so beautiful..... Susan
Robertpowles 25.05.2001 23:09
It sounds a lovely place. Certainly the sort of place I would enjoy visiting!
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