South Tyrolean wine

Start......... Alpenhotel Laurin, this time our tour takes us into the Dolomites. Immediately after the hotel driveway we turn right onto the Timmelsjoch road, after approx. 2 km we reach the TopMountainMotorcycleMuseum (the highest motorbike museum in Europe, with a unique motorbike collection of over 200 exhibits - but we will visit this another time) ...the distance from the hotel is so close that today, due to the slightly longer tour, we immediately set off in the direction of the TImmelsjoch pass summit. (Timmelsjoch pass road - toll road) The first-class road, which almost rhythmically hugs the natural terrain, may tempt you to drive fast, but keep an eye out for cows or sheep/goats along the entire route, as they graze here throughout the summer. Once we reach the top of the pass (after about 15 minutes), we first enjoy the phenomenal view of the Stubai Alps and the Texel Group. Our onward journey takes us over the south ramp of the Timmelsjoch to St. Leonhard in the Passeier Valley. On the south side of the Timmelsjoch, please be aware of parked cars on the roadside or cyclists, so keep your speed down and enjoy the scenery. The road has been greatly improved in recent years, and the bends and hairpin bends here are sensational fun. From St. Leonhard, our route takes us along the Passer (valley river) to Merano. Lined by orchards, small villages and marvellous panoramas that reflect the Mediterranean lifestyle. Once we reach the town on the Passer, the navigation takes us on to Marling near Meran. We now cycle along the west side of the valley past orchards and vineyards to Naraun. Here the road begins to get steeper, we are now on the SS 238 to the Gampen Pass. Once in Fondo, we follow the road to the Mendola Pass junction. The initially flat route changes after a few minutes as we descend from the Mendola Pass back down into the valley, with a wonderful view of the Bolzano basin stretching out before us. At the end of the SS 42, we are now just before Kaltern, we turn right and continue south on the SP 14. Here on the Kalternlandstraße (wine road), countless vineyards line the roadside. Lake Kaltern lies ahead of us. We recommend taking a break in San Josef am See (Lake Kaltern). Here you will find the Panholzer restaurant (St. Josef am See 8) in an old, traditional building, and in good weather you can also sit outside. We continue south for a few more minutes, leave here and turn left onto the SP 127 and continue to Auer. Here we follow the signposts to Montan (SS 48), which is now an easy mountain road that takes us to Cavalese. Here we follow the SS 620 which leads to the Lavazejoch. A wonderful mountain road to enjoy, usually not very crowded. (Pass summit 1800 mt) We follow the Lavazejoch road down into the Eggental valley. The impressive road past rocky gorges takes us (SS 241) to Kardaun. Our route now takes us past the outskirts of Bolzano and into the Sarntal Valley. Once we reach the Sarntaler and Pfitscherjoch roads, we head north to the Joch, down the north side we reach Sterzing, ...here it is also worth making a short detour to the old town centre of Sterzing. Our journey home then takes us over the Jaufenpass at just over 2000 metres, and then down to St. Leonhard we need to concentrate fully again to master the sometimes very tight hairpin bends into the Passeiertal valley. At the roundabout at the bottom, we take the exit towards TImmelsjoch. From here we drive to the end of the village to the roundabout (over the bridge is the Brückenwirt, a real super tip for all hungry people), take the first exit on the right onto the Timmelsjoch road towards Moos/Moso, always in the direction of Timmelsjoch. The approx. 35 kilometres from here to the pass are pure enjoyment. The road winds its way up the mountain in wonderfully rhythmic curves. Once you reach the Joch, a short detour to the "Joch Museum" is definitely worthwhile. The road on the Austrian side is much smoother, and after another 5 kilometres we reach the toll station with the highest motorbike museum in Europe. The Top Moutain Motorcycle Museum is one of the most fascinating motorbike collections and is definitely worth a visit. From here to our hotel, the Alpenhotel Laurin, the journey takes another 5 minutes.