Stelvio Pass Tour
Hochgurgl - Timmelsjoch - Meran - Vintschgau - Spondinig - Trafoi - Stilfserjoch - Val Müstair (CH) - Glurns - Laatsch - Reschenpass - Prutz - Kauns - Piller mountain road - Wenns (Pitztal) - Ötz - Hochgurgl
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 towards the top of the TImmelsjoch pass. (Timmelsjoch pass road
- (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 up 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. Today our navigation takes us further into the Vinschgau Valley. We pass the villages of Naturns, Schlanders ... and continue on the SS 38 (Stelvio Pass state road) until we reach Spondinig. Here we turn left onto the road to Prad. The 48 bends of the Stelvio Pass road lie ahead of us. Today we are travelling on the highest pass road in Italy. It's important to concentrate, as the partly "hilly" tarmac road and the tight bends demand our full attention. At an altitude of around 2,200 metres (in the area of the Franzenshöhe mountain hotel), the valley opens up and we can see the last 500 metres of altitude ahead of us. The road winds its way upwards along the terrain, and once you reach the top you should definitely take a short break. The view of the mountain massif is really impressive. Our tour then takes us down the north-west side to the Umbrail Pass junction. Here we turn right and cycle through Switzerland for a short while. Back in Taufers i. Münstertal (South Tyrol), we stay on the SS 41. If you feel like it, take a short detour to Glurns. Glurns is one of the smallest towns in the Alps. The small town centre with its restaurants and inns is particularly charming. A special feature of the town is the completely preserved town wall. Our tour continues through the upper Vintschgau valley to Lake Reschen. A lake that was built by the fascists after the annexation of South Tyrol by Italy after the inhabitants of the old village of Graun were expropriated and resettled. Today, the small church tower of Graun is a silent witness to this irresponsible damming of the lake after the end of the Second World War. Today, the tower is a listed building and a landmark of the municipality of Graun.
Our tour continues across the border back into Tyrol. After a short drive, we reach Nauders. We continue north on the B 180 past Pfunds to Prutz. Here we turn right and drive via the village of Kauns on the small road over the "Piller" (name for this small crossing into the Pitztal) to Wenns in the Pitztal. Continue on the L 16 to the Pitztal entrance and then continue on the B 171 (Tyrolean main road) towards Ötztal. After about 10 minutes we reach the entrance to Ötztal. Via the Ötztal federal road B 186 we now drive back up the valley to Hochgurgl