Around the Großglockner

From the East Tyrolean district town of Lienz, the route goes through the Isel valley towards Huben. The first detour to Kalser valley is recommended there. After about 550 m of elevation gain, you reach Kals and via the toll Kalser Glocknerstraße you arrive at the Lucknerhaus, where there are fantastic views of Austria's highest mountain, the Großglockner. The next destination is Matrei, where another detour to the Virgental valley is worthwhile. The uppermost section of this valley is the Umbal valley with the Umbal waterfalls. Back in Matrei, the route heads north via the 36.3 km long Felbertauern road, opened in 1967, and through the 5.3 km long Felbertauern tunnel into the state of Salzburg. Via Mittersill, it follows the Salzach river to Bruck. There, turn right onto the 48 km long Großglockner High Alpine Road, which features 36 hairpin bends and was opened in 1935. A nature and driving experience of a special kind awaits you. The highest point is the Fuscher Törl / Edelweißspitze at 2,571 m, from where you have a magnificent panoramic view of more than 30 three-thousand-meter peaks. The journey continues through the Hochtor (2,503 m) into Carinthia to the Franz-Josefs-Height, a popular excursion destination. Here you have a grand view of the Großglockner (3,798 m) and the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps, the Pasterze. Dozens of marmots frolic right next to visitors, and with some luck, you may also see impressive ibex. Afterwards, the route goes downhill to Heiligenblut with its well-known and very impressive Gothic pilgrimage church with an adjacent mountaineers' cemetery. Through the Möll valley, past roaring waterfalls, you now reach Winklern and over the Iselsberg back to East Tyrol.