The Grossglockner is a spectacular mountain pass, which makes me write something I never thought I’d say, that I completely understand motorcyclists. When you see the pictures, you will understand why…
The Grossglockner is the highest alpine road in Austria.
The road is 48 km long with 36 sharp bends, with which you climb to 2500 m above sea level. The road is part of the Hohe Tauern, the largest national park in Austria, and allows you to get completely close to the mountain peaks, whose height is around 3000 m. There are over 30 of them and if you want to know where Heidi was born, this is the best way.
You can cross this very picturesque road by car, motorcycle, bus and even by bicycle.
And so we headed towards Grossglockner. Magnificent scenes appeared, heralding a spectacular adventure.
Our van was merrily riding along with its rear wheel drive, while the others in the car were sharpening their camera equipment. More and more demanding and steeper sections with 180-degree bends alternated on the road.
The conversation slowly died down, but we were going at a steady pace. And then we encountered cyclists. We couldn’t avoid them, nor could we stop. A column began to form, moving at a snail’s pace. Our 25 year old van couldn’t handle it. It started bleating, coughing up smoke and finally gave up. It stopped and died. It was killed by two cyclists, who exposed themselves to abnormal efforts.
And here we are as we see off the convoy, which is still following the two fanatics, while we stay on the side and look into the black heart of our van. Smoke billows from it. I have already resigned myself to the fact that I will be taken down from the mountain by six firefighters. It took a while to think about whose idea this was, so since it’s getting dark let’s try again. The key in the ignition and waiting for the familiar sound were my worst moments of this trip. The Toyota van was shaking and letting us know that there is still life in it. But our joy was short-lived because Toyota let us know that it only accepts rear wheel drive.
Since we couldn’t go back, we accepted everything that was offered to us and continued on these crazy passes at 40 km per hour, happy to be moving at all. That’s how we got to the top. Toyota won.
In addition to admiring the unreal beauty of nature, the question that inevitably arises after such an adventure is who and why made this path. History says the following.
After World War I, Austria suffered from unemployment and economic crisis, and after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy from a lack of identity.
This type of work would create new jobs, and the income from tourism would not be negligible either. The first explosion in August 1930 marked the beginning of the works, in which 4000 people participated.
Five years later, the then Austrian president opened the road, and the very next day the first car races were held here. For the first thirty years, the road was open to visitors only 132 days a year, and today even 276 thanks to this machine, which replaces many shovels.
The machine was constructed by the traffic engineer Franz Wallack back in 1954 and thanks to it the road is open from May to October.
Over the decades, this project has exceeded all forecasts of its designers in terms of the number of visitors. This placed new demands on the constructors, so they widened the road from the original 6 m to 7.5 m. A large number of stops and parking spaces have been created.
In July 2015, the 80th birthday of the Grossglockner Alpine Route was celebrated.
Grossglockner how?
Entrance to the national park is paid. We paid 40 euros for the van. You get a vignette, which is very decorative. You also get a map and a postcard, given by a cheerful grandmother in the house where tickets are sold. Once you pass the ramp, you enter the national park and there is no going back.
There are various activities on Gross, from museums to tunnels, parks, waterfalls, lakes and restaurants.
What you will visit and how long you will stay depends on which group you go with. In any case, it will take you all day, check the opening hours here.
How we beat the Grossglockner
We are moving into the sky under the clouds at a speed of 40 per hour.
I couldn’t get out of the car at every corner, but that didn’t reduce the enjoyment.
There are explanations everywhere so that you know what Gross is about.
Various devices for a better view.
One of the stations, look at the temperature in mid-May.
Souvenir tokens, and it’s good to know where the toilet is.
There are various stops for all of the 800,000 tourists who usually pass through here.
In the middle of May, there is this much snow.
You don’t need photoshop on Gross.
Cable car, when it snows, the only means of transportation.
These are the places where the driver says, “No stopping, I have to hit the road!”
You can have lunch here if the elevator is working.
I like this sign.
The right place for my sticker.
Recycling at 3000 m.
I don’t see global warming here.
Everything is about the Grossglockner, but also the marmot, which is the mascot.
There is something about buying rakia at 3700 m.
A picture worth coming for.
Grossglockner under the clouds, he is very shy.
Fuscher Torl landmark dedicated to the builders of this road.
The highlight of the road is this point Kaiser Franz Josef Höhe (2369 m) after the emperor, who visited this place in 1856 with his queen Sisi.
This point offers a spectacular view of Austria’s highest peak. Grossglockner 3798 m together with the largest glacier in Austria, the Pasterze.
Grossglockner means “big bell” in German, which fits this peak perfectly.
In this center you will find everything you might need from refreshments, toilets, but also what you won’t need such as a car museum.
Useful tips
Check the car, especially the brakes, and fill it with fuel. There is no pump, and fuel is consumed faster due to the climb. If you go by bike, ignore the above recommendation.
Check the weather forecast.
Avoid weekends if you want Gros to yourself, without the crowds.
There is snow all year round, so choose appropriate clothing.
Bring food and water if you don’t want to pay a higher price for them here.
Set aside a whole day for Gross.
Otherwise, you can go around the Grossglockner Pass from the direction of Salzburg or from the direction of Klagenfurt. My recommendation is that if you can choose, go from north to south because the attractions are also laid out that way.
Conclusion
And that’s how it happened that I beat Grossglockner.
3800 m and also in a wheelchair with an ancient van makes this adventure even more incredible. Except for the episode with the van, everything else made a big impression on me.
Although I have no connection with the tourism organization of Austria, I highly recommend you to do this route.
Have you visited Glosglockner?
Did I miss something?
Traveled and enjoyed,
Marko Veličković
