Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The most beautiful panoramic road in the Hohe Tauern National Park
On its 80th birthday, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road was declared a protected monument in July 2015.
A worthy tribute to one of Austria's most breathtaking structures. The panoramic road through the Hohe Tauern, which connects the towns of Fusch a.d. Glocknerstraße in the north and Heiligenblut in the south in a unique way, is one of the main attractions of the Hohe Tauern.
Queen of the pass roads
This is exactly what the Grossglockner High Alpine Road should be called, as it is the most beautiful and best-known panoramic road in Europe. With a length of over 48 km and 36 bends, some of them spectacular, this dream path leads up to over 2,500 m above sea level and takes visitors right into the heart of the breathtaking world of the Hohe Tauern. Views and scenery are by no means all that the Grossglockner High Alpine Road has to offer.
Interesting facts & info
You should take your time for an excursion along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, as you will have to stop several times. A photo stop here, a cozy refreshment stop there, interesting facts and information in museums and exhibitions. Do you know who built the road and when, and what exciting flora and fauna you are cruising through? See: pull over, turn off the engine and enjoy.
A brief digression: how it all began...
The road is inextricably linked to two men: Franz Wallack, builder of the road, and Franz Rehrl, former governor of Salzburg. After the first blasting took place in Ferleiten on August 30, 1930, only 26 months of construction time and 870,000 cubic meters of earth and rock separated the approximately 4,000 men working on the road from its completion. Just 5 years later, on August 3, 1935, the road was opened.
Eating and sleeping on the road
Ob Sie die Großglockner Hochalpenstraße gemütlich erkunden, sportlich bezwingen oder einfach die beeindruckende Bergwelt und ihre zahlreichen Ausstellungen genießen – hungrig werden Sie auf jeden Fall. Zwischen Fusch an der Glocknerstraße in Salzburg und Heiligenblut in Kärnten laden zahlreiche urige und geschichtsträchtige Hütten und Gasthöfe dazu ein, einzukehren, Platz zu nehmen und regionale Köstlichkeiten zu genießen. Und wer die besondere Atmosphäre der Berge noch länger auskosten möchte, kann die Nacht in einem gemütlichen Zimmer hoch oben im Gebirge verbringen.
Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor center with exhibitions and Großglockner cinema
Experience - in addition to the previous ones - the newly opened exhibition "Sepp Forcher - Between Words and Peaks" and the new GROSSGLOCKNERKINO in 2024.
Discover the many facets of Austrian TV star Sepp Forcher and immerse yourself in his world full of stories and peaks.
The cinema shows a wide variety of mountain films, but also an entertaining and playful film trilogy about the history, nature and future visions of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
Cool Facts
and some interesting facts
- The Fuscher Törl at 2,428 m is the best photo spot on the road
- The border between Salzburg and Carinthia runs along the Hochtor at 2,504 m
- The road is one of the TOP 3 excursion destinations in Austria
- There are 36 hairpin bends and curves over a length of 48 km
- The highest point is at the Edelweißspitze at 2,500 m
- From the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe you have a direct view of the Grossglockner
- On August 3, 1935, the road was officially opened.
- The construction period lasted 26 months, during which up to 4,000 men worked
- Up to 900,000 visitors from all over the world come to the Grossglockner every year
More panoramic roads in the Hohe Tauern National Park region
Discover other excursion routes in the Hohe Tauern National Park region, which meander through the picturesque Möll and Drau valleys and lead to numerous impressive excursion points. Immerse yourself in unspoiled nature and enjoy breathtaking views of majestic mountains, glistening lakes and picturesque valleys. These roads invite you to experience the beauty of our region and collect unforgettable moments in the midst of a fascinating landscape.
