Page 564 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Altstadt’s right bank and (which you can visit on a trip €34.50/24.50; hMay-early
left bank, respectively. through the Carinthian Lakes) Nov) swings giddily
and turn west onto the B100/ around 36 switchbacks,
The Drive » It’s 47km south E66 through the Drau Valley to
from Salzburg on the B159 Lienz (166km in total). passing jewel-coloured
to Werfen, mostly along the lakes, forested slopes and
Salzach River. After passing above-the-clouds glaciers
through a wide valley, you’ll 3 Lienz as it traverses the heart
enter a tight, steep gorge; follow Ringed by Dolomite peaks of the Hohe Tauern
it until Werfen. National Park, peaking at
blushing reddish-pink at
sunset, Lienz straddles the bell-shaped Gross-
2 Werfen the Isel and Drau Rivers, glockner (3798m), Aus-
tria’s highest mountain.
More than 1000m above and lies just 40km north En route, flag-dotted
Werfen in the Tennenge- of Italy. An ancient Roman Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe
birge mountains is Eis- settlement, today it’s a (2369m) has memorable
riesenwelt (www.eisriesen famed ski town (for its views of Grossglockner
welt.at; adult/child €11/6, incl Zettersfeld and Hochstein and the rapidly retreat-
cable car €22/12; h8am- peaks, and especially its ing Pasterze Glacier (best
3.45pm May-Oct, to 4.45pm Jul 100km of cross-country appreciated on the short
& Aug). Billed as the world’s trails), but it has an ener- and easy Gamsgrubenweg
largest accessible ice caves, getic vibe year-round. and Gletscherweg trails).
this glittering ice spectacle If you want to get Allow time to see the
AUSTRIA 39 GROSSGLOcKNER ROAD
spans 30,000 sq metres up into the mountains, glacier-themed exhibition
and 42km of narrow pas- Bergstatt (%0516-5835; at the visitor centre and
sages burrowing deep into www.bergstatt.at; Kranewitweg the crystalline Wilhelm-
the heart of the moun- 5; rock climbing trips per adult/ Swarovski observatory.
tains. A highlight is the child from €75/55) has guides Get your camera handy
cavernous Eispalast (ice who can lead you on half- for Fuscher Törl (2428m),
palace), where the frost day, full-day and multiday with super views on both
crystals twinkle when a rock-climbing, via ferrata sides of the ridge, and
magnesium flare is held up or summit trips. Fuscher Lacke (2262m), a
to them. Wrap up warmly The Drive » Take the B107 gemstone of a lake nearby.
for subzero temperatures. north, passing picturesque A small exhibition docu-
Photography is not permit- villages including Winklern ments the construction
ted inside the caves. (with a wonderful Alpine hotel; of the road, built by 3000
On a wooded clifftop p567) and Heiligenblut (look men over five years during
beneath the majestic peaks for the needle-thin spire of the Great Depression.
of the Tennengebirge its pilgrimage church) to the A 2km side road cork-
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
range, formidable fortress toll gates (43km in total). screws up to Edelweiss
Burg Hohenwerfen (adult/ Spitze (2571m), the road’s
child/family €11/6/26.50, incl lift TRIP HIGHLIGHT highest viewpoint. Climb
€14.50/8/34.50; h9am-5pm the tower for 360-degree
Apr-Oct; c) dates from 1077. 4 Grossglockner
Time your visit to be at the High Alpine Road views of more than 30
peaks topping 3000m.
castle by 3.15pm for the A stupendous feat of Between toll gates, all
falconry show. 1930s engineering, the attractions are free. Check
4 p567 48km Grossglockner the forecast before you
Road (www.grossglockner. hit the road, as the drive
The Drive » Take the A10 at; Hwy 107; car/motorcycle is not much fun in heavy
south to the Millstätter See

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