Grossglockner

The mountainous road is nearly 40 km long and its average rise is 12 per cent. It is one of the most elevated, available European roads. At the entrance point to the road you will pass several information signs - they all ask whether your car is really in good condition. When leaving the road, you will know that there really are good reasons to ask the question like that- it is no fun. .

Long ride and breathtaking views

On the way up the road, close to Grossglockner, you will come across tens of stopping places where you can check your car brakes and enjoy the beaty of the Alps in Austria. Every stopping offers a somehow different views of the summits. The weather is often changing every minute and the sceneries are changing too. The highest point of this beautiful mountainous road is named "Franz Joseph´s Lookout Point"; it is located at 2 500 metres above sea and offers wonderful views of Grossglockner and well-known Pasterzee Iceberg , in the valley which is located under the Franz Joseph´s Lookout point near Grossglockner.

Franz Joseph´s Lookout Point

The lookout point, which is the closest to Grossglockner, is well-equipped mountainous tourist centre. There is a five-storey car park for tourists, an information centre and a modern restaurant. You can also visit a mining museum and enjoy the interactive and very attractive presentation of the history of the heavy metal mining industry in this region.

Pasterzee Iceberg

Perhaps the biggest attraction in the region of Grossglockner is the Pasterzee Iceberg, situated just under the lookout point. Unfortunately, the iceberg clearly shows the symptoms of global warming. The funicular named Glocknerbahn, which would have taken you from the slope to the iceberg some ten years ago, stops half-way now and you have to continue on foot. Photographs of the iceberg taken during the recent years clearly indicate that the Pasterzee is melting, and very quickly - as for its length, every year the iceberg loses some 25 metres. If you like the idea of the extreme mountainous road , the splendid view of the highest mountain in Austria, and the view of the magic iceberg - you should not hesitate too long and visit the area of Grossglockner as soon as possible: in ten years, there will not be any iceberg at all.

Practical information

For a trip to the area of Grossglockner, do not leave your warm clothes at home - the temperature is some 15 degrees lower, comparing to the surrounding areas situated a bit lower. When you set out to get closer to Grossglockner, you will pay €28 per car. If the weather is nice, you should keep in mind that other tourists may have exactly the same idea: as the result, you may get before the Franz Joseph´s Lookout Point and your trip may last the whole day. The road is rather narrow and once you get in the column of cars, it is - in fact - impossible to escape.

GPS: 47.0737169631, 12.6960325241  Edit

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