By stagecoach over the Alps

Just like 200 years ago

During the summer months a regular stagecoach service operates along the Via Claudia Augusta.  From June every month a carriage drawn by four horses runs from Landsberg am Lech via Reutte, the Fern Pass, Imst, Landeck and Nauders am Reschenpass as far as Bolzano. The 8 - 10 guests can either sit and enjoy the thrilling ride, picturesque landscape and numerous cultural monuments from the coach box or roll up their sleeves and join in.  Whatever your preference, the trip is a very special experience.

Start in Landsberg am Lech (Bavaria).

 

 

 

The coach:

A faithful replica of a Pavillion coach built in 1811, it's not immediately obvious that it is equipped with modern technology. Disc brakes, rubber tyres and electric lighting ensure that, despite all the nostalgia, guests enjoy the journey in much greater comfort and safety than the travellers of bygone days. But, as in the past, skilled smiths and wainwrights spent almost 4,000 hours building the coach, which was used mainly on the winding roads of Switzerland. The Pavillion coach is ideal for a journey on the Via Claudia Augusta.

On the Fern Pass (Tyrol).

 

In Urgen / Fliess municipality (Tyrol).

 

The horses:

The coach is pulled by four horses. To negotiate the passes, two extra horses are added, so the coach becomes a six-in-hand. The carriage horses are warmbloods and include Bavarian, Hanoverian and Holsteiner breeds. As well as their daily ration of hay, they are also supplied with a giant portion of concentrated feed.

 

In Italy's smallest town, in Glorenza (Ger. = Glurns / South Tyrol).

 

The coachman:

The stagecoach is driven personally by Konrad Schamberger. He is an experienced coachman with over 12 years in the trade. He has many equestrian achievements to his name, including the Bavarian coach-and-four champion.

 

 

Dates for 2010:

1 to 8 May

11 to 18 July

7 to 14 September

 

The route:

1st stage: 9:00 Landsberg am Lech, 12:00 Hohenfurch - 15:00-16:00 Schongau/Town Hall, 17:00 Bernbeuren / "Beim Bischof" farm in Berbeuren or Panoramagasthof on the Auerberg

2nd stage: 9:00 Bernbeuren/Sameister, 11:00 Rosshaupten, 13:00-14:00 Schwangau/Tegel lift, 15:15 Pinswang, 16:30-17:00 Reutte/Grünes Haus, 18:00 Reutte / Doserhaus in the European Burgenwelt Ehrenberg

3rd stage: 9:00 Reutte / Doserhaus in the European Burgenwelt Ehrenberg, 12:30-14:30 Alte Fernpasshöhe, 16:10 - 16:40 Fernstein Castle, 17:00 Nassereith, 17:30-18:00 Strad/Frauenbrunnen, 18:00 Imst / Hotel Gasthof Hirschen

4th stage: 9:00 Imst / Hotel Gasthof Hirschen, 9:30 Trofana Tyrol, 9:40 Mils bei Imst, 10:00 Schönwies, 11:30 Zams/Postgasthof Gemse, 12:00-14:00 Landeck Castle, 14:45 Fliess/Neuer Zoll, 15:40 Prutz/Hotel Gasthof Post, 16:00 Ried/village square, 16:40 Tösens/municipal offices, 17:40 Pfunds / Hotel Kreuz (former customs post)

5th stage: 9:00 Pfunds / Hotel Kreuz (former customs post), 12:30 Nauders am Reschenpass, 13:30-15:30 Lake Reschen, 18:00 Glurns / Hotel Post or Hotel Krone on the historic main square in Italy's smallest town

6th stage: 9:00 Glurns / Hotel Post or Hotel Krone on the historic main square of Italy's smallest town, 11:30 Laas / village square, 14:00 Schlanders, 16:45 Naturns, 18:00 Algund / church square (accommodation: Forsterhof)

7th stage: 9:00 Algund / church square, 9:30-10:00 Merano (Via Goethe - Via Alpini - Piazza Mazzini - Corso Libertà - Via delle Corse - Via K. Wolf - Via Galilei - Via Cassa di Risparmio - Corso Libertà - Ponte Teatro - Via Piave - Via Palade - Ponte Marlengo - Piccolo Hotel), 11:00 Lana, 12:00 Nals, 13:00 Terlan, 14:30 Bolzano/Hotel Greif am Waltherplatz (Grieser Platz - Mazziniplatz - Freiheitsstrasse - Rosministrasse - Leonardo-da-Vinci-Str. - Sparkassenstr. - Wangerstr. - Vintlerstrasse - Bindergasse (pedestrianised zone) - Rathausplatz (square in front of town hall), a few 100 m through Bolzano's arcades - Kornplatz - Waltherplatz/north side/Hotel Greif entrance.

 

Distance: approx. 270km

Average speed: 7kmph

Seats: 4-man team, plus 8-10 travellers

 

Price:

This one-week journey of a lifetime costs EUR 2,200 per person all inclusive.

multi-day part sections on request

one day (journey only) per person EUR 150.-

half-day (journey only) per person EUR 100.-

 

Other questions:

Via Claudia Info ++43 664 27 63 555

office@viaclaudia.at

[Translate to English:] Regelmäßiger Postkuschenverkehr Landsberg a. L. - Füssen - Reutte - Imst - Landeck - Bozen