A road trip along the imperial road across the Alps ('Altinate' version)

There is a footpath at the edge of Nordheim. You will see it on your left just after you pass the bridge. It leads to a replica of a milestone of the Via Claudia Augusta, which marked the location of the Roman road.

A guided tour in a taxi is the most comfortable way to travel through time: up to four people pay EUR 29 per hour. Augsburg’s sights are all in close proximity to each other, however, so you can easily see them on foot. Head out from the parking lot and visit the former prince-bishops’ residence (Fürstbischöfliche Residenz), whose inhabitants controlled the fate of the surrounding region up to Tyrol for a long time. Today, it is the seat of the Swabian regional government. From here, the route leads you around the cathedral and to the garden on Äußeres Pfaffengässchen, where you can catch an archaeological glimpse of Roman Augsburg. In 2014, the Fugger und Welser Erlebnismuseum opened in a Renaissance garden house, offering an interactive multimedia exhibition about the significance of Augsburg and the economical influence of its mercantile families on Europe and the world in the 16th century. After visiting the cathedral, have a look at the stone sculptures on the Roman wall on the southern cathedral square. On the opposite side of the street, at Peutingerstraße 11, you can see the house of the humanist Konrad Peutinger. The merchant, who collected Roman coins and stone monuments, is the father of Roman research in Augsburg. He also gave his name to the first world map of Roman roads, whose 12th-century copy he sought to publish. At the gate of his house, Roman and Jewish stone monuments have been fixed in the wall. The next stop on your route is the town hall, one of the most important secular Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. Alongside the Perlachturm tower, which offers wonderful views of the city, it is the symbol of Augsburg. The Goldener Saal inside the town hall is one of Germany’s most significant cultural monuments from the Late Renaissance. Perched atop the monumental fountain, Emperor Augustus watches over the city he founded. On the stretch between the town hall and the Mercury fountain to the south, the Maximilianstraße is identical to the Roman road running past the city to the west. Head a little further west still to reach the Maximilianmuseum at Fuggerplatz 1. It is the storehouse of the city’s art galleries and museums and contains three separate sections: sculptures, handicrafts, local history. Among its most fascinating treasures is a collection of sculptures from the Late Renaissance and goldworks from the era when the Fuggers’ city was one of Central Europe’s main centers of goldsmithing. But the greatest attraction of the museum is the Viermetzhof, its glass-covered inner courtyard. It showcases the restored figures of Augsburg’s monumental fountains, the Augustus fountain, Hercules fountain and Mercury fountain. A little further along the road, at Zeugplatz 4, you can see the Baroque armory, which was also used as military barracks. Of course, the Fuggers also had their palace on Maximilanstraße (building 36). On the way back to the parking lot, you pass the Fuggerei, their social housing complex.

In the east, the travel route leads you past the center of the historical old town. It passes through another gate of the former enceinte, the Vogeltor, which used to guard the Jakobervorstadt district. Do not miss the archaeological site at Predigerberg. The Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra  marks the end of Maximilianstraße. The route now takes you to Königsbrunn in a straight line, following Haunstetterstraße, which corresponds to the old Roman road. A little to the east, you will find the botanical gardens of the town. A Roman garden shows you many of the plants and growing methods that the Romans introduced to this area.

Right after you cross the highway, you will see a gravel path on each side. It is called Via Claudia Augusta and, indeed, corresponds to the Roman route. Between Königsbrunn and Untermeitingen, you will find the longest intact and visible section of a Roman road in Germany. It measures 11 kilometers. The Via Claudia Augusta is particularly easy to spot as a grassy ridge in the northern new-build estate in Kleinaitingen and in a meadow, just north of a replicated milestone in Untermeitingen. In the town of Oberottmarshaushausen, the travel route takes a left and then continues in a straight line, following the old connecting road through a  large, flat  agricultural landscape and the attractive town centers of  Kleinaitingen, Graben, Untermeitingen, Obermetingen, Hurlach and Unterigling. There used to be a ford near Untermeitingen until the 19th century. It was the only Lech crossing in the entire Lechfeld. The aristocratic Von Imhof family also shaped the development of the town. Their little palace houses the local library today. Both Schloss Igling castle and Schloss Hurlach castle are privately owned. The town hall of Igling occupies a particularly attractive, old building.

Most of the medieval main square of the town is reserved for pedestrians, as are the majority of its pretty alleyways. The striking tower is called Schöner Turm (‘beautiful tower’) or Schmalzturm. In the historical town hall, the ornate building across the road, you can find a tourist information office.  The facade was designed by Dominikus Zimmermann, the builder of the Wieskirche church. He used to be the mayor of Landsberg. To get to the river, take the Salzgasse on the left of the tourist information office. The municipal utilities operate an outdoor swimming complex right next to the river, which makes for a lovely swim. The pretty alleyways of the old town take you all the way to the Sandauer Tor gate in the northern part of the old town. On your way there, you will pass the historical shoe museum, which exhibits shoes from eight centuries alongside a collection of celebrities’ footwear. The Baroque-esque parish church of Maria Himmelfahrt with its three naves and splendid vestibule emphasizes the considerably larger influence of this town in the past. Head from the main square through the Schmalzturm tower and up the Lechberg to reach the paved Alte Bergstraße: it used to be the salt road. On top of the Lechberg, you will find the town museum and the Late Gothic Bayertor gate.

Von-Helfenstein-Gasse 426, phone: +49 (0)8191 128 360, open from April to January, Tue to Fri: 2–5 pm; Sat, Sun, public holidays: 11 am–5 pm.

Hist. shoe museum, Vorderer Anger 274, +49 (0)8191 42 296, opening hours: upon arrangement by phone (closed on Sundays).

Cross the bridge and follow the salt road to rejoin the Roman road.

A Roman fortress used to stand on the Lorenzberg hill. Today, the Lorenzkapelle chapel occupies the site. Visit the little Roman museum in Epfach for an impression of the old complex. This town has a particularly famous son: Claudius Paternus Clementianus served as the governor of North Africa.  Museum, Via Claudia 16, 86920 Epfach, +49 (0)8243 9601—0, open to the public 9 am–5 pm all year round.

Between Epfach and Hohenfurch, the route follows the high bank of the Lech. You might want to take a detour to Kinsau on the way, which slopes down to the river on several terraces. Hohenfurch is located on the B17, the successor of the Via Claudia Augusta, which crosses under the travel route in the town center. The town is shaped by the River Schönach, and our route follows its course towards Schwabniederhofen.

The old road from Altenstadt to Schongau first takes you down a dip, which used to be a part of the river. Millennia ago, the hill on which the old town stands used to be a meander cutoff of the Lech and almost completely surrounded by water.  The Maxtor gate is the historical entrance to the old town.  Our route takes us through the Münztor gate instead, which was created later to facilitate the flow of traffic. You can find an underground parking garage and a parking lot inside the walls. Save yourself the parking fee and park on the foot of the hill surrounded by the Lech: the walk across the Frauenberg and through the Frauentor gate will give you an impression of the old town walls.

If you want a particularly memorable experience of the town, take one of the guided tours on offer. They include a walk after dark and a tour for children. Alternatively, the old town is easily explored on your own. Walk through the Hl. Geist convent church and the courtyard of the former Carmelite monastery to get to an accessible section of the wall. Pass the former district court and continue to the Münzgebäude building at the eponymous Münztor gate. The Maxtor is one of the most beautiful gates in town. It also functions as the yard gate to Schloss Schongau, a little palace once owned by the Wittelsbach dynasty. Today, it houses the district administration. To find out more about the history of Schongau, visit the barrier-free town museum in the former St. Eramus hospital church. It offers a lot of information on coins, in particular, and its exhibits include Roman ones as well as ones minted in Schongau. Like the Frauentor, the gate of the Polizeidienerturm can only be entered on foot. The Gothic Ballenhaus used to facilitate trade on the salt road. Its location in the center of the square emphasizes the significance of the trade routes for Schongau. The Maria Himmelfahrt parish church is a successor of two old buildings, one Romanesque and one Gothic.

Stadtmuseum, Christophstr. 55-57, +49 (0)8861 254—605. Wed, Sat, Sun and public holidays, 2 pm–5 pm.

Like the old Roman road, our travel route leaves the old town of Schongau via the steep Lechberg.  On the right side of the river, you will find Plantsch, a public waterpark and spa with indoor and outdoor pools and sauna facilities. There is also a lido on the Lechsee, just above the dam. This part of the deep, narrow Lechtal valley resembles a fjord. You can see some former inns near the bridge, where the old road towards Peiting crossed the river. A little way downriver, there is a fairytale forest with a petting zoo for children. Originally, the road ran across the hill between Schongau and Peiting. Today, it leads around it. The name of Peiting is probably derived from the Peutinger dynasty, who settled there as early as the sixth century. The center of the market town offers plenty of places to shop, eat and drink. Visit the museum in the Klösterle to find out about the history of the region and the locals’ way of life.  Kapellenstraße 1, +49 (0)8861 6535, open Wednesdays, 2–5 pm, groups are asked to make a booking.

The first traces of human settlement east of the Lech date back as far as the third century. A shelter on a former Roman country estate spanning several hectares contains a traditional bath house. The villa is a luxurious compound house built around an open court, a layout that is uncommon in Germany. It was inhabited between the mid-second until the fourth century. An inscribed lead tablet that was found here has captured the imagination of many visitors: it is believed to be a love spell. All around the shelter, there is a Roman herb garden with culinary and medical plants.

+49 (0)8861 6535, self-guided visits are welcome at any time (information panels available); guided tours upon prior arrangement.

On the way to Bernbeuren, you will pass the beautiful natural area of Haslacher See lake. You can take a swim in the lake if you like.  At the first major intersection in the town, our route turns right and then takes the next left. The Auerberg Museum is on the left. It entertainingly recounts the history of settlement on the Auerberg. The Celts already settled on this hill for its strategically favorable location. In Roman times, there used to be a craftsmen’s settlement here, which produced catapult parts among other things. Researchers assume that it is the city of Damasia mentioned by Strabo. The road onto the Auerberg forks to the right after passing the museum. Alternatively, an adventure path leads through the Feuersteinschlucht gorge to the peak. It is a two-hour walk from the museum. On top of the hill, the platform on the Georgskirche church offers wonderful, panoramic views. The panoramic inn has an in-house bakery and makes for a lovely break.  Auerbergmuseum, Mühlenstraße 9, +49 (0)8860 210, open from mid-April to mid-October: Sat 3–5 pm, Sun and public holidays 2–5 pm and upon prior arrangement by telephone. www.auerbergmuseum.de

After Lechbruck am See, the Allgäu starts. Follow the signs to Füssen. In Bavaria, the entire Via Claudia Augusta runs parallel to the Lech river, which the Romans used for transportation, too. Lechbruck has dedicated a museum to its long tradition of rafting; you can find it in the buildings opposite the tourist information office. Between 15 June and 30 September, you can book a rafting tour on the Lech at the tourist information office.  Flößermuseum, Waidach 8, +49 (0)8862 / 987830, open from April to September: Thu, 5:30–7 pm, Sun: 4–6 pm and by prior booking, www.flfflloesser-lechbruck.de

Continue through the hills of the Allgäu towards Füssen and Rosshaupten. Do not miss the Sameister-Kapelle chapel on the way. The Schmutterweiher lake on the other side of the road is a swimming spot. Follow the B16 and take the exit to the village of Rosshaupten.  Besides the museum, the Pfannerhaus at the central intersection also houses the Bavarian Via Claudia Augusta Information Center.  Head east from the museum to see an art park dedicated to the Roman road. It is operated by the Rosshaupten artists’ association.  Museum, Hauptstraße 1, +49 (0)8367 364, open every day from 9 am–6 pm during the season.

Pass the parish church of St. Andreas in Rosshaupten and take a left onto the B16 towards Rieden am Forggensee. Enjoy a walk around the lake, then take a rest at Mansio, a swimming and resting spot by the water. Its tagline: “Rest with the Romans”. In spring, when the lake is low, you can walk the Roman road on the bottom of the reservoir. During the remainder of the year, the Forggensee boats cross the lake here.  Landing points en route: Rosshaupten Kraftwerk, Rieden-Tiefental, Rieden-Dietringen, Füssen-Festspielhaus and Füssen, +49 (0)8362 921 363 or 938 52, 3x per day. 

Opposite the exit of the parking garage at Hotel Hirsch, a little alley leads to the quiet part of the old town. Walk along Drehergasse, Brotmarkt and Lechhalde to the river. Before you reach the river, you will pass the Church of the Holy Spirit with its attractive Rococo facade. The Benedictine St. Mang’s Abbey is right on the riverbank. After its foundation, the town grew around it. Head to the opposite bank of the Lech and enjoy the so-called ‘Magnus view’ (Magnusblick) of the abbey and the old town. It is one of  Füssen’s most beautiful vistas. Cross the inner courtyard of St. Mang’s Abbey to reach the local museum of Füssen, which recounts the history of the town and its tradition of lute and violin manufacture. Head to Magnusplatz to the north of the abbey, look at the Baroque St. Mang’s Church, then take the little alley up to the High Castle of Füssen. On your way up to the castle, you will be treated to many splendid views of the former summer residence of the prince-bishops of Augsburg. It is one of Bavaria’s best-preserved castle complexes. Its inside is decorated with Late-Gothic illusionistic paintings. The Gothic ceiling of the knights’ hall and the branch gallery of the Bavarian State Painting Collections are particularly impressive. Walk a few steps from the northeastern wing of the abbey to reach the town fountain on Reichenstraße. The pedestrian zone that begins here takes you back to Kaiser-Maximilian-Platz.

Museum der Stadt Füssen, Lechhalde 3, +49 (0)8362 903 143, open from April to October: Tue–Sun, 11 am–5 pm; November to March: Fri–Sun, 1–4 pm.

Galerien im Hohen Schloss, Magnusplatz 10, +49 (0)8362 940 162, open from April to October: Tue–Sun, 11 am–5 pm; November to March: Fri–Sun, 1–4 pm.

At the entrance to the pedestrian zone, where the Via Claudia Augusta is closed to traffic nowadays, the travel route leaves the town to the left and crosses the Lech on the König-Ludwig-Brücke bridge. The river marks the boundary between Füssen and Schwangau. Continue straight ahead through the district of Horn to reach Schwangau. As you enter the town, pass the  Königliche Kristall-Therme spa on the left. Pass the tourist information office and turn right to see the  remnants of a bath in a Roman villa at the Tegelbergbahn cable car parking lot. Now, head to the royal castles of Maximilian II and Ludwig II of Bavaria, the kings of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

During the construction of the Tegelbergbahn cable car, the remnants of a bath from a Roman country manor were discovered. It was heated by a sophisticated firing system. Protected by a shelter, it gives you an authentic impression of Roman bathing culture.

0049 (0)8362 8198-0, open daily 9 am–5 pm, guided tours available upon request.

From Hohenschwangau, head back to the König-Ludwig-Brücke bridge via Alterschrofen. Take the Tiroler Straße on the left just before you reach the bridge. It follows the Lech along the old town of Füssen towards Tyrol.

As you exit Füssen, you will see the waters of the Lech roar out of the Alps. From here, the river is navigable by raft. A little further, there is a forest adventure center straddling the border between Germany and Austria. With an exhibition and various walking paths, it is an excellent place to experience the forest, the river and the steep rockfaces of the Allgäu mountain forest up close. The treetop path, which is 480 meters long at a height of 21 meters, is a special highlight. Tiroler Str. 10, Füssen, +43 (0)8362 93875—50, open from 1 May to 31 October: daily 10 am–5 pm; 1 November — 30 April: Tue–Thu, 10 am–4 pm, Fri 10 am–1 pm. Two of the paths are always open. www.walderlebniszentrum.eu

The 18-meter wooden tower on the Lech floodplains offers you sweeping views of the habitats down below. Information panels explain what you see. A birdwatching path starts at the tower, leading you around a pond. In the Auwald forest and on the nearby bank of the Lech, you can observe  the local fauna and flora up close.

Records from 1278 already mention ‘Ruhi propre Breitwanch’ (Reutte near Breitenwang). They show that the town used to be even more significant than today’s district capital of Reutte. Breitenwang is probably the oldest settlement in the Tyrolean Ausserfern region, and it remains its spiritual center to this day. The local deanery parish church  is dedicated to Saint Peter, which suggests Late-Roman roots. Historians also believe that the Roman road station was on the church grounds. The funeral chapel of the parish church, now dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, houses a famous stucco Danse Macabre by Thomas Seitz. Open daily, 8 am–5 pm.

Reutte as it was shaped by the salt road begins at Untermarkt, where you will find the salt  depot and the Museum im Grünen Haus on the right side  of the little street. Old inns, town houses and craftsmen’s houses line the Obermarkt, too. The building that houses the central district authority today used to be the granary. The Via Claudia Augusta Fountain at Isserplatz  emphasizes the importance of the Roman road to the town. Museum im Grünen Haus 6600 Reutte, Untermarkt 25, +43 (0)5672 72 304. open Tue–Sat, 1–5 pm and upon arrangement, www.museum-reutte.at

The four fortresses that make up the Ehrenberg castle ensemble and the walls that separate them used to form a continuous complex. All travelers had to pass the gate of the Klause fortifications above which Ehrenberg Castle thrones. Fort Claudia on the eastern hill and the Baroque Schlosskopf fortress complete the ensemble. Today, the interactive exhibition ‘Dem Ritter auf der Spur’ (‘on the knight’s tracks’)  can be found inside the Klause. A new building next door houses the nature park exhibition ‘Der letzte Wilde’  (‘the last wild one’). Schlosskopf fortress is the highest of the four, and its ruins have been turned into a staged Baroque construction site.  It offers spectacular views of the Lechtal valley. Heading past Ehrenberg fortress  and  a wheelchair-accessible hornwork,  cross one of the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridges, Highline 179, to reach Fort Claudia.

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact the

tourist board of the Reutte nature reserve region.
www.reutte.com
Untermarkt 34
info@reutte.com
0043 5672 62 336 40

The members of the guild brotherhood of St. Joseph zu Bichlbach were known as skilled craftsmen. After the old road faded into insignificance, they left their home region in droves. Before that migration, however, they used to meet at the St. Joseph guild church, and you can still see many examples of their craftsmanship there. The Bichlbach guild museum in the old Mesnerhaus building near the parish church is dedicated to the guilds and the esteemed carpenters, masons, painters and sculptors of the Ausserfern region. Volunteers spent many hours renovating the building, and it remains a cultural and social hotspot to this day. Besides the museum, it houses the library and tourist information office. Wahl 31a, Bichlbach, +43 (0)5674 5205, open Mon–Fri, 8 am–12 noon and Tue 7:30 pm–10 pm. www.zunftmuseum.at

It was thanks to its many fish that Heiterwang was first mentioned in official records in 1288. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, himself liked to fish and hunt in the area. The Heiterwanger See lake was originally 68 cm higher than it is today. A canal now connects it to the Plansee lake in the municipality of Reutte/Breitenwang. Both lakes have high-quality water that is not just appreciated by their fish. Thanks to their excellent underwater visibility and depth of 60–77 meters, the lakes are highly popular among divers, too. You can experience them above water, too: one of Austria’s highest-altitude commercial boating lines crosses them regularly.  Fischer am See 1, 6611 Heiterwang, +43 (0)5674 5116, departure times: 10:10 am, 11:00 am, 1:10 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:10 pm, 4:00 pm.  www.fischeramsee.at

The road has brought economic activity to the Ausserfern’s most important tourist destination for centuries. Lermoos is one of the oldest towns in this district. The earliest records mentioning ‘Larinmoos’ (‘larch moss’) date to 1020. At the time of the salt road, there was an interim warehouse above the St. Catherine parish church. Travelers unloaded their carriages here, and the goods were transferred to the local wagoners’ vehicles. Below the church, at the entrance to the wetlands, a transparent panorama panel shows you the location of the Roman log road. If you want to find it yourself, all you need to do is jump through the swamp! Most of the ground is soft. The solid parts are where the road is buried.

Multiple graves from Roman times provide evidence of early human settlement in the area. At the time of the salt road, many Ehrwald locals made a living producing staves for the Hall salt barrels. In the 19th century, the region’s largest municipality was a center of comb, pipe and pipe stem manufacture. When the Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car was built, a new economic boom began. The large churchyard is one of Ehrwald’s most characteristic features.  Ehrwald is also known as a village of artists. Ludwig Ganghofer, the conductor Clemens Krauss, his wife, the opera singer Viorica Ursuleac, and the painter Rudolf Schramm-Zittau spent parts of their lives here. You can see their gravestones at the cemetery alongside that of Heinrich von Srbik, historian and minister of education. The cemetery also houses many of the artful burial crosses designed by the blacksmith Franz Guem, famous throughout Tyrol.

The last Roman rest station before the Fernpass used to stand on the meadow to the northeast of the village. There are wheel tracks in the rocks underneath the first bend towards Lermoos, which were left there later. As the old log road could no longer be maintained, the salt road snaked along the hill. The smallest of the three towns in the valley basin was also the most important mining town in the entire Ausserfern: sulfidic copper ores were mined from the Silberleithe mountain above Biberwier, which the locals of Schwaz used to extract silver from the rocks. There was an active mining industry here until 1921.

At the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, the Via Claudia Augusta meets the foot of Germany’s highest mountain. Its high altitude gives you spectacular views in all directions. Besides the mountains themselves, you can see the Bavarian Alpine Foreland which the Roman road used to cross, the historical route through the valley basin underneath the striking summit, and the Fernpass. The Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car, whose construction in the 1930s marked a milestone of Tyrol’s development into a tourist destination and brought new hope of economic growth to the region, takes you to the summit in a matter of minutes. There are observation platforms and restaurants on the German and Austrian side, and the Faszination Zugspitze Museum illustrates the history of the cable car among other topics. Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car valley station,  Obermoos 1, 6632 Ehrwald, +43 (0)5673 2309, operating hours: 24 May—2 November, 8:40 am–4:40 pm, www.zugspitze.at

There are seven lakes around the Fernpass, and they have more to offer than their brilliant color alone. The Blindsee is a popular Alpine swimming destination. Just before the bend in the national road, a little path takes you to a paid parking lot near the shore of the lake. If the barrier is closed, the parking lot is full. You can park at the Weißensee instead; the Blindsee is only a brief hike away. The Fernsteinsee is best enjoyed during a boat trip or a walk around the lake.

On the top of the pass, interested travelers can walk down the gravel path from the early modern period (today’s Via Claudia Augusta cycling and hiking route) to see the assumed Afrigal landslide site. It is covered in the largest number of mountain pines in the eastern Alps. Information panels explain the special nature of the area.

Next to the Fernsteinsee lake, there are various important buildings: Schloss Fernstein castle, a hotel and restaurant, a rest stop, a chapel, and a little farm that belongs to the castle. You can walk around the entire Fernsteinsee. Cross the bridge on the southeastern shore of the lake to get to an island with a small, private palace. Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, had it built for his wife, Eleanor of Scotland.

The Fasnachtshaus museum offers a very interesting film and life-sized puppets dressed in the costumes of the famous “Schellerlaufen" carnival. It also functions as the carnival club house, so you can see all the masks here.  Sachsengasse 81a, +43 (0)680 3131184, www.fasnacht-nassereith.at.

The Knappenwelt is an adventure village expertly developed and run by the locals. It consists of reconstructed buildings, ore-mining facilities, and an adit. There is even a miners’ sleeping hall where travelers can spend the night. The nearby exhibition about the healer of the Gurgltal valley is worth visiting, too. She was burned at the stake as a witch.  Tschirgant 1, +43 (0)5412 63023, open 1 May to 31 October: Tue–Sun, 10 am–5 pm or upon arrangement.

Once upon a time, the Starkenberg knights resided at this castle. For the past 200 years, it has also been the source of one of Tyrol’s delicious beers. The Starkenberger Bier-Mythos museum is located in this 700-year-old castle. It even contains a beer swimming pool!Griesegg 1, +43 (0)5412 66 201—0, www.starkenberg.at

It is likely that the Romans already mined ore along the Via Claudia Augusta. Later, the area between the Fernpass and Imst was a mining hotspot. To reach the treasures contained in the steep rockface behind Nassereith, the miners built extensive systems of stiles and ladders leading up to the adits, the entrances of the mines. Attentive visitors will be able to spot them to this day. There are many other great climbing spots along the Roman road. From bouldering, sport climbing and multi-rope routes to family-friendly climbing parks and fixed-rope routes, you can spend anything between a couple of hours and several days climbing up the mountains here. Most routes are very well secured, so you can safely admire bizarre ice formations and waterfalls in winter and idyllic climbing parks and bouldering walls in summer. Beginners can rely on the area’s well-trained and experienced guides.  Rainy days are well spent in one of the many indoor climbing halls. And there are plenty of adventurous options for non-climbers, too.  Find out everything you need to know about access, security etc. at

www.climbers-paradise.com

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact

Imst Tourismus
www.imst.at/en
Postplatz 28, 6465 Nassereith
Johannesplatz 4, 6460 Imst
info@imst.at
0043 5412 6910

The first few steps of your walk through town take you past multiple fountains. Imst is known for its many fountains, and there is even a guidebook dedicated to them. The Maria Himmelfahrt parish church has the tallest steeple in all of Tyrol at 84.5 meters. Viewed from the spacious cemetery, the late-Gothic architecture truly comes into its own. The exterior of the church was reconstructed in the Gothic style in 1909 and 1912. One of the gothic frescoes on the outer wall depicts a mining scene from 1478 in memory of the glory days when Imst was the seat of  the central mining authority.  The foundation of the church was laid in 1462. Later, the miners helped to build the long structure that remains to this day. The inside of the church retained its Baroque design. Walk through the cemetery to the Mesnerhaus building, which houses the carnival museum (Haus der Fasnacht) today. The walk also takes you through some of the old alleyways of Imst’s Oberstadt district. The Vogelhändlergasse (‘bird sellers’ road’) is named after the famous bird sellers of Imst. During the great fire of Imst in 1822, all but 14 of the town’s 220 houses were destroyed. On the way to the Bergl hill, you will pass the Pestkapelle chapel, named after the great plague, and the nearby Laurentiuskirche church. During its restoration, remnants of an apsed church from the late Roman era were found. From the Bergl hill, you have a lovely view of the town center and the old Roman road. It leads straight from the parish church to the foot of the hill. From there, it is virtually identical to the Kramergasse. Walk down the Bergl hill on the processional walkway to get to the Johanneskirche church. The Schutzengelbrunnen (guardian angel’s fountain) next to the church marks the entrance of the Rosengartenschlucht gorge. The road continues along steep paths, bridges and walkways up to the Blue Grotto. If you don’t have time for the whole walk, continue along the Kramergasse. The Hotel Post inside Schloss Sprengenstein castle, the Ballhaus (‘bale house’), and the main square show that the road used to run through the Unterstadt district a little way to the south. Opposite the Postgasthof inn, you can still see the stables that were once used for the change of horses. They were turned into a garage later. From the end of the Middle Ages on, goods transported along the old road were bundled into bales, stored and loaded at the Ballhaus (‘bale house’). Today, it houses the Museum im Ballhaus, which documents the history and culture of the town.  Ballgasse 1, +43 (0)5412 6980 — 0, open on Tue, Thu, Fri 2–6 pm, Sat 9 am–12 noon, closed on public holidays, www.kultur-imst.at

The Haus der Fasnacht is the meeting point of all carnival enthusiasts who participate in the grand ‘Schemenlaufen’ carnival every four years. Two years before each event, the boys of the town celebrate their own carnival, the ‘Buabe-Fasnacht’. Only the boys and men of Imst are allowed to participate. The women sow the costumes. There are strict rules to the carnival dance, and some of them have been in place for centuries. The carnival processions of Imst are famous far beyond the town itself, and their magical spectacle draws in visitors from near and far. With its mythical atmosphere, this centuries-old performance captivates its spectators. In 2010, UNESCO has added the Schemenlaufen of Imst to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A spectacular ensemble of hundreds of mask-wearers celebrates the triumph of spring over winter. The central characters of the Schemenlaufen are called Roller and Scheller. The youthful Roller dances ahead of the Scheller, an elderly man with an impressive moustache. Sackner, Spritzer and Kübelemajen are the guardians of the procession and guide the main characters through the crowds. After the grand entrance of the two most elegant figures of the carnival, countless others join them. On Monday, the day after the Schemenlaufen, all participants come  together for another procession through Imst. They are in costumes but without masks, and the elegant party continues in a slightly more uninhibited manner. The Haus der Fasnacht is a clubhouse and an archive of costumes and masks, which you can see at its exhibition. Countless masks and a highly impressive film allow you to immerse yourself in the carnival tradition even while the event is not happening. 6460 Imst, Streleweg 6, +43 (0)5412 6910—0, open on Fri, 4–7 pm, and upon arrangement, www.fasnacht.at.

As you exit the historical Kramergasse, take a right towards Hoch-Imst, where you can take a ride on the Alpine Coaster, the world’s longest alpine rollercoaster.  Imster Bergbahnen, Hoch-Imst 19, +43 (0)5412 66322, www.imster-bergbahnen.at. From here, the historical Roman route is largely identical with the national road towards Landeck. Above the road lies the Sonnberg settlement, the home of the first SOS Children's Village. Hermann Gmeiner’s vision of giving children a new home soon conquered the whole world. There are SOS Children's Villages in 130 countries today.  Sonnberg, 6460 Imst, +43 (0)5412 66234—0, www.sos-kinderdorf.at

If there is anything that the Imst holiday region has more than enough of, it is water. Smart policymakers knew how to make the many springs useful. There are many artistically designed fountains in Imst; most of them have been here for a long time. In the past, most households used to get their cooking and washing water from their nearest well. Large items of laundry were washed here, and potatoes were cleaned in the small basins. Cows drank from the large basin, while their owners enjoyed a little gossip. This made the wells social spots, too. Those with the right to use the wells organized in groups to ensure that the wells were kept clean and functional. Some of those groups are still active today; one of their tasks is to decorate the fountains for processions. The saints that adorn the fountains often lent their names to the squares on which they stand, too.

Discover all the fountains of the upper and lower circle with the guidebook from Imst-Tourismus (browse or download at  www.imst.at).

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact 

Imst Tourismus
www.imst.at/en
Johannesplatz 4, 6460 Imst
An der Au 1, Erlebnis-Rast-Stätte Trofana Tyrol, 6493 Mils bei Imst
info@imst.at
0043 5412 6910

Kronburg castle sits on a promontory high above the Inntal valley. You can reach it on foot from the eponymous pilgrimage church. To visit it, leave the route before Mils and cross the Inn river to Schönwies. At the end of the road through town, take a left towards Kronburg castle.

The Romans built road stations at regular intervals along the Via Claudia Augusta. Travelers on official duty stopped their for room and board. There were facilities to park your carriages and keep your horses overnight, and most road stations also had a small bath house and a temple. Imst, Landeck and Nauders all had such a road station or ‘mansio’. As demand from private travelers increased, similar stops sprung up for them, too. Archaeologists discovered one in the forest between Nassereith and Tarrenz. According to them, the themed service station ‘Trofana Tyrol’ authentically mirrors the function of those ancient establishments. Designed in the style of a Tyrolean mountain village, it is a place for travelers to eat, drink and sleep. The ‘Hitte-Hatte-Au’ section outside has a pond, a Kneipp station and a large children’s playground. Even a chapel has been built here. The glass-covered marketplace selling Tyrolean delicacies at the center of Trofana Tyrol has become a popular meeting spot for locals. Its Cafeteria Tirolino is open around the clock. An der Au 1, 5493 Mils bei Imst, +43 (0)5418 601—0. www.trofanatyrol.at.

A popular destination for day trippers, this gorge gives you dizzying and breath-taking views of one of Tyrol’s wildest waters. Do not miss this unique experience. 6511 Zams, Lötz 38, +43 (0)5442 65 600, Opening hours: 1 May to 30 September: every day 9:30 am–5:30 pm, 1 October to 31 October: every day 10 am–5 pm. 25 December to 25 February. Every Wednesday in July and August, a guided tour 8 pm–9:30 pm. www.zammer-lochputz.at.

Let the Venet cable car take you from 780 m to 2,208 m in just eight minutes. The Venet is a natural and culinary paradise. Enjoy a spectacular, panoramic view of the surrounding mountainscapes, hike along the ‘Tiroler Edle’ route and sample some chocolate on the way, take in a few more incredible vistas from the ‘Path of the Prospect’ route, or pick one of the many restaurants to eat, drink and be merry, 6511 Zams, Hauptstraße 38, +43 (0)5442 62 663. 6 June to 28 September and 2–5 October, 8:30am–5 pm, www.venet.at

Located in a 13th-century castle, this unusual local museum allows you to immerse yourself in the history of our ancestors as they fight for their survival. Travel through time and enjoy the stories retold at Schloss Landeck castle. 6500 Landeck, Schlossweg 2, +43 (0)5442 63 202, opening hours: 13 April to 26 October, every day 10 am–5 pm.

A two-hour hike takes you from Schloss Landeck castle to the village of Fließ, treating you to spectacular views as you cross the slope. In Fließ, head to the Via Claudia Augusta Documentation Center and the archaeological museum. The route leads you across the dry slopes of Fließ, a fascinating habitat that is home to thousands of butterfly species. On the Fließer Platte plateau, you can still see wheel tracks left in the rock surface during various epochs. The small walking path on the sunny slope between Stanz and Grinz is called ‘Grüß-Gott-Weg’, named for a local greeting that is exchanged very frequently on this busy route. This region is a center of schnapps production, and you will pass plenty of distilleries processing the famous Stanzer plums into tasty spirits. The sunny slope has been a site of human settlement for millennia, and it offers  beautiful views of the valley.

In Fließ, you will find the Via Claudia Augusta Documentation Center of Tyrol, which showcases discoveries from the imperial Roman road, a copy of the entire Roman road map Tabula Peutingeriana, and an entertaining film in which a Roman tells his lover about his trip along the Via Claudia Augusta. The archaeological museum on the other side of the road houses the town’s most significant archaeological discoveries from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Via Claudia Augusta Documentation Center and Museum Fließ, 6521 Fließ No. 89, 0043 (0)5449 200 65, opening hours: May to October, Tue–Sun, 10 am–12 noon and 3–5 pm. www.museum.fliess.at High above Fließ, at the historical crossing of the Piller mountain into the Pitztal valley, there is an old sacrificial site for burnt offerings. Nearby, the dizzying ‘Gache Blick’ viewpoint gives you sweeping views of the steep gorge to the Oberes Gericht and the visitor center of the Kaunergrat nature park, which offers a nature exhibition and a restaurant with a panorama terrace. 6521 Fließ, Gachen Blick  100, +43 (0)5449 6304, Restaurant Gachenblick +43 (0)664 4408552

The leisure region TirolWest is an incredible destination for foodies. No matter what your palate craves, it certainly won’t go without. Home-made fruit spirits from the Stanzer Zwetschke culinary region. Fresh, regional farm products from the Landecker Frischemarkt. A cornucopia of sprouts from Tonis Sprossengarten. Fresh Tiroggl bread from Landeck. Sophisticated chocolate delicacies from Tyrol. Treat yourself! The expansive orchards in Grins and Stanz are not only some of Europe’s highest-altitude fruit plantations, they also grow some of Tyrol’s tastiest fruit. After all, the famous Stanzer Zwetschke (plums) are processed into the region’s best-known spirits – and for a good reason. These high-proof, high-quality schnapps delicacies have earned the region the title of ‘Austria’s culinary capital’. Enjoy a little glass after dinner and savor the pleasant warmth of these fine, fruity delights. Genussregion TirolWest +43 (0)5442 65 600.

The nature park  stretches from the upper Inntal valley to the Ötztal Alps. It includes the Pitztal valley, the Kaunertal valley, and the municipality of Fließ. Its countless hiking trails grant you passage through a stunningly beautiful landscape with a rich flora and fauna. The park covers all altitudes, soaring from the Inn floodplains at 750 meters all the way to the magnificent three-thousand-meter giants of the Ötztal alps. As the largest stretch of unspoilt nature in all of Tyrol, it is home to 1,200 ibexes and 1,100 butterfly species. Between the sacrificial site on the Piller Sattel mountain pass and the ‘Gachen Blick’ viewpoint, you will find the visitor center of the nature park. It houses a multimedia exhibition titled ‘3000 m VERTIKAL’ and a panorama restaurant with breath-taking views.

6521 Fließ, Gachblick 100, +43 (0)5449 6304, open June to September: Mon–Sun, 10 am–6 pm,  October to May: Mon–Sun, 10 am–5pm (Sat: ticket machine), www.kaunergrat.at.

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact the

tourist board of TirolWest.
www.tirolwest.at/en
Hauptplatz 6, 6511 Zams
info@tirolwest.at
0043 5442 65600

The two districts of Pfunds, Pfunds-Dorf and Pfunds-Stuben, on the right and left side of the Inn river have many houses with Gothic architectural elements. They are characterized by external stone staircases and Romanesque or Gothic archways. There is a local-heritage museum at the church square in Pfunds-Dorf. Our route continues through the gate in the 11th-century tower and crosses the river to Pfunds-Stuben. On Dorfstraße, pay attention to the Liebfrauenkirche church, which houses an altar by the southern German master sculptor Jörg Lederer alongside lovely frescoes. The Richterhof building has three memorial panels on its gabled facade.  Museum, Dorf 103, +43 (0)5474 5229, guided tours available in summer: Sun 10 am–12 noon and 1:30–4 pm, Wed 1:30–3:30 pm

Before crossing the Kajetansbrücke bridge to Nauders, make sure you take a detour to the historical customs station of Altfinstermünz. Expect a 25-minute walk from the well-signposted parking lot just below Engadinerstraße. As remote as Altfinstermünz appears to be today, it used to be an important traffic hub that was easily accessible from several directions. Apart from the Via Claudia Augusta, which led to the Reschenpass, there was a road to the Unterengadin. Between the 9th and 11th century, Altfinstermünz used to be a toll station and the seat of the court for the Unterengadin region, Nauders and Pfunds. Its name was first mentioned in records from 1159. It translates to “threateningly towering rock”. The fortification structures, such as the bridge tower and Schloss Siegmundseck, were built in 1472 to keep out invaders from the Engadin. They first had to hold their own during the Swabian War in 1499. The imposing, five-storey gate tower with machicolations and a fighting platform dates to the early 16th century. From 1652, Finstermünz formed the border between Tyrol and Grisons. In 1779, the customs office was moved to Martinsbruck, and the ensemble was bought by private investors. Until 1855, all southbound traffic had to squeeze through the narrow gate in the bridge tower of the former customs station. Take a guided tour and view the accompanying documentary to learn about its function and history. +43 (0)5474 200 43 or 0043 (0)664 39 59 471, open 1 June to 15 October. 11 am–5 pm, closed Mondays. Guided tours, snacks and drinks available upon request from Easter until November. www.altfifinstermuenz.com.

Once you reach the Oberes Gericht, there are countless trips waiting for you on the left and right side of the Inntal valley and the Roman road. The Kaunertaler Glacier Road is one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in the Alps. It passes the Gepatsch Reservoir on its way to the Weißseeferner glacier (2750 m). From the mountain village of Fendels, take the cable car to reach a hiking paradise with spectacular vistas. Walk along the  Radurschlklamm gorge, where you can see an old mill and sawmill, or drive from Pfunds to the Tschey high valley, a spot as romantic and unspoilt as it gets. From the Kajetansbrücke, head to Spiss,  the highest-altitude municipality in Austria (1628 m). Above and to the west of Nauders lie the Schwarzer See and Grüner See lakes. Both are lovely natural monuments. To the east, there is a cable car that takes you to the Alpine waterpark Goldwasser, a fun and educational place to spend an afternoon with all the family.

www.nauders.com, www.tiroler-oberland.com,

www.kaunertal.com

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact the

tourist board of the Reutte nature reserve region.
www.tiroler-oberland.com
Hintergasse 2, 6522 Prutz
Kirchplatz 48, 6531 Ried im Oberinntal
Stuben 40, 6542 Pfunds
office@tiroler-oberland.com
0043 50 225 100

To see the center of the touristic town of Nauders on the Reschenpass, which used to be a road station on the Roman road, start at the entrance of the town. It is even mentioned in Ptolemy's World Map, which was created in Alexandria in 150 A. D. The St. Valentin parish church dates to the 4th century and is dedicated to the apostle of the Roman province of Rhaetia. It was redesigned in the Baroque/Romanesque Revival style later but still retains its original Gothic tower from 1509. The small Heiliger Geist hospital church in the lower area of the village belonged to a hostel for poor travelers built in 1140. The road through the town is lined with buildings whose past as inns is quite obvious. Schloss Naudersberg castle, which thrones on a hill in the north of the village, is a fortress from the 13th/14th century that was expanded in the 15th/16th century. The Roman road passes the eastern foot of the hill. Not long ago, it was the Reschen national road. Today, it is the domain of cyclists and the locals who live around it. From Naudersberg, you can see the entire border valley. The jurisdiction of the former seat of the court also covered the upper Vinschgau valley.  Today, the castle houses a museum and a restaurant. The St. Leonhardskapelle, a chapel in the southern part of the castle, boasts one of the most significant Romanesque frescoes. +43 (0)50225400, guided tours available as per the current schedule and upon prior arrangement.

The former border stations clearly mark the national boundary, which is located just before the pass plateau and the nearby watershed. In the 19th century, the last bear of South Tyrol was shot dead in the town of Reschen/Resia, which is the first Italian stop of our travel route. Its inhabitants are lovingly called ‘Bärenschießer’ (‘bear shooters’). Thanks to its excellent wind conditions, the Reschensee lake is the most popular kite surfing and kite skiing destination in the Alps. Every year, national and international kite events are held here. Spend some time by the shore of the lake and watch the kite surfers glide across the water. Dammed in 1950, the lake combined the Reschensee and Mittersee into a single body of water with a length of 6 kilometers. It even replaced the old village of Graun/Curon. To this day, its steeple protrudes from the water near the eastern shore of the lake, creating one of the best-known postcard motifs. Apart from the listed, Romanesque steeple, the Late Gothic chapel from 1521 on a small hill near the modern town center also evokes the early days of Graun/Curon. Before you reach St. Valentin auf der Haide/San Valentino alla Muta, the travel route takes you along the striking dam. Behind it lies the Haidersee, the only one of the three original lakes that remained in its natural state. The town museum of Graun/Curon documents how the Reschensee lake was dammed and how the town of Graun was submerged and rebuilt afterwards. 39027 Graun,  +39 0473 633 127.

The Tartscher Bichl is a hill to the south of Mals/Malles that has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times. From the picturesque St. Veit church on it, you have spectacular views of the surrounding area. Glurns/Glorenza still has its entire town wall. With 800 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest towns of the Alps. Thanks to its strategically favorable location and support from the Counts of Tyrol, it became very wealthy. Its beautiful arcades are particularly worth seeing.

Schluderns/Sluderno is located on the sunny slope below the partially reconstructed Rhaetian settlement on the Gangledd mountain and the Churburg, a 13th-century castle that is considered the best-preserved fortress in all of South Tyrol. Since 1504, the castle has been owned by the Counts Trapp, who showcase an impressive collection of armors there.  39020 Schluderns, Churburg 1, +39 0473 615 241, Guided tours between 10 March and 31 October: 10 am–12 noon and 2–4:30 pm. Closed on Mondays except public holidays, www.churburg.com. In the historical town center, the Vinschger Museum is worth a visit if you want to learn about the history of the valley.  39020 Schluderns, Meranerstr. 1, 0039 0473 615 590, open 20 March to 31 October: 10 am–12 noon and 3–6 pm. Closed on Mondays except public holidays. www.vintschgermuseum.com. In the town center of Prad am Stilfserjoch/Prato Allo Stelvio, the permanent exhibition ‘Unter Fischen — eine Reise in fremde Welten’ at the Aquaprad visitor center of the national park gives you insights into the fish of the Stilfserjoch national park. Its 12 aquariums are designed to represent different habitats, from mountain lakes to Alpine streams and rivers.  39026 Prad am Stifserjoch, Kreuzweg 4/c, +39 0473 618 212, open Tue–Fri: 9 am–12 noon and 2:30–6 pm. Sat, Sun, public holidays: 2:30–6 pm, closed on Mondays, www.aquaprad.com

For information about the entire route, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact the

Vinschgau tourist information
www.vinschgau.net
info@vinschgaumarketing.net
0039 0473 620 480

The hamlet of Kortsch/Corzes has an attractive, rural center overlooked by the Ägidus church, well visible from afar. It is a lovely place for a leisurely walk: its pedestrian area has plenty of little shops and cafés to explore. The former garrison town also offers lovely alleyways and many old buildings that were established between the 13th and 20th century: Schloss Schlandersburg castle, the Gothic parish church Mariä Himmelfahrt, the even older Michaelskapelle chapel at the cemetery, the Kapuzinerkirche church and the associated monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, and various manors. Schloss Schlandersberg castle, built in the 13th century, thrones on the Sonnberg hill above the market town.

For information, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact the

Vinschgau tourist information
www.vinschgau.net
info@vinschgaumarketing.net
0039 0473 620 480

Its location at the narrowest part of the valley and the castle on the promontory by the road give the village a particularly striking appearance.  39020 Kastelbell, Staatsstraße 5, +39 0473 624 193, Guided tours available from 17 June to 14 September: Tue–Sun, 11 am, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. Minimum group size: 4 people, www.schloss-kastelbell.com. The canal path is worth a detour. Tschars/Ciardes, which was merged with Kastelbell/Castelbello in 1928, is located on a debris flow cone on the sunny side of the valley, which is a little wider again here. Reinhold Messner’s summer residence Juval, just above the entrance to the Schnalstal valley, houses the Tibetika collection at the Messner Mountain Museum.  Kastelbell, Juval 3, +39 348 443 38 71, open between the fourth Sunday of March to 30 June and from 1 September to the first Sunday in November, 10 am–4 pm, closed on Wednesdays, www.messner-mountain-museum.it

Near the Hotel Hanswirt in Rabland/Rablà, one of the two milestones marking the Via Claudia Augusta was found. Today, you can still see a replica of the milestone here. The original is kept at the Civic Museum of Bolzano/Bozen. Just around the corner, you can view the largest model railway in South Tyrol. Partschins/Parcines has the largest elevation span of all the towns in the Vinschgau valley: from the valley at 525 meters to the Roteck peak at 3337 meters. In is picturesque center, visit the Late Gothic parish church of St. Peter and Paul, the 13th-century castle winery and the typewriter museum, dedicated to Peter Mitterhofer from Partschins/Parcines, the inventor of the typewriter.        Partschins, Kirchplatz 10, +39 0473 967 581, open from  April to October: Mon 2–6 pm, Tue–Fri 10 am–12 noon and 2–6 pm, Sat 10 am–12 noon, www.schreibmaschinenmuseum.com.

Meran/Merano used to be the site of the Castrum Maiense fortress in Late Antiquity, and it still has a lot to offer beyond its lovely old town and beautiful arcades. A two-hour walk from the parking lot at the Frauenmuseum will take you past nearly all of its sights, including the new wellness temple Therme Meran and the Sisi Gardens. The ancestral seat of the Counts of Tyrol and the famous Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens throne above the town.

Nestled picturesquely in the slope, Marling/Marlengo has a well-preserved old town. The village and the canal path, which is the longest of its kind in South Tyrol at a length of 12 kilometers, give you spectacular views of the spa town below. Schloss Lebenberg is one of South Tyrol’s most beautiful castles. While privately owned, parts of it are open to the public.

The Via Claudia Augusta crossed the valley slightly above its bottom, sticking to the sunny slope wherever possible. Between Algund/Lagundo and Marling/Marlengo, it had to cross the valley. The Romans probably built the very first bridge across the 
Etsch river here, and a bridge stands in the same spot to this day. Until the 18th century, a pillar of the old bridge protruded from the riverbed. Only some parts of the bridge entrance remain today; they are kept and showcased in a small museum building. Nine original layers of gneiss with a total height of 4 meters and a width of 6.38 meters, form the core of the exhibition about the important road that crossed Europe. A wayside shrine was placed upon its special stone plinth later. The Roman bridge was probably a wooden bridge resting on multiple stone pillars. Having undergone multiple reconstructions, it was used until the Middle Ages or even later.

Today, Nals/Nalles is a relatively small municipality, but it has an extensive town center that reminds visitors of its historical significance. Its countless roses have earned it the nickname ‘rose village’.  Andrian/Andriano, one of South Tyrol’s smallest communities, was incorporated into Nals/Nalles by the King in 1928. It regained independence in 1953. Between them, the two little towns have five castles: Stachelburg, Schloss Payrsberg, Schwanburg with its winery, Burg Wolfsthurn, and the ruins of Burg Festenstein.

Terlan/Terlano, which includes Vilpian/Vilpiano to the north and Siebeneich/Settequerce in the south, used to be an important mining town. The Gothic parish church Maria Himmelfahrt from the 14th century with its multi-coloured steeple shingles dates back to that era.  The ruins of Burg Maultasch thrones over the town as its symbol. Today, it is best known for its asparagus. 

Leave your car at the BZ Mitte P8 parking garage behind the railway station, the small parking garage at the Rittner Cable Car, or in the underground parking garage at Waltherplatz, where our walk begins. Waltherplatz square and the monument at its center are dedicated to the troubadour Walther von der Vogelweide. From here, you can take a shuttle up to  Schloss Runkelstein castle in the north of the town, which has some of the most significant profane frescoes in the Alps.  +39 0471 329 808, Tue–Sun, until 15 March: 10 am–5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm), after 16 March: 10 am–6 pm (last entry at 5:30 pm), www.runkelstein.info. Kornplatz square used to host the grain market. The mercantile museum is located in the former chamber of commerce in the middle of the picturesque Laubengasse street,  +39 0471 945 702, Mon–Sat 10 am–12:30 noon. Its exhibitions recount the economic history of South Tyrol. The town hall is at the eastern end of the street. Continue a little further and you will find the Nature Museum of South Tyrol  +39 0471 412 964, open Tue–Sun, 10 am–6 pm, www.naturmuseum.it. For a lovely view of the town, walk a few minutes to the Rittner cable car and let it take you to the Ritten high plateau.  Operates all year round. www.ritten.com. Franziskanerstraße leads to the Franciscan Church, the Franciscan Monastery and the western end of the Laubengasse. A little further to the west, you will find the South Tyrol Museum  of Archaeology with the preserved body of Ötzi the Iceman, +39 0471 320 100, opening hours in July, August and December: every day 10 am–6 pm, closed on Mondays in all other months, last entry at 5:30 pm, www.iceman.it. There is also the Civic Museum, which houses one of the two original milestones that document the existence of the Via Claudia Augusta   +39 0471 997 960, Tue–Sun, 10 am–6 pm. Cross the Talferbrücke bridge to see the Victory Monument, one of the last remaining monuments erected during fascism. Cross the Talfer river on the new cycle and pedestrian bridge and head to the Museion, a museum of modern and contemporary art.  +39 0471 223 413, open Tues–Sun: 10 am–6 pm, last entry: 5:30 pm, Thu: 10 am–10 pm, free entry from 6–10 pm, free guided tour at 7 pm, last entry at 9:30 pm, www.museion.it. The town theater and concert hall are located in a building near the Eisack river. Finish your tour of the town at the Gothic cathedral Maria Himmelfahrt from the 12th century and admire its treasury. It used to stand outside of the town walls.   +39 0471 978 676, Tue–Sat: 10 am–12 noon.

The travel route takes you across the Loretobrücke bridge, following the Roman road to Laives/Leifers, the southernmost town of South Tyrol.

The municipality of Eppan/Apiano in the north of the ‘Überetsch’, a hilly landscape above the bottom of the valley, consists of several towns. In 2005, archaeologists discovered remnants of a Roman villa with floor mosaics from the 4th century and a spa complex in St. Pauls/San Paolo. The municipality was first mentioned in records from 590. Its current municipal capital of St. Michael/San Michele and the former capital of St. Pauls/San Paolo, which is home to one of the state’s tallest steeples, both have picturesque town centers.  The wine-growing village of Kaltern/Caldaro on the Kalterer See lake has a picture-perfect pedestrian center. Located on the toe of the Mendelkamm, it is separated from the river by the Mitterberg. To the south of the municipal capital, the vineyards slope down to the Kalterer See, a protected natural gem and the warmest swimming lake south of the Alps.

The striking Castelfeder hill near Auer/Ora gives you great views of the valley. Because of the shelter the hill provides, it became a site of human settlement long before the birth of Christ and was inhabited in Roman times. Some of the excavations of the Roman road station of Endidae in Neumarkt/Egna are still open to visitors. The extensive historical center of the market town is dotted with arcades. Most of it dates to the 16th century. Laag/Laghetti in the south is probably named after a lake, located where the Etsch river was dammed by drift from the Noce river. Near Salorno/Salurn, the Etschtal valley narrows into the Salurner Klause. It separates the South Tyrolean lowlands from the Piana Rotaliana. Salorno/Salurn and Buchholz/Pochi both developed from Roman settlements. The first mention of Salorno/Salurn is found in records from 575 B. C. The town has a picturesque historical center overlooked by the Haderburg.

Tramin/Termeno is known for its famous grape variety, the Gewürztraminer. It has an extensive old town with magnificent churches nestled in the hill. Archaeological finds have shown that Kurtatsch/Cortaccia was inhabited as early as the Mesolithic. The townsfolk were converted to Christianity by Vigilius of Trent in the 4th century. A Roman pilgrimage church from the 13th century is dedicated to him here. As soon as you enter Margreid/Magrè, you will notice its long tradition of fruit and wine growing. Its picturesque center with its bendy alleyways has clear Mediterranean influences. The little municipality of Kurtinig/Cortina, which sits in the valley with an elevation span of only 4 meters, was a fruitful hunting and fishing grounds as early as the Stone Age and the Roman era.

For information about the entire route, contact

Via Claudia Augusta Info
www.viaclaudia.org/en
info@viaclaudia.org
0043 664 27 63 555

For specific questions about the region, contact

www.suedtirol.info/en
info@suedtirol.info
0039 0471 999 999

Nestled in the slope, the town of Mezzolombardo offers picturesque terraced houses and many palazzi. It is a commercial center on the old road to the Nonstal valley. Located on the foot of the San Pietro church and the Castello della Torre fortress, the town is a lovely destination for a walk, a coffee, an ice cream or a shopping trip to the many little shops that its locals frequent.

The former Augustinian monastery of San Michele also houses the ‘Museo degli Usi e Costumi della Gente Trentina’, the ethnographic museum of Trentino.  Via Mach 2, +39 046 650 314, open daily 9 am–12:30 noon and 2:30 pm–6 pm, only closed on 1 November, 25 December and 1 January, www.museosanmichele.it.

The wine-growing village of Faedo thrones above the valley like an eagle’s nest. As the name suggests, Nave San Rocco used to be a ferry port and rafters’ town on the Etsch river, which was the most important economic factor of the valley for a long time. Zambana is famous for its asparagus. Only the steeple remains of its old center. Everything else was buried in a catastrophic landslide in 1955.  Lavis is the final stop on your route before crossing the Avisio stream into Trento.  It has a picturesque old town with many attractive buildings. The Ciucioi, a mysterious hanging garden lined with romantic ruins, dominates the valley below and is well worth a visit.

You can leave your car in the car park at Via Torre Verde 40 on the edge of the old town while you go for a leisurely walk. As you enter the historical part of the city, the tourist information office and contemporary art gallery will be among the first buildings you see. Head towards the Piazza Cesare Battisti. The excavated ancient Roman city of Tridentum is located underneath it. Walk down Via Belenzani, lined with Renaissance palazzi, and pass the town hall inside the Palazzo Thun to reach the cathedral square. The parallel alleys of Via Cavour to the west and Via Oss Mazzurana to the east can easily compete with the splendor of their larger neighbor. The Tridentine Diocesan Museum and the Vigilio Cathedral are also on the cathedral square. Finish your walk at Buonconsiglio Castle, where you can visit the historical museum of Trento.

Head past the Buonconsiglio castle and take a left at the large intersection to exit the town and head towards the Valsugana. Do not forget to look back and enjoy the splendid view of the town on your way out.