Why is it called Gerlitzen Alpine Road?
Austria, europe
12 km
1,773 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Gerlitzen Alpe Panoramastraße, a seriously scenic toll road hugging the north shore of Lake Ossiach in gorgeous Carinthia, Austria. "Gerlitzen" apparently comes from an old word meaning "burnt place," which is a little ominous but don't worry, it's beautiful now!
This baby is about 12km (7.45 miles) long, all paved but let’s be honest, the pavement has seen better days. It’s also pretty narrow at only 5 meters wide, but the views of Lake Ossiach make it all worthwhile.
Starting near the lake in Bodensdorf, you'll climb, and I mean *climb*, up to the panorama car park near the Feuerberg Mountain Resort at a whopping 1,773m (5,816ft). That's a 1,258-meter gain! Expect an average gradient of over 10%, with some sections hitting a thigh-burning 13%.
Is it worth the toll? Absolutely! The Gerlitzen Panoramastraße serves up some seriously breathtaking views of central Carinthia. Just imagine the photos!
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 12 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,773 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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