Alpe-Adria cycle path ramble

Individual arrival in the festival, Mozart and cultural city of Salzburg. Winding alleys and squares invite you to stroll and dreamy cafés to enjoy genuine Austrian coffee specialties. At every turn you breathe culture and history.

Through the shady meadows of the Salzach, you will ride leisurely out of the festival and Mozart city of Salzburg, with the Salzach as your companion. The route leads to Hallein, a Celtic town that used to be rich in salt mining. The main attraction is undoubtedly the world-famous Celtic Museum. Passing the Gollinger waterfall, you will quickly reach your overnight destination of the same name. Characterized by its pretty marketplace and the castle from the 13th century.

From Golling, you cycle up to Pass Lueg-Höhe, enjoying the view of the wonderfully striking Tennengebirge. The mountain is now getting closer and closer to the Salzach and the rumbling of the water is getting louder and louder. You pass the so-called "Salzachöfen", an imposing gorge created by the Salzach. After Werfen with its towering castle, St. Johann is reached soon after. Unmistakably - like double mountain peaks - the towers of the Pongau Cathedral rise up here.

Shortly after Schwarzach, you say goodbye to the Salzach, from today on the Gasteiner Ache accompanies you through the wild and romantic Gastein valley. Via Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein you cycle to the well-known spa and winter sports resort Bad Gastein at the foot of the Hohe Tauern, which offers a variety of natural-historical and architectural sights. The landmark is the Gastein waterfall in the middle of the village, which has been the inspiration for many painters and poets. Now, it is only a stone's throw to Böckstein where a train from the Tauernschleuse will take you to the other side of the Alps, to Mallnitz, in only 10 minutes. Back in the saddle, enjoy the exhilarating descent to your hotel in the Mölltal valley.

First, along the river Möll, you cycle through impressive high mountain landscapes today. In the village of Möllbrücke, the Drau Valley begins and with it the sunny south of Austria. Leisurely, you ride the last kilometers to Spittal an der Drau. The town was already an important transportation hub for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and owed its prosperity in part to them.

Almost by magic, you will cycle in a gentle downhill along the Drava. Halfway along, you should take a break in the small market town of Paternion with its churches and castles worth seeing. Pedal a few more times and you will reach Villach, whose heart is the charming old town with its southern flair and the cozy "Beisln" (bars) and restaurants.

First, you will continue along part of the Drava. But soon the bike path leads you along the Gail River in the direction of Italy. "Servus Austria - Ciao Italia" is the motto at the border. In Tarvisio, you will be greeted in three languages. Austrians, Slovenes and Italians have lived together here for centuries and all three major European language families - Germanic, Romanic and Slavic - meet here directly.

Also in Italy, the cycle path is well developed and so you cycle comfortably downhill through the Canal Valley and admire from the saddle the beauties of the Friulian Alpine region with an intact, untouched nature and extensive forests. As an overnight stop serves one of the pretty villages at the foothills of the Julian Alps.

At the southern exit of the Canal Valley lies one of the most beautiful historic towns of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The town of Gemona del Friuli is dominated by the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and will also inspire you. On the way to Udine, the first vines already appear along the bike route. Once in the city, feel the "dolce vita" with a coffee in the "piazza" or during a stroll through the alleys and admire the late Gothic and Renaissance buildings.

Warm breezes of the Scirocco blow across your nose! You will drive through wide reed landscapes and along small water channels in the direction of the Gulf of Venice. In the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called "Second Rome," you should definitely plan a stop before you reach your destination of the trip. One of the most popular seaside resorts on the Adriatic, the historic fishing town of Grado, is not only known for its extensive sandy beach, but also for its historic harbor and narrow streets with cozy restaurants that exude Italian flair.

Through the lagoon, you cycle towards the Gulf of Trieste. Back at the sea, a breathtakingly beautiful coastal landscape accompanies you and the world-famous Miramare Castle is another highlight of today's bike tour. The historic port city of Trieste is a worthy conclusion to your trip.