It's not too often that one gets a chance to ride a world-renowned stretch of road, but that's exactly what we did today. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, a two-lane stretch of roadway over the highest mountain pass in Austria, has 30-odd official turns -- many of which are 180-degree hairpins -- over the course of some 42 total miles (but the most intense being focused in about 20 miles). The 360-degree views of the Alps are incredible, and the motorcyclists that flock to the place are like swallows to Capistrano.
The road was built in 1935 as a scenic route and a work project, much like the WPA projects of the '30s in the USA. From the start -- with its opening day highlight being a motorcycle race to the top -- the road was designed as an attraction more than as a piece of infrastructure. It was even the site of Professor Fredinand Porsche's unveiling of the Volkwagen Beetle prototype, in 1938, as an unofficial race entrant.Which brings up a point I've been meaning to mention: Austria seems to maintain a very robust tourism business and have a good idea of how to maintain and make the most of its attractions: the numerous castles, the caves (including the Ice Monster Cave -- the Eisriesenwelt) and salt mine tours, Mozart's apartment all seem to be orderly, well executed, informative and entertaining. ...and earning the country a pretty penny. As they should.
Similarly, the Grossglockner was beautiful, pristine, well controlled and orderly. People stopped at many turn-outs along the way to snap photos and enjoy the sights.
