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Coming down on the winding roads from Fuscher Törl, you can see Fuscher Lacke down below in the valley.
It's a lovely little lake at an altitude of 2.262 metres.
There's a trail around the lake.
The exhibition presented here is 'Building of the road' (Bau der Strasse). It tells the history of the 'Glockner Baraber' - as the workers were called back then - who did pioneering work constructing this road in a harsh environment between 1930 and 1935.
Steamrollers were used to smoothen the pavement. Pneumatic drills - without any noise- or impact-reduction - were the only technical tools available. Tools and equipment had to be brought up by horses. At the higher parts of the road, all material had to be transported by bearers. Cranes and bulldowers didn't exist, so all the work these machines do nowadays, had to be done manually in 1930.
Here you can find more info about this interesting exhibition.
There's also a playground for the kids themed around that building of the road. They can become road workers themselves ...
Toilets are also available here.
(nr. 7 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 15, 2012
The 'Wild & Freizeitpark' in Ferleiten is actually divided in 2 parts: the wildpark and the amusement park.
It's located at an altitude of 1.140 metres, right before the toll booths for the Grossglocknerstrasse.
The park is open daily from the beginning of May to beginning of November (2012: open from 24 April).
There's a restaurant Lukashansl and a souvenirshop. We've been to this restaurant several times and it was always very good food. The restaurant can be reached without entering the park.
A wildpark in lovely valley
The park shows various wild animals such as bisons, wolfs, lynxes and much more.
The paths are well maintained and accessible for wheelchair and children's strollers. Do keep in mind that the path go up and down, so strong arm-muscles can come in handy when having to push someone.
Dogs can enter the park if they're kept on a leash.
A stroll around the park takes about 60-90 minutes.
In the entire park are resting benches and information boards.
Prices
adults: 7,00 €
children 4-14 y.: 3,50 €
Kids up to 14 years old get a free entrance on their birthday (upon showing their ID).
Amusement park
The amusement park is located right next to the wildpark.
There's no entrance fee here. Most of the things are free of charge. Some attractions have to be paid for (f.ex. the bumper boats, the kids' crains, the electrical cars).
In the amusement park is the bar 'Zwergenschenke' (dwarf bar) where you can get some refreshments.
Opening hours
from 08.00 until dusk
Updated Jul 14, 2012
Phone: +43 (0) 6545 6506
Website: http://www.wildpark-ferleiten.at/en/index.html
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The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (Grossglockner high alpine road) is without a doubt the most beaufiful road we've been on so far! It has to be the most famous alpine road.
Driving on the GGS you're taken into the heart of the national park of the Hohe Tauern ... and no doubt that you're heart will be taken by the beauty of the majestic nature that surrounds you ... !
On 48 km with 36 curves, it takes you up to a height of 2.504 metres.
When reaching the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, you're face to face with Austria's highest mountain, the famous piramid-shaped Grossglockner (3,798m) with at it's foot the eternal ice of the Pasterze glacier.
Along the way are several visitors' facilities, going from signs with information to exhibitions.
Since there are so many stops, it's too much to cover them all in one tip. That's why I'll make several tips on the various facilities.
These tips will be in driving-order from the start at the ticket booth in Ferleiten to the end of the road in Ferleiten. I've also added the number (if applicable) that every facility has in the official brochure 'Adventure guide' (Erlebnisführer) you get at the ticket booth.
In addition to this I'll make some more tips on things to see/do before/after reaching the ticket offices.
Over the years we've been here so many times and have stopped at every facility along the way. But since not all of the pictures I have of these facilities are digitalised yet, I'll just post pictures of the ones we've been to in recent ('digital') years.
But not only these 'marked' facilities are worth a stop. At several points along the GGS are small parking-lots (2-3 cars) where trails start for those who want to venture out in the less visited paths of the Nationalpark.
Kids will also enjoy a visit to the GGS. The mascotte Murmi welcomes them at 4 facilities with themed playgrounds to enjoy themselves.
Opening times of the road
Beginning of May until 15 June: 6 am - 8 pm
16 June until 15 September: 5 am - 9.30 pm
16 September until beginning of November: 6 am - 7.30 pm
Last admission: 45 min. before night closure
Information on the current road conditions can be ontained at the Ferleiten Information Point (tel.: +43 (0) 6546 / 650 )
Opening times of the exhibitions
All exhibitions: daily 10 am - 5 pm
Alpine Nature Show Museum: daily 9 am - 5 pm
Prices 2012
The ticket is not only for the toll for the road. It also includes the entrance fee for all exhibitions and information facilities along the GGS. The roadtoll is valid for the entire day, so if you want to you have multiple accesses per day.
Dayticket
car: 32,00 €
motorcycle: 22,00 €
after 6 pm: 22,00 € for cars and 16,00 € for motorcycles
If you have a day-ticket for car or motorcycle and you want to return to the GGS with the same vehicle (same licence number) within the same calendar year: present your day-ticket at the ticket office and pay only 9,00 € surcharge.
30-day ticket
car: 49,00 €
motorcycle: 39,00 €
Unlimited access within a period of 30 days.
Tour ticket
car: 38,00 €
motorcycle: 29,00 €
This type of ticket is interesting f.ex. when you want to drive on the GGS once and return via the Felbertauerntunnel: valid for a single drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and on the Felbertauern Road within 30 days.
Updated Jul 14, 2012
Phone: +43 (0) 6546 / 650
Website: http://www.grossglockner.at/en/
The last information point you pass on the way to Heiligenblut is at Kasereck.
This is located at an altitude of 1.911 metres.
Here you're back in the 'forest-area'. Boards give you more information on the Upper Möll valley (oberes Mölltal).
These is also a 'Schaukäserei' ('cheesery ???) which can be visited.
(nr. 12 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
For most people visiting the Grossglocknerstrasse, this spot is the highlight of the trip.
Here - at 2.369 metres height - you stand face to face with the 3.798 metres high piramid-shaped Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain.
Although we've been there so often, every visit we're as amazed as if it were the first time we're up there.
At its foot lies the Pasterze glacier, which is the longest glacier in the Alps.
You shouldn't have much trouble in finding marmots (Murmeltiere). If you're lucky you might even spot an ibex (in all our visits we haven't been that lucky though ...).
There's a large restaurant with panorama terrace and a shop.
Here you can also find a large visitors' centre, presenting an exhibition on the Grossglockner, spread out over multiple rooms and a cinema.
More info on the exhibition in the visitors' centre here.
There are several parking-lots at the KFJH.
(nr. 11 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
At 1.953 metres you can enjoy a show and a path about 'Wonderful world of the Glockner Meadows' (Wunderwelt Glocknerwiesen). Here you can find out everything about the huge diversity of flowers and insects in the Glockner-area. The walk takes about 10 minutes.
More info can be found on this website.
There's also a 'Sonnblick Observatory show' where the history and the present tasks of the Sonnblick Observatory are explained.
For the kids there's a playground to discover.
Shop and toilets also present.
(nr. 10 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
Hochtor is with its 2.504 metres above sea level the highest point of the Grossglocknerstrasse. (Edelweiss-Spitze is only a side road and isn't really part of the main road itself)
In the middle of the 311 metres long tunnel at Hochtor lies the actual border between Salzburgerland and Carinthia. Outside the tunnel stands the 'official' boarder-stone between the two (see picture 2).
There's a hiking trail 'Celts, Pack-animal and Romans Trail' (Kelten-, Säumer- und Römerweg). This trail begins and ends at the portals of the tunnel. Several information boards tell the history of the old trade route, which already existed 4.000 years ago. The time needed to walk the trail is about 25 minutes.
Mostly (of course depending on the weather) there is a natural snow slide until august ... and trust me: not only kids will enjoy this (yes, own experience ...).
In picture 3 you can see (if you look close enough) the south portal of Hochtor (middle below) and the Edelweiss-Spitze (more or less in the middle of the picture at the 'flatter' top).
(nr. 9 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
Somewhere halfway between Fuscher Lacke and Hochtor (next tip) is the start of a geological study trail.
Here - at an altitude of 2.290 metres - you can take a 'rock quiz'.
The geological exhibition focusses on the creation of the Hohe Tauern rocks.
(nr. 8 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
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At an altitude of 2.428 metres there's a memorial (the little 'tower' in the pictures) to remind visitors of the workers who died during the construction of the Grossglocknerstrasse.
There's a terrace at the memorial, which by many is considered to be one of the most stunning locations on the north end of the GGS to take pictures of the winding roads.
A few hundred metres away there's a big parking-lot here, with - of course - a shop, a restaurant and toilets. If you don't want to drive up the narrow winding road to Edelweiss-Spitze, this is the place to park your car and walk up.
The sharp mountain to the right in picture 3 is the Sonnwelleck.
(nr. 5 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
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For me this is one of the most beaufiful parts of the entire Grossglocknerstrasse (well, when the weather is good at least).
Just before reaching Fuscher Törl (see next tip) there's a side road (left hand side when coming from Ferleiten) leading up to the Edelweiss-Spitze. The road up (main picture) is about 2 km long.
Be aware that it's quite a narrow road, with cars in both directions, so be extra careful. It's nothing dangerous, but it can be tricky to manoeuvre when driving or encountering f.i. a mobilhome.
Busses are - of course - prohibited to drive up there.
When you get up to the parking-lot above, you're at an altitude of 2.571 metres.
It's the highest point of the entire GGS and thus offers you a stunning view at the GGS itself and of over more than 30 3.000-metre high mountainpeaks.
If you're not into driving up, you can easily leave your car at the below parking-lot (right before reaching Fuscher Törl and walk up.
There's a shop and toilets there.
There's also a little restaurant (see picture 5) besides the above parking-lot.
When you take the stairs next to the shop's entrance, you can reach a platform above the shop from where you have a 360-degree panorama.
On a clear day, you can see as far as the Zeller See (middle of picture 2) and the Steinernen Meer (Saalfelden/Maria Alm - bordering Germany).
In picture 4 you can get an impression of the height you have to cover to reach it (picture taken when driving north leaving the tunnel at Hochtor - Edelweiss-Spitze is in the middle of the highest mountain top).
(nr. 4 in the brochure)
Updated Jul 14, 2012
The start of the Grossglocknerstrasse
This Ferleiten page consists mainly of tips on the Grossglocknerstrasse, since the ticket office/toll booth to the GGS is located here. I didn't really know where else to put the tips, so I decided to...
Build your own Ferleiten page
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