Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy (8 Days) We Love Road Journeys
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Back Roads of the Alps - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy (8 Days) We love road journeys. They are by far our favourite way of traveling. And when we’re in the mood for spoiling ourselves with fine food and delightful hotels besides the sheer pleasure of being on some of the world’s best roads, we turn to Europe! Few regions within Europe offer as much variety of landscapes and cultures and roads as the one centered on the Alps. The Alpine countries and regions – southern Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol with its Dolomites, the French Alps – are a treasure trove of hidden gems. We therefore take great pleasure in introducing you to our first, carefully crafted Alpine driving journey itinerary that is without equal. Now turn the page and find out what we’ve come to love ourselves so much… p2 p3 Itinerary Map p. 006 It all goes back a long, long time… p. 008 Journey of Discovery p. 010 Day-by-day p. 062 Choice of Cars p. 079 Adventures and Discoveries in Local Cuisines p. 080 What’s included/Best Months to Go p. 082 Photo Credits p. 085 p4 Itinerary Map Day1 Day6 Munich/Germany to Valbella/ Merano/Itlay to Innervillgraten/ Switzerland – A bit of highway, then Austria – Through the UNESCO dive headlong into the back roads of World Heritage Dolomiti into Austria the Alps Day7 Day2 In and around Osttirol & Carinthia Valbella to Ascona – Across the – Wonderful roads and landscapes famous Tremola into Mediterranean in the middle of nowhere Switzerland Day8 Day3 Innervillgraten/Austria to Munich/ In and around Ticino – Beautiful Germany – Via the Grossglockner drives, shopping, sight-seeing or just back to Munich chilling out? International Brands Shopping Day4 Local/Handicraft Shopping Ascona/Switzerland to Merano/ Italy – Stelvio Day! Day5 In and around South Tyrol – Gorgeous passes? Massage? Sight- seeing? p6 It all goes back a long, long time... Europe is the cradle of the motorcar and private motoring. Ever since Karl Benz’s 1886 Motorwagen, people have taken pride in owning a car and being in its driver’s seat. Driving in a beautiful car bespeaks privilege, freedom, privacy, and, especially in a cabriolet, allows one to be in communion with the elements and natural beauty: soak up the sunshine, feel the wind in your hair, smell the fresh air and the scents of freshly cut grass. Besides, there is the sheer pleasure of being in control, of directing the course of travel: to turn, to go, to stop where and when you feel like it. These are pleasures that Europeans were the first to enjoy. Most evidently, these are pleasures that can be shared by couples. While it is often the gentleman who takes the driving seat, it was in fact Bertha Benz who undertook the first driving journey (with their two children) in the world. Driving journeys in a cabriolet is something that women have enjoyed ever since, whether as companion or driver. Discovering the world by means of a driving journey is a unique pleasure that we want to share with you! p8 p9 p11 In the FIRST 2 hours, YOU will be in the ALPS…” In Austria’s Lechtal... p13 Across HILL and DALE... on DAY ONE…” In the Bregenzer Wald... p15 ALPINE LIVING... for your FIRST STAY…” In Valbella, Graubuenden... p17 WIDE OPEN VIEWS from the Oberalp PASS as you drive WEST...” Oberalp Pass p19 NO COMMENT… where does it take you?” p20 p21 ACROSS THE St.Gotthart on the TREMOLA... a CLASSIC ROAD like no other...” p22 p23 TICINO, that part of SWITZERLAND that is completely MEDITERRANEAN...” The landscape of Ticino p25 AMAZING VIEWS from one of Ticino’s FABLED Mountains...” The view from San Salvatore p27 One of TICINO’s many CHARMING towns...” Santuario Madonna del Sasso high p29 Your HOTEL in Switzerland’s BEAUTIFUL TICINO...” Overlooking Lago Magglore... p31 On your way to South Tyrol...the REMARKABLE STELVIO... for you to enjoy!“ Stilfserjoch – The Stelvio Pass p33 The Stelvio... a REAL CHALLENAGE, but UNFORGETTABLE...” p34 p35 In SOUTH TYROL, where the AUSTRIAN ALPS meet MEDITERRANEAN FLAIR...” Castel Tirolo… p37 In South Tyrol, one of the most BEAUTIFUL WINE REGIONS of the Alps…” Lago di Caldaro, south of Bolzano… p39 South Tyrol, a farming region of LONG, LONG TRADITIONS!” A farmer’s life in South Tyrol p41 VISIT a local ARTISAN in his studio…” South Tyrol is famous for almost-lost handicraft traditions... p43 VISIT a 700 YEAR OLD farm house in a REMOTE VALLEY of South Tyrol...” Lago di Caldaro, south of Bolzano… p45 WHENEVER possible, taste local delicacies…” Speck and Schuettelbrot in South Tyrol p47 In South Tyrol, where the ALPS are GRANDER still than in Austria...” The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage region…. p49 On the Road in the DOLOMITES…” p50 p51 A CHARMING hotel in the MIDDLE of NOWHERE in Austria...” In Innvervillgraten, Osttirol p53 The ONLY PRIVATE Porsche Museum in the world...” Josef Pfeihoffer Museum in Gmuend p55 ONE of the very FIRST Porsche 356 (year 1948)...owned by Peter’s FATHER!” Josef Pfeihoffer Museum in Gmuend p57 The GROSSGLOCKNER... Austria’s tallestmountain and the focus of a GORGEOUS ROAD across the ALPS...” The Grossglockner High Alpine Road p59 A MUST-NOT-MISS last stop: the glass manufactory in RATTENBERG…” The finest of Austrian Glass p61 p63 Day 1 mountainous and winding roads right away. A bit of highway, then Soon after leaving the German dive headlong into the highway, you will cross into back roads of the Alps Austria where you will spend After arriving at Munich most of your day. You will airport, you will pick up your drive in spectacular scenery choice of rental car. (through typical Austrian villages and along lovely rivers) Then you will begin your driving and on roads that are Peter’s holiday in the Alps. Navigating backyard...where he, from around Munich will take a bit age 18, developed his love for of time, but soon you will find driving! Driving Distance & Duration* yourself on a beautiful German In mid-afternoon, you will cross Distance: 392 km highway that will take you to into Switzerland where you will Duration: 6 hours the foothills of the Alps in no need to show some restraint: time. Switzerland has the strictest Hotel speed limits and the fiercest A modern, Alpine hotel in For your first day, we have fines. Eastern Switzerland (****) chosen for you back roads that will allow you to enjoy You can expect to arrive at your *Driving distances and durations hotel in the late afternoon. are approximate p64 p65 Day 2 Switzerland’s most famous Day 3 roads, the Tremola…be Across the famous surprised! Beautiful drives, Tremola into On the way to your destination Driving Distance & Duration shopping, sight- Mediterranean today, you will have lunch in a Distance: 218 km seeing, or just Switzerland small restaurant in the midst Duration: 3.30 hours of the Merlot vineyards. You chilling out? Switzerland has four distinct will also be able to visit the Val Hotel cultural regions: the Germanic Verzasca dam of “James Bond” A charming small hotel by Ticino with its mild southern North and Northeast; the East- fame: the dam is 220m tall and Lago Lugano (****) climate is the ideal place Central Grison; the Italian will frighten anyone with only for a day of rest or leisurely South and the French West. The a touch of acrophobia. Bungee sightseeing. day before, you arrived in the jumping anyone? Germanic region. You will have many choices Today you will drive into ranging from kicking back with the Italian south where a drink and a good book by Switzerland truly feels Italian, the hotel’s pool, visiting local not only because the Italian markets (in a different village language is in common use, depending on the day of the but also because the climate week), making an outing by is thoroughly Mediterranean, driving along one of the lakes replete with palm trees and (and dipping your toe into Italy, southern European vegetation, Driving Distance & Duration as it were), or visiting near-by piazzas and the colors of Italy. Depending on your chosen Ticino is known for excellent Milano for a bit of shopping. wines; in particular, Merlot feels activity at home here. This region is We will help you make your Hotel famous as well for steep and arrangements and guide you narrow valleys and spectacular as you desire. A charming small hotel by lakes dotted with sailboats Lago Lugano (****) and ferries that carry people Note: Today’s lunch and activities and cars from the Swiss to the during the day are not included. Italian shores of these bodies of water. One of today’s highlights will be the drive across one of p67 Day 4 lovers, but also by sports aficionados, especially cyclists. Stelvio Day But beware: its switchback Today you will leave behind and hairpin turns can be Switzerland’s Ticino and drive treacherous and, if it is a toward Alto Adige (or South beautiful day, there could be Tyrol), Italy’s northern most quite a bit of traffic, especially region. mountain bikers, some of whom are hell-bent on proving It is a spectacular drive along something, whatever that may Alpine lakes, through steep be. valleys and across high passes. Still, driving across the Stelvio Weather permitting, you can pass is a once-in-a-life-time look forward to an unforgettable experience for driving lovers! driving day since today is also Driving Distance & Duration “Stelvio Day”, one of the best Your hotel for this and the next Distance: 300 km known passes in the Alps.