Grossglockner - Franz Joseph Hohe carpark

[Malcolm_Stewart]

As I announced some weeks ago, we were planning to spend most of August touring the Alps area, and particularly the Dolomites and Julian Alps - and we're now back trawling through our photographs.

The most surprising feature we came across is in Austria where the viewing point for Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, is a 4 storey carpark complete with lifts (and visitor centre, restaurants etc.) into which cars have to drive. Motor bikes stay outside, coaches are parked a short distance away.

View of Grossglockner & glacier from carpark



View of carpark - at 2369m altitude



Not surprisingly, the carpark isn't that well publicised in the literature, or website... We certainly were surprised to find "city style" architecture so deep in the Hohe Tauern National Park!

Very different to our Lake District peaks, but then we don't have any glaciers.

[dangie]

Yes Malcolm this surprised me as well. Considering Austria, particularly the Tirol region, prides itself on its beauty, both natural and its picturebook villages, the visitor area above the Pasterze Glacier is certainly not in keeping with the views. I've spent many years holidaying in the Alps. Austria is my number one. I love it.