The Via Claudia Augusta is one of Europe’s most spectacular cycling routes running from Donauwörth, on the Danube River in Germany (Bavaria), to the Adriatic Sea (Italy) passing throw regions as Bavaria, Tyrol, Etschtal/Val d'Adige, Valsugana-Feltre_Altino or Verona-Ostiglia. With this road, the Romans had developed the first true mountain road across the Fern- and Reschen passes. You’ll find plenty to admire on this route. It’s very hard to decide what is the best part about this path. Is it the 2,000 years of history that you pass on the way, including 2 original milestones that have been unearthed? Is it the fantastic orchards and vineyards you pass through or is it the stunning mountain views? The Via Claudia isn’t entirely off-road, sometimes it uses low-traffic roads, but if you want to experience a section that is all on a bike path, then head for the Austrian town of Nauders, tucked into a corner of the Alps that borders on Italy and Switzerland. From Nauders, you can head south, going almost immediately into Italy and the cities of Merano, Bolzano and Trento. This section is not only paved and dedicated to cycling, it’s also all either downhill or flat!
Cycle shuttles helping cyclists and their bikes across the passes make the Via Claudia Augusta the easiest alpine crossing for cyclists so that the cycle route across the Alps in the footsteps of the Romans is also suitable for families and sprightly pensioners. Most of the cycle shuttles require advance booking and have limited capacity.
Technical details:
Length cycling route: 770 km to Venezia (Venice) - 735 km to Ostiglia / Ferrara
Starting location: Donauwörth (Bavaria, Germany)
Climbing: about 2500 meters
type of bycicle: Trekkingbike - no road bike
Stage details:
From Germania / Donauwörth to Füssen = 168 km
From Austria / Füssen to Resia Pass: 142 km
In Italy: from Resia Pass to Venice: 457 km ca / Ferrara: 425 km
Renta a bike in ALTO ADIGE "Bici Alto Adige" CLICCA QUI
Booking bike shuttle in Austria, Trentino and Veneto
- Transfer Fernpass (Austria) from Biberwier to Nassereith - 3 times a day from May to October - DER AUSSERFERNER REISEPROFI - call 0043 5673 2601-0
- Transfer Landeck to Nauders (Austria / Resia, Italy): POSTBUS every 2 hours 08.05 - 16.05, call 0043 5442 64422 - www.postbus.at
- Transfer Trento to Civezzano / Pergine Valsugana (Italy): 2 times a day 10.00 - 17.30 railway station of Trento from Monday to Friday AUTONEOLEGGI CLUB DELLAI - call + 39 0461 848139 / autonoleggi@clubdellai.com
How to reach Donauwörth ?
By train via Verona - Bolzano - Brennero - Monaco di Baviera - Donauwörth; treno EC / ICE - 6,30 -7,30 hours
By car via Verona / Bolzano / Brennero and Innsbruck to Monaco d.B and Donauwörth (autoroute), or via Innsbruck > Seefeld in Tirolo and Garmisch Partenkirchen > Donauwörth
By plane : take a flight to Monaco di Baviera, it´s about 115km fara away from Donauwörth - good connections by train (1, 20 h ) VEDI QUI
GUIDE (german / italian/ english)
CYCLINE / ESTERBAUER.COM: VIa Claudia Augusta
KOMPASS - VIa Claudia Augusta, Donauwörth - Venezia,
LINK of toursim offices along the route
IN GERMANY / AUSTRIA:
- Donauwörth CLICCA QUI
- Augsburg CLICCA QUI
- Landsberg am Lech CLICCA QUI
- Füssen CLICCA QUI
IN ITALIA:
ALTO ADIGE - VAL VENOSTA
VENETO
LOMBARDIA