Round the Dolomites

Arrival to your starting hotel in valley “Hochpustertal” in the heart of the Dolomites.

On the first part of today’s route the Pustertal-cycling-path will show you the way. River Rienz accompanies you to Bruneck/Brunido, inviting you for a rest and a stroll through the city. Back in the saddle you pass the ruins of Mühlbacher Klause and your stage end in Mühlbach.

Today, shortly before Brixen, you cycle past the monastery complex of Neustift or the Franzensfeste fortress, both of which invite you to visit. In Bressanone, it is worth taking a walk through the well-kept old town with its arcades and cathedral. From afar you are greeted by the Säben monastery, which stands high above Klausen and you cycle along the Eisack river to Waidbruck, where  the view of the Trostburg castle opens up to you. Here the valley narrows and leads you into the Bolzano basin and your destina- tion today, the provincial capital of Bolzano, the city where two cultures meet. There are numerous possibilities for spending the  afternoon: a leisurely stroll under the arcades of Bolzano or on the meadows of the valley, a visit to „Ötzi“, the „oldest Tyrolean“ in the archaeological museum, simply enjoying a cappuccino in one of the numerous cafés on Waltherplatz.

Today you follow the Etsch river and leave South Tyrol at the Salurner Klause, the border between German-speaking South Tyrol and Italian-speaking Trentino. South Tyrol and the Italian-speaking Trentino. Fruit trees and grapevines line your path to the former bishop‘s town of Trento, which will delight you with its inviting old town and Buonconsiglio Castle.

You cycle past Lake Caldonazzo, which also invites you to stay for a while. The first section to Caldonazzo is relatively steep and can also be shortened by train (25 km, to book on your own). The trail continues through the impressive Valsugana valley to Feltre, a small town on the former „Via Claudia Augusta“, an important Roman road from Aquileia to Augsburg.

Through leafy forest avenues you reach Belluno, the small capital of the province of the same name. Today‘s route is lined with picturesque little villages that invite you to stop for a while. In the north, your gaze falls back to the mighty southern Dolomites, your companions on your first stages. You continue your way north past Longarone. This village was rebuilt in a very short time after it was flooded by a tidal wave in 1963 following a rock fall at the former Vajont dam. The newly built cycle path leads from Longarone to Pieve di Cadore, today‘s stage destination.

Pure nature, that is the motto for today. The most important and largest stopover of the railway was the famous winter sports and Olympic town of Cortina d‘Ampezzo, where you will also cycle past today - surrounded by some of the most famous Dolomite peaks. Continue along the route of the Dolomite railway to the provincial border of the province of Belluno and finally return to South Tyrol. Enjoy the panoramic view of the the rock formation of the „Three Peaks“.