Driving the Grossglockner High Alpine Road: Heiligenblut to Zell am See​Few alpine routes capture the grandeur of the European Alps quite like the Grossglockner High Alpine Road (Großglockner Hochalpenstraße). Spanning 48 kilometers with 36 hairpin turns, this masterclass in engineering cuts directly through the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park.​For travelers seeking the ultimate Austrian road trip, driving the pass from the historic mountaineering village of Heiligenblut am Großglockner northward to the lakeside resort of Zell am See offers an exceptional transition from dramatic glacial peaks to serene alpine waters. ​The journey begins in Carinthia, in the picturesque village of Heiligenblut. Famous for its iconic 15th-century Gothic church set against the sharp backdrop of the Grossglockner—Austria’s highest peak at 3,798 meters—it provides a peaceful, atmospheric starting point before the steep ascent.​Upon clearing the toll gate just north of the village, the road wastes no time climbing above the tree line, revealing expansive panoramic vistas of rugged rock formations and alpine pastures. ​Roughly midway through the southern section of the pass, a dedicated detour leads to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369 meters). Named after the Austrian Emperor who visited the site in 1856, this vantage point is an essential stop. Didi Niederkofler Austriaguide with VAN4EIGHT de, en, es, fr, it, pt, www.dididobrasil.com #dididobrasil #austriaguide #van4eight #privatetours @dididobrasil #driverguide