Staller Sattel and Pragser Wildsee

Upper Drau Valley

The starting point for the tour is the Upper Drau Valley. Taking the B 100, go west to Lienz in EastTyrol. It is a pretty little town with a touch of southernflair surrounded by the Lienz Dolomites. When here, you can have a look at Bruck Castle and the Egger Lienz Museum. Lienz is also one of the cheaper places for refuelling. Now take the Matrei road. After about 20 km, turn left in Huben for St.Jakob im Defreggental and the Staller Sattel (2,052 m). Note: traffic lights are in operation on the Staller Sattel! They are set to let you through to Italy for the first 15 minutes every hour and from Italy to Austria from the 30th to the 45th minute. Carry on into the Antholz Valley (Valle di Anterselva), down towards Olang in South Tyrol. On the E 66, turn left for San Candido/Innichen. Halfway there,  in a valley branching off to the south, lies Pragser Wildsee (Lake Braies) at 1,494 m in the middle of the majestic Seekofel massif (2,810 m). The route carries on via San Candido and Sillian to Strassen, where you turn off to the right for Kartitsch and the Karnische Dolomitenstrasse (Carnic Dolomites Road) into the Lesach Valley. Passing Maria Luggau (interesting pilgrimage church), you reach Kötschach-Mauthen and on through the Upper Gail Valley to Hermagor. Turn left, and go over the Kreuzberg Pass (1,077 m) to Lake Weissensee or back into the Upper Drau Valley.