Motorcycle Tour Sarntal Alps

Merano - San Leonardo in Passiria - Passo Giovo - Vipiteno - Passo di Pennes - Sarentino - Bolzano - Merano

Length of the tour: 185 km
Driving time: approx. 4-5 hours

This varied motorcycle tour begins in the former capital of Tyrol, in Merano. From here, it continues through the charming Passiria Valley, over the nearly 2,000 m high Passo Giovo to Vipiteno. Across the Pennes Valley, it goes over the pass of the same name into the Sarntal Alps and then back to the starting point, Merano, via Bolzano.

Merano
The "pearl of South Tyrol" was already highly valued by Sissi, the Empress of Austria. Due to the favorable climatic conditions, Mediterranean plants such as palm trees, olive trees, cypresses, and oleanders thrive here against the backdrop of the magnificent alpine scenery. In autumn, numerous wineries invite you to taste the traditional Törggelen, while in the winter months, the Merano 2000 ski area with great slopes and pistes attracts visitors - the largest horse racing track in Europe is also located here. So, it's worth leaving the motorcycle for a comfortable stay...

In the Passiria Valley - more precisely in St. Leonhard - is the hometown of the legendary Tyrolean freedom fighter and national hero Andreas Hofer (1767).

From here, the Passo Giovo forms a connection to Vipiteno in the neighboring Eisack Valley. Just below the pass summit, there is a mountain inn that offers bikers a nice place to stop and a view of the upcoming curves.

Also, Vipiteno has a lot of sights to offer, including a particularly interesting relic from Roman times: Castle Reifenstein. The 900-year-old fortress was never captured and is now one of the most beautiful castles in all of South Tyrol.

The 2,200 m high Passo di Pennes then impresses with its high alpine scenery and the subsequent winding road down into the Sarntal - a highlight for every dedicated motorcycle rider!
The valley was inhabited early on and became part of the Habsburg Empire in 1363. In addition to some historical "treasures," the original Sarntal, along with its initially seemingly unapproachable inhabitants, is the real attraction here. Shielded from the outside world, a unique paradise in the Alps has been preserved, which convinces with genuine hospitality.

Bolzano
The capital of South Tyrol is also the cultural, economic, and political center of the small Alpine province. The combination of Tyrolean tradition and Mediterranean flair, urban lifestyle, and magnificent natural scenery attracts thousands of visitors every year. The location at the confluence of the Eisack, Talfer, and Adige rivers, as well as two important trade routes - the Roman Via Claudia Augusta over the Reschen Pass and Via Imperii over the Brenner Pass - made Bolzano an early hub. The municipality now has over 100,000 inhabitants, of which 73% are Italian- and 26% German-speaking - in the rest of South Tyrol, it is exactly the opposite! The city is located in a basin surrounded by high mountain ranges. This results in a pleasantly mild climate, which gives Bolzano excellent wine.