The holiday destination north of the Deferegger Alps is proud to still have unspoilt areas that kept mass tourism away. Here, on the so called south balcony of the Alps, you can find the golden eagle hunting, enjoy fresh alpine buttermilk and be spoiled by the friendly local hosts.
The Defereggen Valley is waiting for you with its special features, such as the “Jagdhausalmen”, a kind of ancient alpine farming works in this alpine region. These huts, built of stone, are the oldest in Austria and their existence has already been documented in the 13th century.
Deep in the valley you have most beautiful Cembra pine woods. The “Oberhauser Zirbenwald” is the East Alps most famous, and largest enclosed woodland of this type. Details about the valley, its inhabitants and their culture you can learn best from the rangers of the National Park. In summer guided tours are regularly on offer.
MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE DEFEREGGEN VALLEY
From the small village of Erlsbach - with 1.155 m the highest settlement of East Tyrol in the parish of St. Jakob - runs the official mountain bike route up to the Klamml Pass (passo di Gola) at 2.298 m right on the boarder to Italy. This route runs along a 17 km alpine path through the stunning landscape of the National Park Hohe Tauern, meeting four alpine huts like the famous “Jagdhausalm”, that had first been documented in 1212, therefore being the oldest alpine hut in Austria. You have now reached a height of over 2.000 m and can view the glacier framed Fleischbach-Spitze 3.157 m in the Rieserferner group. Should you have your passport with you, you can cross into Italy at the Klamml Pass boarder and pass the South Tyrolean Klamml lake (lago di Gola), through the valleys Knuttental (Valle dei Dossi) and Tauferertal (Val di Tures) to Bruneck (Brunico). From there you can carry on through the Pustertal Valley (Val Pusteria) to Olang (Valdaora) and through the valley Antholzertal (Valle Anterselva) up to the Staller Sattel (passo Stalle), where you cross the boarder into Austria and cycle the last 8 km to your starting point in Erlsbach.
