Corvara in Passiria is on the route to the Passo del Rombo and Europe’s highest mine
Image gallery: Corvara in Passiria
The Passo del Rombo towers majestically above the farmsteads of Corvara in Passiria. This pass is the only drivable crossing of the main Alpine ridge between the Resia Pass and the Brennero Pass. It is therefore particularly popular with anyone who loves mountain roads, panoramic views and unique features: Road cyclists pedal up the winding road, day-trippers visit the Pass Museum, and Europe's highest motorcycle museum is located on the Austrian side towards the Oetztal valley.
The construction of this road was a masterpiece in itself: It was opened in 1968 after six decades and two world wars. Four stations along this high alpine road - "Walkway", "Smuggler", "Telescope", and "Garnet" - make up the Timmel Transit Museum and serve as viewpoints, small museums or places of rest. The fifth station and crowning highlight is the Pass Museum, the building of which stands partly on Austrian and partly on South Tyrolean territory.
Magnificent tours start from the pass road, including the one to the Monteneve Mine. It is now one of four locations of the South Tyrol Museum of Mining and offers interesting tunnel tours. Hiking destinations such as Lake Alpe and the Kummersee can also be found around Corvara in Passiria. The latter was formed in 1401 by a landslide. However, the dam south of the village, which held back the waters of the Passirio River, burst several times, finally collapsing in 1774.
The masses of water caused great damage, earning it the name "Lake of Sorrow". Today, a signposted hiking trail leads around its former banks. Upper and Lower Corvara (Rabenstein) are still characterised by agriculture, alongside visitors seeking relaxation in nature. In winter, the Corvara Ice Tower rises here, one of the largest and most spectacular ice climbing facilities in Europe. It is open on specific days, sometimes under floodlights.
