Why was the Brenner Pass built?

Empires from Roman times to World War II understood the strategic value of [the] Brenner Pass. This fortress, called Franzensfeste, was built in the 1830s. It was one of the mightiest of its day. A huge investment by the Habsburg emperor in Vienna, it was designed to protect his empire from invasions from the south.



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Brenner Pass, open all year long, has been one of the main entrances to Italy from the north and, since Roman times, the principal road between the Eastern Alps in Germany and the Po River valley of Italy. Since the 14th century it has been one of Europe's great trade routes.

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Set high in the Eastern Alpine range, the road to the summit, known as Brennerpass and Passo del Brennero, is totally paved. It's called E45 (in Italy A22, in Austria the A13), It's a four-lane motorway built in the years 1833-45. It is one of the most important routes of north–south connections in Europe.

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Brenner Pass from Innsbruck via Schönberg is a climb in the region Tyrol. It is 36.4km long and bridges 819 vertical meters with an average gradient of 2.2%, resulting in a difficulty score of 324. The top of the ascent is located at 1370 meters above sea level.

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Brenner Pass, mountain pass, one of the lowest (4,511 feet [1,375 m]) and most important through the main chain of the Alps on the Austrian-Italian border.

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We hope the list helps you navigate this spectacular corner of the world next time you're lucky enough to ride there.
  • Grimsel Pass, Switzerland. ...
  • Furka Pass, Switzerland. ...
  • Susten Pass, Switzerland. ...
  • Splügen Pass, Switzerland/Italy. ...
  • Col de Tende. ...
  • Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria. ...
  • Maloja Pass, Switzerland.


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The importance of the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) will not be limited to Italy and Austria themselves. The tunnel is in fact the main element of the new Brenner railway connection from Munich to Verona, as well as the heart of the TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor connecting Finland to Malta.

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The tunnel will be up to 1,720 m (5,640 ft) below the surface at its deepest point in the gneiss section stretching south from the Italian border.

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Itinerary. Travel along the tracks on one of Europe's most scenic rail journeys, combining exciting cities with wonderful panoramas. Take the Brenner Pass rail line from the Bavarian capital of Munich through the verdant landscapes of southern Bavaria to Innsbruck, the winter sports capital of the Alps.

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There is a motorway pass charge in Austria and a toll for the Brenner pass, these can be avoided by taking the Gruner Tauern pass into Italy. This route (Brussels ring, Aachen, Koln, Munich) is the easiest drive, the Liege road is not as good.

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Brenner Pass, open all year long, has been one of the main entrances to Italy from the north and, since Roman times, the principal road between the Eastern Alps in Germany and the Po River valley of Italy.

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Along the way, you'll pass through the towns of Brenner, Gossensass, and Vipiteno, each of which offers its own unique attractions. The best time of year to take this road trip is between April and October.

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Brenner Pass, open all year long, has been one of the main entrances to Italy from the north and, since Roman times, the principal road between the Eastern Alps in Germany and the Po River valley of Italy.

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Furka Pass Open since 1867, the road connects Realp in the canton of Uri with Goms in Upper Valais. The pass is well-known to fans of cinema as it was the location for one of James Bond's famous car chases in Goldfinger.

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