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The Kaunertal Gletscherstrasse (glacier road) for the most part follows ancient tracks. In part, it follows an old pilgrims’ road from the pilgrimage site of Kaltenbrunn in the Kaunertal (Tyrol, Austria) to the Weissseejoch (2.960 m) to Melagg in Langtauferer valley (South Tyrol, Italy). Pilgrims' roads and pilgrimages often follow ancient roads and historical traffic routes that lead back to the early Middle Ages.

Today, driving on the Kaunertal Gletscherstrasse (glacier road) is a popular outing for bus tourists, motorcyclists, travellers in their cars and even cyclists. About 150,000 guests visit one of the most beautiful high Alpine roads in Austria every summer.

Travelling with the post bus

In the 1930s, an outing with the post bus to the Gepatschhaus was an attraction for the tourists. The post bus route from Feichten to the Gepatschhaus which at the time led across gravelled alpine roads and meadows was introduced in 1932.

Construction of the Gepatsch reservoir

Between 1961 and 1965, the Tirolerwasserkraft AG (TIWAG)  built the highest natural earth bank reservoir in Europe in the Kaunertal (140 million litre water storage space, 160 m embankment height). In the course of this construction, the road from Feichten to the Gepatschhaus was extended and asphalted.

Accessing the Kaunertal glacier

The Kaunertal Gletscherstrasse (glacier road) was extended to the head of the reservoir to the glacier restaurant at 2.750 m from 1979 to 1980 to allow skiers access to the glacier ski area.