Hochtor is the highest point of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the border between Salzburg and Carinthia. The road tunnel sits at 2,504 m above sea level, while the historic pass itself reaches 2,576 m. This is a crossing point used for thousands of years - from Hallstatt-era travelers through Roman times to today's drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists.

The scenery around Hochtor is rugged high-alpine terrain - rocky ridges, patches of snow even in summer, and views that stop you in your tracks. It also marks the watershed between the Salzach (Inn basin) and the Drau river. In winter the pass is completely inaccessible - snow depths of over ten meters are common, with a record of 21 meters. The road is typically open from around May to late October.

How to get there

• By car or motorcycle via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road - toll road, seasonal access, moderate difficulty due to altitude and hairpin bends
• For cyclists: the climb from Heiligenblut (south side) or from Fuscher Törl (north side) - requires strong fitness; the route is used in events such as the Race Around Austria, where Hochtor marks the highest point of the race

Practical information

• Toll applies for motor vehicles, toll booths staffed on a seasonal schedule
• Winter closure - typically from late October to early May
• The Hochtor area holds one of the most important archaeological sites in the Alps - an ancient pass sanctuary with bronze figurines and Celtic coins

It was here in 1933, during road construction, that a bronze statuette of Hercules was discovered, sparking decades of archaeological research that later revealed traces of a religious cult more than 2,000 years old.