Motor sports

Motorcycling on Stilfserjoch

Motorcyclists are challenged by the Stilfserjochstraße and consider it a high point. All told, it is 49.24km long, 48 turns take you from Spondinig to the top of the pass (2763m), and an additional 34 from there will get you to Bormio. Today, the road connects the neighboring valleys of the central Alps: Vinschgau in South Tyrol, Münstertal in Graubünden, and Veltlin in Lombardy. It is embedded within the nations of Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. Until 1936, when the Stilfserjochstrasse still held great strategic and economic importance, it was kept open throughout the entire year, at the cost of a great deal of human labor. Today, depending on the weather, the road is open from the end of May, or the beginning of June until the first heavy snowfall in October.

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Hotel Franzenshöhe is located in just the right spot for the motorcyclist who, wanting to take in the National Park's magnificent mountain scenery, would like to stop off for a midday meal, a cup of coffee, or even for a shorter or longer vacation stay. Some of our guests combine motorcycling with hiking: they consider it refreshing, after long day's ride on their motor bike, to stretch their legs and recuperate in the indoor swimming pool and sauna. We provide covered parking for your motorcycle, a drying-room for your wet clothes, and a welcoming, cozy atmosphere.

Berghotel Franzenshöhe's location at switchback 22 is perfectly located for starting innumerable motorcycling tours and day trips into the bordering regions of Lombardy and Graubünden. With its 48 hairpin turns, Stilfserjoch is without doubt one of the most enchanting legs of a tour. In addition, Franzenshöhe is an optimal point of departure for crossing over several Alpine passes, such as the passes at Bernina, Maloja, Gavia, Aprica, Umbrail, and many others.


Car lovers and fans of classic automobiles

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The altitude, gradient and, above all, Stilfserjochstraße's serpentine curves, are much beloved by the most various automobile manufacturers as a testing ground for their latest car models. And who wouldn't love to test their own automobile or classic car against the Stilfserjochstraße? The road poses a challenge, driving it is a thrill. Whoever would like to stay for a longer time to bask in the landscape may take up lodgings at Hotel Franzenshöhe, launching numerous day-trips from there into the surrounding area.


A small selection of possible tours

Livigno Tour:

Depending on traffic and variant, the tour lasts about 4 hours, length: roughly 140km. Livigno is a duty-free zone, which means you can fill up your tank cheaply with either gas or diesel. Cigarettes, extra-proof alcohol, sugar, cosmetics, and an assortment of electronic appliances are also available for purchase. If you are driving towards Livigno to go shopping, the best route from Franzenshöhe heads over Stilfserjoch in the direction of Bormio. Before you reach Bormio, turn off towards Livigno. On the way back, you may choose to drive through the Munt la Schera tunnel in Switzerland . Your journey would then take you over the Ofenpass through the national park in Münstertal. You can decide when you arrive in Santa Maria whether to return to Franzenshöhe over the Umbrailpass, or to drive through Taufers, Prad, and Trafoi.

Gavia, Madonna di Campiglio Tour:

You can cover this tour, around 380km long, in roughly 8 hours Departing from Franzenshöhe, travel along SS38 to Stilfserjoch in the direction of Bormio. Once you arrive, continue on the SS300 to Passo Gavia, in the direction of Fraviano. In Fraviano, drive onto the SS42 Statale del Tonale in the direction Pellizzano. In Pellizzano, continue on the SS239 via Campiglio in the direction of Dimaro, turn left, and then continue in the direction of Madonna di Campiglio. The next orientation point is Tione di Trento SS237, whence the tour continues in the direction of Bono. From there, drive onto the SS669 in the direction of Bagolino and Breno. From Breno, drive onto the SS42 and continue to Edolo, where you head in the direction of Mono. From there, continue to Passo del Mortirolo in the direction Mazzo di Valtellina on the SS38 toward Bormio, then onto Stilfserjoch, and back to Franzenshöhe.

Schweizer Tour:

Duration: around 4 hours, length: roughly 214km Departing from Franzenshöhe, travel over the SS38 toward Prad on Stilfserjoch; there you turn onto SP20 in the direction of Glurns. Before reaching Glurns, head in the direction of Taufers, then towards Münster and the Swiss border on SS41. Follow highway 28 toward Fuldera and you will arrive at Tschierv. In Zernerz, turn off and follow 27 towards Brail, Madulain. You then arrive at Samedan/ Punt Murgal, where you join 29, which takes you to the Bernina Hospice. From here, you can reach the Swiss-Italian border, and then bear toward Livigno, where you depart for Trepalle. From there, the tour continues in the direction of Isolaccia, where you turn onto SS301 in order to drive to Bormio. From there, you return on SS38 to Stilfserjoch, and Franzenshöhe.

Aprica Tour:

Duration: around 5 1/2 hours, length: roughly 280km The Swiss tour may be extended to include Davos and St. Moritz. Having arrived at the Bernina Hospice, turn onto 29 in the direction of La Rösa, and bear towards Li Curt. At the Swiss border, travel directly onto SS38A towards Tirano, where you pass over Aprica in the direction of Edolo. From there, travel on the SS42 Strada Statale del Tonale in the direction of Ponte di Legno towards Gavia, whence you come to Bormio. It is not far from Bormio over Stilfserjoch to Franzenshöhe.


Further information at: http://www.alpentourer.de/alpenpaesse/region4/ (only in German)