Timmelsjoch / Passo del Rombo, Mountain pass and border crossing at Ötztal Alps, Austria and Italy.
The Timmelsjoch is a high-altitude road linking the Austrian Ötztal Alps with the Italian Passeier Valley over a distance of nearly 35 kilometers (about 22 miles). The road runs through barren rocky terrain above the tree line and reaches an elevation of 2509 meters (about 8200 feet) at its highest point.
Construction of the pass road began in 1955 on the Austrian side and reached the border in 1959. The connection with the Italian side was completed nine years later and opened to traffic.
The name Timmelsjoch comes from the local word for the highest grazing meadow before crossing into the neighboring valley. Five architectural stations along the route display local building materials and craftsmanship from both border regions.
The toll road opens from June to October during daylight hours and stays closed in winter due to snow. Warm clothing is advisable since temperatures at the pass remain low even in summer.
The pass is Austria's highest publicly accessible border crossing and often still has snow fields along the roadway during summer months. The route counts around 60 turns with some tight hairpin bends that require careful driving.
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