Gaicht Pass, Austria

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Added 7 years ago by vindheim

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Following the Austrian B199 from the Tannheimer Tal near Nesselwängle to the Lech Valley, one passes through the Gaichtpass situated at 1,093 metres.

It is a historic pass through which the Romans passed on their way to their garrison at Brigantium (Bregenz). In the Middle Ages, the trail became a major trade route, mainly transporting salt and wine. In the town of Gaicht one can still today find a 12th century salt stick. The mule track was extended to become a road in 1550, which in turn led to a fortress built by the Habsburgs to defend against an attack from the Allgäu Hindelang valley. The fort was expanded in the 17th century and reinforced in 1744. In 1782, Emperor Joseph II ordered the sale of all Tyrolean fortifications except Kufstein, the fortress was abandoned, and the guard house was auctioned. During the Napoleonic Wars the fortress was restored in 1796. In the middle of the eighteenth century it burnt down, today only a few wall remains are preserved.

The old route, which is now only used as a trail led along the valley floor and into the mountain only in the northern valley. The road was wide enough only for one horse-drawn carriage, but up to three horses were strapped behind each other. In 1661 15,850 barrels of salt were shipped over the Gaichtpass.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a new road was created that bypassed the canyon-shaped Weißenbach valley. This road was extended in 1957.

The Gemstal Bridge, built in 1912, was blown up together with Lechbrücke in Lechaschau on 29 April 1945 as the Wehrmacht retreated from advancing American troops. It took until 1979 to build a new bridge.

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Gaicht Pass, Austria

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