18. From Landeck to Meran. Finstermiinz.
Comp. Maps, pp. 142, 138.
81 M. Dilligence, (landaus with four seats) daily in 15 ½ hrs. (fare
20 K. 64 h.). Stellwagen (omnibus) daily from Landeck to Mals and from
Mals to Meran. Extra-POST with two horses, without changing carriages,
from Landeck to Nauders 47 K. 62, to Mals 71 K. 72, to Eyrs 86 K. 18, to
Meran 129 K. 56 h. (these charges include all fees, etc.). Mail Coach, see
p. 156. Railway from Schluderns to Meran under construction.
Landeck (2675 ft.), see p. 141. — The road ascends on the right
bank of the Inn, which here forms several rapids, past the Neue Zoll
Inn to the (6 M. ) Pontlatzer-Brücke (2820 ft.), where the Tyrolese
'Landsturm' nearly annihilated the Bavarian invaders in 1703 and
1809. On a precipitous rock, to the right, stand the ruins of Burg
Laudeck, near which is the village of Ladis (3900 ft.), with sulphur-
baths (moderate charges) , 1 hr. by road from Prutz, 1 ¼ hr. from
Ried (see below). About ½ hr. higher lies Obladis (4545 ft.), with
mineral springs, beautifully situated. — 7 ½ M. Prutz (2840 ft.;
Rose), where the road returns to the right bank, lies at the entrance
to the Kaunser-Tal.
The Kaunser-Tal runs to the E. as far as Kaltenbrunn, then towards
the S., parallel with the Pitztal, to the central mass of the Oetztal Mts.
A new road ascends along the Faggenbach to (3 ½ hrs.) Feuchten (4175 ft.;
Hirsch), whence a bridle-path goes on to the (3 ½-4 hrs.) Gepatsch-Haus
6325 ft.; inn, 26 beds), picturesquely situated at the head of the valley,
opposite the imposing Gepatsch Glacier, the largest in Tyrol except the
Pasterze. [Pedestrians will prefer to reach Feuchten by the footpath viâ
Kauns and the pilgrim resort of Kaltenbrunn (4135 ft. ; Eckhardt).] — Passes
from the Gepatsch-Haus to Mittelberg in the Pitztal over the Oelgruben-Joch
(9885 ft.), 7-8 hrs. (guide 14 K.), see p. 142 ; to Vent (p. 143) over the Gepatsch-
Joch (10,640 ft.), 9-10 hrs., difficult (two guides at 19 K.); to Langtaufers
over the Weiss-See-Joch (9745 ft.), 6 hrs. to Hinterkirch (guide 12 K.), a fine
route, free from difficulty. Graun (p. 155) is reached in 2 hrs. from
Hinterkirch.
10 M. Ried (2875 ft.; Post), a thriving village, with the castle
of Sigmundsried. The road now ascends over an extensive alluvial
deposit and then closely skirts the Inn to (4 ¼ M. ) Tösens (3055 ft.;
Wilder Mann), crosses the Inn at (½ M. ) Bruggen, and reaches
(4 ¼ M. ) —
19 M. Pfunds (3185 ft.), picturesquely situated at the entrance
to the Radurschel-Tal, and consisting of two villages: Stuben (Post),
on the highroad on the left bank of the Inn, and Pfunds, on the right
bank. About 1 ½ M. farther on, the road crosses the Inn and grad-
ually ascends on the right bank, being hewn in the rock at places,
and passing through three tunnels and two avalanche-galleries.
Picturesque views of the narrow valley of the Inn. One of the finest
points is at (23 M.) Hoch-Finstermünz (3630 ft.; Hotel, D. 4, pens.
from 8 K.), a cluster of houses on the roadside, 420 ft. below which
is Alt-Finstermünz, with its old tower and bridge crossing the Inn.
The road now quits the Inn and enters (left) a small lateral valley,
passing a pretty waterfall and Fort Nauders. It then ascends in a
long bend (old road shorter for walkers) to (1 ¾ hr.) —