Suspension Bridge Highline179

Highline179

Who is brave and free from giddiness? You?! Very good, me too, that’s why I venture to walk on the suspension bridge Highline179 near Reutte in Tyrol. Zum deutschen Blog.

.his blog post contains unpaid advertisement. This trip was paid by myself and all I have written is my personal opinion. You´ll find affiliate links. If you buy a product through this link, you´ll not pay more, but I’ll get a small commission, that helps to go on with my blog. 

Facts

What makes this Highline179 to a special suspension bridge? With its length of 406 meters (1332 ft), it is said to be the “longest suspension bridge in Tibet style”. It stretches at an altitude of 114.60 m (374 ft) over the valley and  the  busy road  B179, hence the name Highline179.

How to get there

Down in the valley, most of the brave visitors probably use the large, chargeable parking lot before stepping through the  gate of the fortress Klause into a kind of courtyard. Here  you  will find a playground,  a museum, the  shop,a restaurant with hotel and of course the ticket machines. Here we have to decide whether  we use the cabel car (Ehrenberg Liner) that goes steeply up the mountain or take the steep walk uphill.

Since I had a cruciate ligament surgery on my knee not long ago, it is easy for me to make the decision. I take the cabel car. We get a combined ticket, which  is somewhat discounted together with the entrance to the suspension bridge. The ticket is scanned at the respective entrance, so that the Highline179 can be accessed once from both sides.

The lift needs less than 3 minutes  to get to the top, it probably takes about 20 minutes on foot. Everything is barrier-free,  so that wheelchair users and strollers can also enter the suspension bridge. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but should not be used in strong winds or snowfall.

Arriving at the top, we go downhill first and then uphill again to the bridge. We pass again through a part of the old fortification of the castle ruins Ehrenberg, which is perched on a mountain above us and can also be visited with the ticket. If you want to hike even higher, you can  still walk to the fortress at the Schlosskopf-mountain. Unfortunately, this is not possible for me for the above-named reason.

On the bridge

But now I want to cross the bridge! There is not much goingon, although we got nice weather right now. The light is already quite  soft, because it is late afternoon. Beautiful to take pictures! The bridge is made of steel,the railing  on  the  sides reaches  up to my shoulder, the part that stretches over the B179 is  fenced up. The bridge itself consists of large steel rust parts, i.e. the view down is clear.

After a few steps I notice that the bridge sways, although hardly a breath of wind blows. Up to 500 people could walk on the Highline179 at the same time. I am glad that only a very small percentage are here at the moment. So my husband and I can take photos undisturbed and  stand in one place as long as we like. The view of the castle Ehrenberg, the steep mountains behind it, over the valley to Reutte and to the other side to the high mountains is simply fantastic!

Some visitors seem to feel a little queasy, because they move very slowly and do not let go of the railing. Momentarily, there is also a mask obligation on the bridge, but at least in the time we are here, it is not controlled.

On the other side

On the other side of the Highline179,  we go to the left some few meters to a lookout point.  It offers a magnificent view of the castle ruins and also of the higher up fortress. The view into the valley is even further than from the bridge. To the other side of the Highline179 there is  a steep  gravel path to Fort Claudia. It is located on the opposite side of  Ehrenberg Castle and was built in the middle of the 17th century. It was built at the instigation  of the Tyrolean regent Archduchess Claudia.

From here, too, there is a magnificent view of the mountains and the valley, which was then controlled from the castle and this fort.  

We want to go back, because dark clouds are visible and a thunderstorm can also be heard in the distance.

Ehrenberg Castle

We still visit the ruins of the castle that was built in 1296. In its history it has often changed the owner, because of a conquest by somebody else. The way  up is fixed, but with a stroller or wheelchair probably not passable, because it is very steep.

The ruins are imposing and larger than might be assumed from below. It is currently being renovated and in a few years there will be a kind of arcade,which will make viewing the ruins of Ehrenberg Castle a little easier and safer. At the moment you should be tread-proof,  because the steps are also uneven. But you will be rewarded with a great view again.

But now we go down again, our stomachs are growling. The small but very lovingly designed playground just below the entrance to Highline179 is now empty. The families have already made their way back.

We call the elevator again; it only takes a few minutes and it stands empty in front of us. Probably a total of 15 people fit in. But we go downhill on our own. I am glad to have chosen the elevator, because the sky looks very grey now and the wind has increased. Maybe we still get to our car on dry foot…

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