We leave the town by the Zwölferturm (which divides the “new town” from the “old town”) along the Mühlgasse, cross the Eisack, cross the main road and the railway and turn immediately to the left on to Hiking trail 21, which later becomes 21B.

Through Niederried and Oberried (from where it again becomes trail 21) and past the ruins of Straßberg Castle (built to control the traffi c across the Brenner), we come to a farm above the motorway. Crossing it and going down we reach the mining village of Gossensaß (in the Middle Ages more than 1,000 miners worked in the mines in this area). From the Pfarrgasse we climb up the steep steps to the parish church and to the Chapel of St. Barbara built by the miners in 1510.

Walking through the cemetery we reach the church path and along that the former plague chapel now the Lady Chapel, and further on upwards past the now empty railway workers’ residence. Shortly afterwards it starts to go downhill again and after less than 300 meters on the main road we discover the historic Passstraße in Pontigl.

We follow it upwards alongside the stream on the left bank, until it fi nally ends and we can reach the other bank over a small footbridge, and then climb up to the disused railway line. We have reached approximately the same altitude as the Brenner Pass and can now quicken our pace to the border either along the railway tracks or (from Brennerbad) on the existing cycle path.

Shortly before Brenner a small track branches off to the right, which leads us to a mystical modern installation (“84 Steps”). This small “observation bunker” from the Second World War has a view out over the area.

The Brenner is not only one of the busiest of the Alpine passes, but it is also Europe’s border of fate and destiny with a colourful past. It is a magical place radiating an austere romanticism. We line up, one of millions – pilgrims, merchants, soldiers, popes, kings, emperors and sun loving tourists – who have crossed this lowest Alpine pass over thousands of years. The late Gothic parish church (14th century, the choir is also from this time), dedicated to St. Valentine, a missionary bishop from early Christian Rhaetia, and patron of paths and health, is exactly the right place for us to bid farewell to this wonderful stretch of the Way of St. James through South Tyrol.

Time:
Sterzing > Gossensass: 1 ¾ hrs.
Gossensass > Brennerbad: 1 ¾ hrs.
Brennerbad > Brenner: 1 hrs.

Distance:
16.1 km

Height difference:
Ascent: 612 m
Descent: 201 m