Today is a bit cloudy and that's to be expected in the mountains after so many previous beautiful sunny days. Perhaps I can compensate for the lack of sunshine this morning with a good coffee and some tasty breakfast, so I decided to leave the camping and search for it in Brixen while also having a look around the old town center.
"Considered by many to be the symbol of Brixen, it is the bell tower of the church of San Michele. At 72 meters it is also the tallest building in the town. It was built around 1300, destroyed by fire in 1444 and rebuilt in Gothic style, taller, a few years later. Curiously, at first it was called the Black Tower."
"Brixen: A town in northern Italy, situated at the confluence of the Eisack and Rienz rivers, with a population of nearly 23,000 and a rich history dating back to the Upper Paleolithic era, currently serving as the capital of the Eisack district community in the province of South Tyrol (BZ).
Brixen offers easy access to the stunning South Tyrolean landscape, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. With 427 km of hiking trails, you can venture from the city to the mountains, taking in breathtaking views of the Dolomites. In winter, ski down the sun-kissed slopes of the Plose, with the majestic mountains as a backdrop."
Now with my energy levels back to normal was time to head back to the camping and pack my tent. But before that let me show you a bit around the camping as I usually do.
Camping Lowenhof with its modern amenities, on site restaurant and friendly staff is a good choice for any traveller transiting Brixen, plus there are also rooms available at the 4* hotel on site which means there is a choice for everyone based on their budget. Tip for cyclists: don't forget to call and make a reservation in advance as it gets crowded during peak season (aug-sep).
Now that breakfast is served I think it's time to leave Brixen and continue cycling uphill on EuroVelo 7 towards Bruneck.
"Tucked away in the beautiful region of South Tyrol, Italy, lies the impressive Franzensfeste Fortress. This historic stronghold, built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the early 19th century, offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past with its well-preserved architecture and stunning mountain views. Explore the underground tunnels, artillery rooms, and barracks, and learn about the fortress's strategic importance throughout history."
The fortress tour took me more than an hour and was an interesting experience. It is quite big with many rooms to explore and some permanent bunkers exhibitions and other cultural events taking place from time to time. Was a good decision to stop, learned a lot.
Arrived at Camping Olympia near Toblach a bit late, around 8 PM but just in time to set up my tent and have a good worm shower afterwards. I called in advance to make a reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises as I explained in a previous post.
Until next time,
©Discover EuroVelo
All photos were taken with my iPhone 11 and Sony DSC-HX60V camera.
EuroVelo, the European Cycle Route Network are registered marks of ECF asbl.
I have no affiliation with EuroVelo or other organisations mentioned here, I am just a traveller sharing his bike touring trips, views and opinions.
EuroVelo is a network of 17 long distance cycle routes connecting and uniting the whole European continent totaling over 90,000 km of cycling itineraries.