Leutasch gorge

The Leutasch Gorge , also Leutascher Geisterklamm , is a gorge near Mittenwald and Unterleutasch in the Bavarian - Tyrolean border area through which the Leutascher Ache flows.

history

As early as 1880, the Leutasch Gorge was partially opened up to the 23 meter high waterfall. This made it the first developed gorge in the German Alps. The footbridges near the stream were repeatedly destroyed by floods.

The entire gorge was only opened for tourism in 2006. For this purpose, steel walkways and bridges were installed over a length of 970 meters in a German-Austrian project funded by the EU and costing 1.4 million euros . At 1,650 meters in length, it is the longest developed gorge in the eastern Limestone Alps . The opening of the path took place on May 24, 2006.

marketing

As a tourism project, the gorge is being marketed as a so-called “ghost gorge” in connection with the “Koboldpfad” as a family-friendly leisure paradise. Information on myths , geology , flora and fauna of the area is given at 40 info points , as well as a ghost with blinking eyes and chimes. The trails run largely horizontally and are designed so that they can also be walked without mountain equipment. The massive construction should counteract any feelings of fear caused by the sometimes more than 50 m height difference between the climb and the gorge floor.

There is also a short path to a waterfall in the gorge.

The Leutasch Gorge is basically open all year round (closed in the event of heavy snowfall). Entry is free of charge; only the way to the waterfall costs entrance.

Geotope

The gorge has been designated as a valuable geotope by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (Geotope number: 180R035).

Accidents

On July 7, 2007, a boulder weighing several hundred kilograms loosened above the path, fell onto the steel walkway and partially destroyed it. People were not harmed. Due to the following repair work, the gorge was closed for two weeks.

Eder pulpit

The restaurant Ederkanzel ( 1208 m ), located on the ridge to the west above the Leutasch gorge, has a geopolitical peculiarity. While the guest room with the toilets is in Germany, the restaurant's terrace, which is also served, is in Austria. The official boundary stone, which marks the border , is located exactly next to the patio door on the outside wall of the building. The drinks and food served on the terrace are, however, in agreement between the two responsible tax offices in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Innsbruck , according to German tax law, i.e. H. charged with the German VAT rate .