The Jaufenpass (Italian Passo di Monte Giovo) is a 2,094 m s.l.m. higher Alpine pass between Stubai Alps and Sarntal Alpswho that Upper Wipptal (Italian Alta Val Isarco) with the Passeier Valley (both South-Tirol
) connects and is of particular importance as an excursion route for cars and motorcycles. The year-round passable and very winding Strada Statale 44 del Passo di Giovo, the Meran (Italian Merano) With Sterzing (Italian Vipiteno) connects.
background
The Jaufenpass was probably already very busy in the Stone Age, which is clearly demonstrated by finds along the wide ridge. Finds also prove that it was used during the Bronze Age. The mule track over the Jaufen was expanded for the first time at the same time as a drivable route was built over the burner (Via Raetia) by the Romans. After the opening of the section of Via Raetia by the Eisack Valley The importance of the road over the Jaufenpass, which was partly already paved, but only accessible by two-wheeled carts, decreased again. The old and steep mule track was still used for pass traffic until a car road was built over the Jaufen shortly before the start of the First World War.
Like the old mule track, today's pass road does not lead through the Jaufental up to the pass, but over a ridge called Jaufenwald between Jaufental and Ratschingstal. This route allows a relatively easy ascent, which means that significantly fewer hairpin bends and bridges are necessary on the north ramp than on the south ramp. The name Jaufen goes to the Romansh term juvu (Latin iugum) back, which translated into German means yoke.
getting there
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By car
From the Wipptal
Of innsbruck - Brenner Pass (1370 m above sea level) - or Brixen (Italian Bressanone, Ladin Persenon or Porsenù) via the toll Brenner motorway
or. Autostrada
until the exit 
Sterzing - Vipitento, alternatively also via the toll-free Strada Statale 12 dell’Abetone e del Brennero (Brennerstaatsstraße) 
. Continue on Strada Statale 44 del Passo di Giovo 
via Gasteig (Italian Casateia) from the Ridnaun valley up to the Jaufenpass. The length of the route from the junction Sterzing is simply about 18 kilometers, the driving time in normal traffic is about a quarter of an hour.
From the burgrave office
Of Meran (Italian Merano, Ladin Maran) on Strada Statale 44 del Passo di Giovo the Passeier Valley up over St. Martin in Passeier (Italian San Martino in Passiria) and St. Leonhard in Passeier (Italian San Leonardo in Passiria) to the Jaufenpass. The length of the route St. Leonhard in Passeier, Town center, is just about 20 kilometers, the travel time in normal traffic is about 15 to 20 minutes. Of Meran It is 40 kilometers and around 35 minutes by car.
By bus and train
In summer, from mid-June to mid-October, bus line 241 runs from St. Leonhard in Passeier and the 317 bus from Sterzing up to the Jaufenpass. The timetables of the bus routes operated by the Verkehrsverbund Südtirol can be found at www.sii.bz.it. The buses have in St. Leonhard in Passeier Connection to bus line 240 after Meran, on the Jaufenpass to each other (241/317) and in Sterzing to the train (line 100) Brixen and Bolzano.
By bicycle
At first glance, cycling across the Jaufenpass appears to be from Sterzing to St. Leonhard in Passeier makes sense, as there are fewer meters to conquer. However, it is more scenic and more recommendable to drive in the opposite direction, i.e. from St. Leonhard in Passeier to Sterzing. According to trip The Jaufenpass is one of the top ten due to its remarkable landscape, pleasant gradients and varied road layout Alpine passes.
On foot
The shortest route over the Jaufenpass starts from Walten (Italian Valtina; 1269 m) on Jaufenstraße (bus stop line 241) along the Jaufenbach uphill past the Jaufenalm (1850 m) to the pass (path no.17) and further down into the Jaufental past Schluppes (Italian Casalupa; 1508 m) to Mittertal (Italian Val di Mezzo), where there is a bus stop for line 314 (after Sterzing) is located (path no.12). The Urweg Jaufenkamm leads from the Römerkehre below the Jaufenpass first below Fleckner (2331 m) and Saxner (2358 m) to the Schloter Joch (also Schlattacher Joch; 2264 m), before descending down to Stuls (1332 m). From the Jaufenpass (2093 m), we recommend a short hike to the nearby Jaufenspitze (2480 m) via the well-signposted path no.17, which is secured with steel ropes.
Route information
opening hours
The toll-free Jaufenstraße is usually open to passenger traffic all year round, but can also be closed for a short period of time for longer periods in winter if the weather conditions allow Passeier Valley then exclusively over Meran is attainable. The road is closed at night from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., but the street is not blocked off at night. Current route information under www.passeier.it.
By bicycle
The crossing of the Jaufenpass is part of the Ötztal cycle marathon that takes place every year in August.
In this competition, the Jaufenpass is the penultimate slope before the Timmelsjoch defeated after the field of participants, which mostly consisted of amateurs, had already been defeated by Soelden above Kühtai, innsbruck and the Brenner Pass has driven.
security
For information on safety, see the route information a section above. In general, you should adapt your pace to the local conditions on Jaufenstrasse and not overestimate your ability (especially for motorcyclists), and drive considerately and with foresight. Both the west ramp of St. Leonhard in Passeier as well as the east ramp of Sterzing are well secured, but the more curvy western ramp is generally more difficult to drive on.
trips
Timmelsjoch
In connection with Brenner Pass (Bundesstraße), Jaufenpass and Timmelsjoch results in an interesting excursion trip over three different ones Alpine passes, which is also part of the Ötztal Cycle Marathon. From burner (Italian Passo del Brennero or short Brennero; 1370 m above sea level A.) you drive either on the toll motorway (Autostrada A22) or on the toll-free SS 12 dell’Abetone e del Brennero (Brennerstaatsstraße) down to Sterzing (Italian Vipiteno; 949 m s.l.m.) and follows the winding Strada Statale 44 del Passo di Giovo with 20 hairpin bends over the Jaufenpass (2094 m s.l.m.) to after St. Leonhard in Passeier. Continue on the 
until Timmelsjoch (2,509 m s.l.m.). The toll station of the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is on the Austrian side; Driving on the Italian side alone is toll-free.
Meran / Merano
If you follow the Jaufenpass first the Waltenbachtal and later the Passeier Valley further and further down, the landscape changes suddenly with different geological, climatic and vegetation zones. While the Hinterpasseier between Jaufenpass and St. Leonhard in Passeier is natural and has an alpine climate, which means that there is still snow at high altitudes until late spring, the Vorderpasseier is gone St. Leonhard in Passeier characterized by vines, orchards, pastures and Mediterranean vegetation. At the end of Passeiertals at Meran (Italian Merano, Ladin Maran) the Passer (Italian Passirio) into the Adige (Italian Adige).
