This is the Via Claudia Augusta: one of the most Ancient roads traversing the Alps in existence, used as a trade and military route and constructed by the Romans in the early centuries A.D. It weaves through ancient mining sites, farmland, alpine dwellings, monasteries and castles alike, all which were constructed in part due to the close proximity to this route. It is important to me as a trail runner, mountain lover and Christian, since the path is the intersection of these three. It carries a huge amount of historical and religious significance but also boasts incredible beauty and challenging terrain. While there are several route variations, (starting and ending at various points in Germany and Italy, continuing to bodies of water or more modern cities, cycling routes), I am looking to complete the “Alpine section” which passes over the Alps beginning in Füssen, Germany and ending just after the Italian Alps when it drops into Cison di Valmarino, ending at Castel Brando. These three GPX files are provided by the staff of ViaClaudia.org, so I trust them to be accurate! The Altinate route is the hiking route which most closely maps the earliest trail, while spin-offs (like the Padana route) are friendlier to cyclists and generally have less elevation.
I am hoping to complete this journey in summer of 2026, but have not yet decided on a proposed daily itinerary. Thank you for your consideration and feedback and I hope to begin adventure planning soon!
