Timmelsjoch (Italian: Passo del Rombo), (2,474 metres)) is a high mountain pass that creates a link through the Ötztal Alps along the border between Austria and Italy. The Timmelsjoch connects the Ötztal valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol to the Passeier Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. This is truely an alpine environment with Jochköpfl (3,141 metres) and Wurmkogl (3,082 metres) peaks to its northeast and southwest, respectively.
We travelled on the Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse the pass is popular with car and motorbike tourists. Due to its elevation, steepness, and narrow road, the Timmelsjoch pass is closed to lorries and vehicles with trailers. With its dramatic scenery, particularly on the southern side, the road has become popular with cyclists. It is open to traffic from approximately the first half of June to the second half of October (snow conditions permitting). We visited this point as part of the IBRG LIVCO-25 expedition.
At the top of the pass there is an exhibition of the building of the road, a panoramic observation point and a Restaurant. The border is clearly demarcated with border markers both as pillars and insets in the road.
Border markers
Crowns of Thorns
Above the road is a Crown of Thorns erected in September 2024, it serves as a memorial to the division of the Tyrol. The Crown of Thorns is also meant to unite and reflect historical Tyrol. The monument is associated with the Südtiroler Schützenbund a traditional hunting association that promotes the cultural identity of German speakers in the region. These hunting groups tend to be nationalistic and right wing.
Date of Visit: 29 August 2025
Barry's Borderpoints 