14 miles long, one of the most beautiful alpine roads in the Austrian Alps, 32 switchbacks on the western ramp, a turquoise artificial lake on top, a place to sit in the sun, drink coffee and enjoy the views, what else could you ask for? It's a toll road, but this awesome ride is well worth the money.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) is one of the tragic figures in Bavarian history. After his father died in 1864, Ludwig became king at a very young age. His interest in art and the love of his country inspired the idea of a new and spectacular castle replacing the ruins in front of the mountain called Schwanstein. In 1868 the plans were completed, in 1869 construction began, and the castle was finished in 1886. Its architecture perfectly matched the surreal dream world that King Ludwig had escaped to. He only lived here for 120 days before he was moved to Lake Starnberg after his deposition by the Bavarian parliament. There he died under mysterious circumstances.

Long before the road was completed in 1969 people used the Timmelsjoch to cross the mountain range known as the Ötztaler Alps. At 2,509 meters (8,231 ft) it is the second highest pass in the eastern Alps (after Stelvio) and covers a vertical distance of more than 1,800 meters (6,000 ft). Especially the Italian (southern) side is quite spectacular to ride, the views are breathtaking. In 1991 Ötzi the Ice Man was found on a slope about 14 miles from the top of the pass. In April 2016 Europe's highest motorcycle Museum opened its doors to the public, displaying a collection of 190 vintage bikes.