Loibl Pass

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Loibl Pass
Map showing the location of Loibl Pass
Elevation	1367 m.
Location	Austria/Slovenia
Range	Alps
Coordinates	46°26′30″N, 14°15′19″E

Loibl Pass (German: Loiblpass; Slovenian: Ljubelj "the popular") is a mountain pass in the Karawanken chain of the Alps, linking Austria with Slovenia. The century-old 1367 m high pass near the Hochstuhl summit is the shortest connection between Ferlach and Tržič.

In addition to the different routes that were used since ancient times, several tunnels have been built, starting with a 150m long one in 1560 that later had to be abandoned due to lack of safety. Another attempt was planned in the 17th century. In 1728, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor travelled over the pass, ordering some work.

During World War II, a 1570 meter long tunnel was built in 1068 m above sea level, by civil workers and 1652 prisoners of two minor sub-camps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp on both sides. To keep the work force effective, injured or sick prisoners were send back to the main camp, or executed by Dr. Sigbert Ramsauer by euthanasia if not able to be transported. As the surviving 950 prisoners could free themselves on 7 May 1945, these were the only sub-camps of Mauthausen-Gusen not to be either evacuated or liberated until the end of the war.

The first army vehicles passed the very tight tunnel on 4 December 1944. Military traffic and returning soldiers and refugees used the tunnel until it was closed in 1947. It was reopened in 1950 and expanded to two lanes in 1966, while the old road over the mountain pass itself has been closed for traffic since 1967.

Since 1991, the 7864 m and 8019 m long Karawankentunnel (Autobahn) provides a faster link between Klagenfurt and Naklo. A toll of 6,50 EUR (as of January 2005) is charged for the use of the E652 part of the International E-road network.