European walking route E5

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The E5 (E for European) is a long distance walking route running form the French Atlantic coast in Brittany over the Alps towards Verona in Italy. The trail is one of the 11 existing European long distance walking routes. It is tagged over the whole 3200 km distance. The most common is the last part of the path crossing Europe’s highest mountains from Lace Constance towards Italy (600 km, around 30 days). Even at this part, where the greatest highs have to be coped there is no need for climbing experience. Although, to master the distance one should be well equipped for the supposable case of bad weather. Good fitness as well as some hiking experience are also advisable.



France

The E5 route starts like the E9 one in Pointe du Raz in the north-west of France. After a small curve along the channel coast it is running inland past Versailles and following the Seine to Dijon. After traversing the Vosges the trail reaches the Lace Constance.

Swiss

By-passing the Rheinfall the E5 is going along the southern bank of the Lake Constance until it reaches Rheineck.

Austria

Starting in Bregenz, the trail is further leading to the east. After the first strenuous ascent the Staufner hut and the German border are reached.

Germany

After the rout the real Alpine stage starts after Oberstdorf down in the valley. Right here most of the E5 travellers start their track. After 50 km the trail crosses the Austrian border after the Kemptner hut.

Austria

The most strenuous as well as spectacular part of the track (175 km) crosses Allgäuer, Lechtaler and Ötztaler Alps. The route leads the traveller past the Memminger hut towards Zams and afterwards over Geigenkamm and Kaunergrat to Pitztal. Behind Mittelberg the route crosses Pitztaler Joch, the top point of the track (2995m), before reaching the Italian border near Timmelsjoch.

Italy

The E5 now goes past the Heilig Kreuz Spitze and the Hohe Warte towards Merano and Bolzano, where some travellers may disappear. The trail is getting less mountainous and less crowded with tourists, but there are still more than 12 hard days of walking from here to Verona. The track leads the traveller along the west flank of the Dolomites past the health resort Levico Terme and over the history-charged Pasúbio massif towards the final destination Verona.

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