Radstädter Tauern Pass

The Radstädter Tauern Pass stands at 1,738 metres in the Niedere Tauern range, a high mountain pass in Salzburg that links Radstadt in the Pongau to Mauterndorf in the Lungau. It divides the Radstadt Tauern on the west from the Schladming Tauern on the east, both sections of the Central Eastern Alps. The Katschberg Straße (B 99) climbs through the pass, running from Bischofshofen beside the Salzach River up to Sankt Michael im Lungau on the Mur River. A parallel route, the Tauern Autobahn (A 10), passes 600 metres lower through the Tauern Road Tunnel. Evidence suggests the pass was first used by the Celtic Taurisci tribe before becoming a Roman road during Emperor Septimius Severus’s rule from 193 onwards. The pass carries historical weight as a Roman route from Iuvavum, now Salzburg, across the Alps to Aquileia in Italy. Travellers today find Obertauern ski resort at the summit, a winter destination known for reliable snow. The road’s steady climb rewards drivers and cyclists with wide views over forested valleys and rugged peaks. Below the pass, the Enns and Mur valleys frame the route, showing how the road once connected northern and southern Europe. The contrast between the modern tunnel and the ancient road highlights how the landscape has shaped travel for centuries. At the top, the air is cool even in summer, and the surrounding peaks rise above 2,500 metres. The pass road winds through open meadows dotted with alpine flowers before descending on the far side. Signs mark the border between Pongau and Lungau, where the scenery shifts from gentle hills to steeper slopes. In winter, lifts carry skiers to slopes that face north and east, holding snow longer than lower resorts. The pass remains a quiet crossing compared with busier routes, offering a clear view of how mountains both divide and connect.