Travel Europe – Page 10 – Aplins in the Alps

"The longest Tibet-style footbridge in the world." Umm, what does that mean? "It's basically a swaying suspension bridge." Brett explained. Oh, neat! "And it spans between a castle and a fortress." I'm sold. When are we going? Why is there a bridge there? Architect Armin Walch is passionate about preserving and renovating old castles, like Ehrenberg (dating from the 13th century). So he conceived this grand idea to span a bridge between Ehrenberg and the opposing Fort Claudia. He broke ground in May 2014, and the bridge officially opened just seven short months later. Visitors hike up to Ehrenberg, where they are free to explore the castle ruins and the views of nearby ski slopes. Then they can cross the swaying suspension bridge over the B179 interstate below to the fortress on the other side. Fun facts about Highline 179 According to the Highline 179 website, here are some numbers and interesting things to note about this bridge. 376 feet/114.60 meters high 1332.02 feet/406 meters long 4 feet/1.2 meter wide footpath It's supported by 4 cables, which are 2.4 inches/60mm thick It has 8 anchor points, burying 55.8 feet/17 meters deep into rocks and ground 500 people can enjoy the bridge at one time 360 degree panoramic views Guinness Book of World Records declared it as the "longest Tibet-style footbridge" in the world. dubbed #ViewWithThrill From the parking lot to the middle of the sky Like most tourist attractions, we had looked at a few pictures online but weren't really sure what to expect once we arrived. We parked in a wide parking lot under the bridge and headed for the ticket booth, gazing upward as if it was raining cats and dogs. Tickets in hand (at an affordable 8 euro per person), we started climbing up the zig-zag path. It was pretty steep but manageableâ€”even families with children and grandparents were climbing up and down the beaten trail. Once at the top, we gleaned our first view of the Ehrenberg castle, standing tall and mighty even though it's in a state of ruins. Instead of wandering the castle, we decided to walk across the bridge first. (It's a one-way path back to the parking lot, so we would have an opportunity to see the castle on our way back.) Before we stepped foot on the Highline 179, we were treated to an awesome view. It spans across a massive valley, secured in place by sturdy cables, only slightly sagging in the middle of the hefty metal bridge. We gathered our courage and stepped onto the footpath. At first it felt like any other bridge. We walked without holding on to the hand rails, unable to tear our eyes from the green hills surrounding us. But the further we trekked, the more the suspension bridge swayed in the breeze. Our footing felt less secure (even though we knew we were safe), so we grabbed onto the cold handrails. And then, near the midway point, I looked down. We were right over the middle of the parking lot, watching everyone stare at us like we were cats and dogs falling from the clouds. I actually like that we could see through to the ground below, which added an extra sensory bonus to the overall experience. We managed our way across the 1300 foot long bridge. But that wasn't the climax of our journey. We turned around and were awed by the view! The impressive fortress with mountains looming in the background. The shiny bridge and its faded shadow across the hill. Just stop and soak it all in for a minute. The brisk December weather caught up with us, so it was time to cross back over the bridge and explore the ruins before the sunshine disappeared. For some reason our walk back across the bridge was even more of an experience! We were giggling at how hard it was to stay balanced as we attempted to walk without holding on...and then instinctively grabbed the handrail when we lost our bearings. And then we would watch other people walking or gripping the railings in fear, and laugh even moreâ€”not at them, just at how oddly our bodies react to the circumstances. (They kind of looked like drunk people attempting to walk straight!). The bridge wasn't swaying that much, but our bodies reacted like it was extreme! We finished our experience by exploring the Ehrenberg Castle ruins. Signs posted on the crumbling walls detailed the castle's history, including a plaque mentioning that the oldest gate was constructed in 1290â€”and is still partially standing! The sun began to dip behind the neighboring hills and it was time for us to wrap up our fascinating tour of these ancient stomping grounds We read a few more descriptions, snapped our last photos, spotted a few skiers on nearby ski slopes, and then bundled up as we walked down to our car. Guinness World Records are always fun. The history of long-ago castles incites my intrigue. Bridges with a view are always worth crossing. And people-watching doesn't often disappoint. If you enjoy mountains, castles, bridges, hiking, world records, and people-watching, then Highline 179 should definitely be added to your Austria travel bucket list. Other things to do around Highline 179: Where to stay: FÃ¼ssen or Reutte (home base towns recommended by Rick Steves!), or Garmish (another cute Bavarian town) Castles and history: Mad King Ludwig's castles (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau) Outdoor adventures: Partnach Gorge, walk around Lake Eibsee, visit Zugspitz (the highest peak in Germany, also on the Germany/Austria border) Traditional German food: Ettaler Muhle restaurant and beer garden Subscribe to our email list for our weekly newsletter and behind-the-scenes travel info!