Posted by Just as every Harley rider is familiar with Lake Faak, just a few kilometers away, every touring rider knows the Bikerwirt Friedl from the market town of Treffen near Villach. Friedl’s Garage, as the Hotel-Restaurant Kuchlerwirt is known in the scene jargon, has been a magnet for motorcyclists in the border triangle of Austria, Slovenia and Italy for many years. Twice a week, the motorcycle hotelier accompanies his guests on the sunny side of the Alps and shows the enthusiastic riders many a delicacy. And this is what a tour with Friedl can look like.
Casual roll-on
The day begins with a relaxed warm-up ride towards Villach. Landskron Castle wishes us a nice day and the tense tourer glides along the side road via Bad Bleiburg towards the Italian border. Tarvisio is quickly reached, where Bella Italia is already pulsating around the market hall.
Predil and Mangart
And then the piste starts to rock. Past the beautiful Predilsee lake, which is always worth a stop, the first tight hairpin bends have to be mastered on the Predil Pass. The pass at 1,156 meters is also the border to Slovenia. Just don’t miss the easily overlooked “Mangart” sign – no problem with guide Friedl. The Mangart, one of Friedl’s top recommendations, quickly shows why the Kuchlerwirt likes to drive up here. The highest paved road in Slovenia leads through 17 hairpin bends and 5 tunnels up to 2,055 meters and provides gigantic rock panoramas.
Soča Valley and Vršič Pass
Still flashed by the Mangart, the emerald-colored Soča now accompanies the route and inspires with the valley it has created. Of course, you have to take a photo of the ride over the creaking wooden bridge – after all, you want to make those back home a little jealous. If there’s anything missing, the Vršič Pass with over 50 hairpin bends will take care of the rest. And the 1,611-metre-high pass must be tackled from south to north, because the fun is always greatest uphill. The famous winter sports resort of Kranjska Gora is then the perfect place for a relaxing break.
Villach Alpine Road
Over the historic Wurzen Pass, past the bunker museum and memorial, we enter Austria again and Friedl heads for another bend highlight – the Villach Alpine Road. The ascent to the view of Villach’s local mountain, the 2,166-metre-high Dobratsch, is just over 16 kilometers long, overcomes 1,200 metres in altitude and packs seven hairpin bends and 116 curves in front of the bike. The relaxing stops at the magnificent viewpoints are of course particularly worthwhile. The leisurely ride back to Treffen offers a little more fascination with nature around Lake Ossiach before stopping off at the Kuchlerwirt.
Garage vibrations
Friedl’s garage is already buzzing with biker life when you arrive, and while the engines of the bikes are still crackling metallically, the first freshly tapped beers are already running through dry biker throats. The Kuchlerwirt hosts Gina and Friedl, together with their motivated staff, take care of the physical well-being of their motorcycle guests. Later, after a barbecue plate, spare ribs or juicy steaks, the large tour menu is unpacked and the next motorcycle day is planned. How about the Nockalm Road, the Glockner, the ham tour to San Daniele or, or, or…
In addition to a large selection of tour suggestions, in paper form and for the navigation system, the legendary garage as a bike parking space, there is also the advantage ticket for the Carinthian panoramic roads.
Friedl’s Garage/Kuchlerwirt
Friedhelm Kohlweiss
Millstätter Street 11
A-9521 Treffen near Villach
0043-4248 2826
[email protected]
www.kuchler-wirt.at
