A bit of history: the Austrians built as many as five forts in the Valle del Chiese to prevent the Italians from advancing. These are the forts Corno, Larino, Cariola, Danzolino, and Revegler.
It is quite an unusual name – Via dei Todesch. What could it mean? It derives from the dialect of Valle del Chiese: the todesch are the Germans (or Austrians, everyone who speaks German) and the name thus means the Germans’ path. A bit of history: the Austrians built as many as five forts in Valle del Chiese to prevent Italians from penetrating north from both sides of the valley.
During World War I, Austrian soldiers on reconnaissance used this narrow path to spy on what was happening on Italian territory, certain they would never be discovered on such impassable terrain near the border.
Today this path is almost forgotten and largely not marked by cartographers, who rarely indicate its existence. This represents an advantage for bikers, who can ride it free from restrictions and bans, but not only that, there are over 15 km of mostly rideable flow trails that in some points offer breathtaking views.
Without a doubt, this is a route for experienced cyclists with good physical preparation. Riding an eMTB is really the best; it is recommended to have a battery with a capacity of at least 750Wh.
Warning: Lake Roncone is the only refreshment point, so it is advisable to bring enough water and food.
