World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Nauders road block and fortification, North Tyrol, Austria

The Nauders road block, also called Hochfinstermünz block, is a fortification situated 2.5 kilometres to the north-west of the town of Nauders in North Tyrol. The site, constructed between 1834 and 1840 on the location of an old defence wall, was the oldest manned fortification in World War I on the Austrian side. Today it is the only old-Austrian fortification system of the southerly barrier chain still on Austrian soil.
The Nauders fortification is located in a gorge and was therefore deemed to be practically unassailable. The construction was not part of the fighting and is therefore in very good condition.

Austria, Tyrol

Type of WWI-heritage

  • Military Fortification

Dimensions

No information available.

State of repair/preservation

The fortification is in good condition.

Historical WWI Context

The Nauders road block, also called Hochfinstermünz block, is a fortification situated 2.5 kilometres to the north-west of the town of Nauders in North Tyrol. The site, constructed between 1834 and 1840 on the location of an old defence wall, was the oldest manned fortification in World War I on the Austrian side. Today it is the only old-Austrian fortification system of the southerly barrier chain still on Austrian soil.
The Nauders fortification is located in a gorge and was therefore thought to be practically unassailable. It was not part of the fighting and is therefore in very good condition. The "Festung Nauders" museum is today accommodated in the fortification.

State of legal protection

The construction is heritage-protected.

Owner

No information available.

Kind of cultural use of WWI

Festung Nauders museum
Contact and registration for special tours:
Ludwig Thoma, Tel. +43/5473/87242
Hilde Pedrolini, Tel. +43/5473/87470
E-mail: museum.thoma@aon.at

Opening

Further information:

Festung Nauders museum
Tours take place each Wednesday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Registration for special tours:
Ludwig Thoma, Tel. +43/5473/87242
Hilde Pedrolini, Tel. +43/5473/87470
E-mail: museum.thoma@aon.at

Entrance Fee

Further information: Festung Nauders museum

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Further information:

Gemeinde Nauders am Reschenpass: www.nauders.com
Land Tirol: www.tirol.at
Stadt Landeck: www.tirolwest.at/landeck.html
Region Tirol-West: www.tirolwest.at

Accomodation

Further information:

Gemeinde Nauders am Reschenpass: www.nauders.com, https://booking.nauders.com
Land Tirol: www.tirol.at
Region Tirol-West: www.tirolwest.at

Public Transport

Further information:

ÖBB: www.oebb.at
Verkehrsverbund Tirol: www.vvt.at

Further information sources

Publications:

Erwin Anton Grestenberger, K.u.k. Befestigungsanlagen in Tirol und Kärnten 1860–1918, Wien (2000).
Gustav Pfeifer (Hg.), Die Festungen im Alttiroler Raum 1836–2014 / / I forti militari nel Tirolo storico 1836–2014, Bozen (2016).

Museums Private Collections

Festung Nauders museum

Location

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