Loibl Mountain Pass

The Loibl Pass (German: Loiblpass) or Ljubelj Pass (Slovene: prelaz Ljubelj) is a mountain pass that connects Slovenia with Austria. It’s about half an hour drive from the Bled area. The road’s winding design provides great panoramic views and is very curvy and fun for a leisurely ride, so it pays to take it slow. In 1967, the Loibl-Tunnel was opened to traffic, and the old pass over the mountain was closed for cars. But people still can walk cross the border.

The importance of the Loibl Pass has diminuished since 1991, when the 7,864 meters long Karawanken Motorway Tunnel, which connects the Austrian Karawanken Autobahn (A 11) from Villach with the Slovenian A2 motorway to Ljubljana. But those who like a winding road with nice views and want to avoid the Karawanken Tunnel toll (€7) can use Loibl Pass to visit the attractions on the Austrian side, like Minimundus miniature park, Pyramidenkogel observation tower, Lake Worthersee or Carinthia’s capital Klagenfurt. Border controls have been abolished with Slovenia joining the Schengen Area effective from December 2007.

Hairpin turn on Loibl Pass road
Hairpin turn on the Loibl Pass road. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Loiblpass road
Loibl Pass road. (Image by Divna Jaksic / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Loiblpass road
Loibl Pass road. (Image by Mich973 / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Turn on Loiblpass road
Turn on the Loibl Pass road. (Image by Divna Jaksic / CC BY-SA 3.0)

loiblpass-ljubelj-road-autumn
Loibl Pass road in autumn. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Tunnel on the Loiblpass road
Tunnel on the Loibl Pass road. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

The 1566 meters long Loibl Tunnel connecting Slovenia and Austria
The 1566 meters long Loibl Tunnel connecting Slovenia and Austria.

Parking lot at the Loibl Pass
Parking lot at the Loibl Pass. (Image by Ljuba brank / GFDL)

Loibl Pass road on the Sapotnica
Loibl Pass road on the Sapotnica. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Fingerpost on the Loibl Pass road at the Sapotnica
Fingerpost on the Loibl Pass road at the Sapotnica. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Guesthouse Deutscher Peter on the Austrian side of the Loiblpass road
Guesthouse Deutscher Peter on the Austrian side of the Loibl Pass road. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Mountain pass Old Loibl with obelisks marking the Austrian/Slovenian borderline
Mountain pass Old Loibl with obelisks marking the Austrian/Slovenian borderline. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Marker on the on the Old Loibl mountain pass
Marker on the on the Old Loibl mountain pass. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Slovenian alpine hut on the Old Loibl mountain pass
Slovenian alpine hut on the Old Loibl mountain pass. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)

A map showing the road over the Loibl Pass
In 1967, the Loibl-Tunnel was open for traffic, and the Old Loibl Pass over the mountain was closed for cars. But people still can walk cross the border. (Image by Presse03 / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Location:
Loibl Pass Address: Loibl Tunnel, Loibltal 49, 9163 Ferlach, Austria
Loibl Tunnel Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.44517, 14.25288
Loibl Tunnel GPS coordinates: 46° 26′ 42.6336” N     14° 15′ 10.4004” E
Traditional region: Upper Carniola (Slovene: Gorenjska)
Municipality: Trzic

Directions from Apartments Fine Stay to the Loibl Tunnel (drive 36 km, 26 minutes)

Directions from Apartments Fine Stay Bled to the Loibl Tunnel (drive 38 km, 32 minutes)

2 thoughts on “Loibl Mountain Pass”

  1. I remember travelling the Loibl Pass in 1956 with my parents returning from the then Yugoslavia back to Austria.
    The road was extremely steep and all gravel then with very tight bends.
    It was a scary trip. I was 11 then.
    Peter

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