Mountain Passes In Italy | Dolomites

CROCE D'AUNE | ITALIAN DOLOMITES The Croce d’Aune is a mountain pass, at an elevation of 1.015m above the sea level, located in the Feltre Mountain Group of the Italian Dolomites, in the Belluno Province of the Veneto Region. Passo Croce d'Aune is a small pass just north of the town of Feltre, located in Belluno Dolomite National Park. This mountain pass was once the main route of communication between Feltre and the Cismon Valley. Now a tunnel and road has been constructed, resulting in this special spot being forgotten. There are lots of hiking paths starting from the Passo Croce d'Aune, and this happens to be the start point of the for many Italian Dolomites walks.

 Passo Croce d'Aune is the site, where Tullio Campagnolo (from Vicenza) had the inspiration to develop the skewer (quick release) for the bike wheel. He was racing across the pass in the 1920's and due to bad weather and cold Campagnolo had trouble taking off this back wheel to change a flat. On November 11th, 1927, with snow covering the roads of the Croce D'Aune Campagnolo needed to remove his rear wheel to change gears. Because the large wingnuts that held his wheel on had frozen, and his hands were too cold to budge them, he was unable to remove his wheel to change gears, and lost his chance at victory that day.

 As he struggled to free his wheel, he muttered five words to himself that changed the history of cycling: 
"Bisogno cambiá qualcossa de drio!"  ("Something must change in the rear!") and that simple event -- a wheel that couldn't be removed -- started Campagnolo thinking. He went back to his workshop, and emerged with the invention of the quick-release lever (in 1930) and, soon after, an early bicycle derailleur (1933). HOW TO GET TO PASSO CROCE D'AUNE IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES The nearest train line is in the town of Feltre then you can find a local bus that goes up to the pass.  If you are bike touring the area you can cycle to the southern side by crossing Monte Grappa, or ride the Valsugana Bike Path to Reach Arse, also riding over Passo Brocon is a nice option is you wish to reach the northern (classic) route.  I do not recommend riding up the valley along SP80 there are too many tunnels and most do not have access roads to the side. WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING PASSO CROCE D'AUNE If you cycling the area you can reach the pass as part of the Monte Grappa loop from Bassano del Grappa or Asolo Feltre Fiera di Priemero Belluno If you are hiking there are hotels in the Pass and rifugio's OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TRAVEL TIPS FOR PASSO CROCE D'AUNE Bike Tour Passo Croce d'Aune in the Italian Dolomites

Read more: Croce d'Aune | Dolomites

The Mountains Of Italy | Dolomites

GUIDE TO THE VETTE FELTRINE GROUP The Vette Feltrine mountain group marks the regional border between the Trentino Alto Adige Region and Veneto Region. The mountain group separates the Belluno valley  in the south and Passo Cereda to the north. On the west are the foothills of the Logorai Mountain Group and val di Mas on the east. Even though the Vette Feltrine mountain group are just a few miles from the well developed flat lands of the Veneto Region, there are not many trails or roads within the group. Also known as the Vette di Feltre; the mountain group can be sub-divided into the Cimonega Peak, Erera Peak, and  Brandol Peak. The Vette di Feltre and Mount Serva has been famous for their flora in the 18th century. The presence of rare plant species within a variety of natural environments is mainly due to the geographical position of the territory. The Park is situated on the edge of the South-eastern Dolomite's meaning it was not covered by the glaciers forming during the glacial periods of the Quaternary, the last of which disappeared about 10,000-12,000 years ago. TOWNS OF THE FELTRE GROUP Feltre Fiera di Primiero Sedico MAIN PEAKS OF THE FELTRE GROUP Sass de Mura (2550 m) Piz Sagron (2485 m) Monte Pavione (2334 m) Col di Luna (2295 m) Monte Ramezza (2250 m) Monte Scarnia (2226 m) Gruppo dello Schiara: Monte Schiara (2563 m) Monte Tamer (2547 m) Monte Talvena (2542 m) Pelf (2502 m) Castello di Moschesin (2499 m) MOUNTAIN PASSES IN THE FELTRE GROUP Croce d'Aune MOUNTAIN HUTS IN THE FELTRE GROUP Rifugio Giorgio Dal Piaz 1993 m. Rifugio Bruno Boz 1718 m.

Vette Feltrine Outdoors

DOLOMITE MOUNTAIN GROUPS NEARBY

Read more: Feltre Mountain Group | Dolomites

follow us

EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS

Guide to Outdoor Recreation

TRAVEL ITALY

Travel Guide to Italy