Freikofel First World War Open-Air Museum

Once you reach Timau (a hamlet of the municipality of Paluzza) by car and continue towards the border with Austria, you can park near the fourth hairpin bend, by the roadman’s house. The starting point of the itinerary is the nearby entrance to the CAI 401a trail, which leads directly to the Chapel of the Val Tagliamento Battalion (1,428 metres above sea level). The route then continues along the path towards the Pal Piccolo mountain hut: here, surrounded by greenery, the remains of several military buildings and a wartime altar dating back to 1916 can be seen. Continuing uphill to an altitude of 1,545 metres above sea level, on a rock to the right there is a memorial plaque with an iron cross commemorating the fallen. A few metres further on, at the fork, keep left and join the CAI 401 trail. Following this path, the summit of Freikofel soon comes into view on your right. After about half an hour, you reach a second fork. Turn right onto the CAI 413 trail, which, with a few simple equipped exposed sections (handrails and iron steps), leads directly to the summit (1,757 metres above sea level), where the commemorative monument from the Fascist period and the military structures recently brought back to light are located. Slightly lower down, on the southern side of the peak, the reconstructed barracks and restored regimental insignia are now visible thanks to the volunteers of the Association "Friends of the Carnic Alps". Returning near the commemorative monument, follow the CAI 413 trail again and begin the descent, roughly following the border line between Italy and Austria. This route, which leads as far as Cavallo Pass (1,622 metres above sea level), is dotted with dozens of remains, including traces of buildings, barracks, tunnels and galleries. Once you reach the pass, continue to the right and, after a few metres, taking great care, turn first right onto the CAI 401 trail and then left onto the CAI 410 trail. The descent ends after about an hour near Stauli Roner, from where a short climb branches off to the right along the former Roman Road, where it is possible to see a memorial plaque dating back to 371 AD, which leads back to the starting point.