- Location: Canton Ticino (near the canton of Uri), Switzerland
- Mountain system: Lepontinsky Alps
- Height above sea level: 2106 m
- Length: 32-48 km
- Width: 10-12 km
Each historian with strong confidence and great interest will tell you one of the truisms - large civilizations are formed near large traffic junctions. The Saint Gotthard Pass is of exceptional importance for Switzerland. The first unions of cities around the Firvaldschetta Lake were strengthened with the help of trade routes that ran through this mountain pass. And, accordingly, the economy of Switzerland as a whole was also strengthened. With firm certainty it can be stated that without the trade routes through the Gotthard pass, which connected the north and south of Europe, the dawn of this amazing country would drag on for many years.
What is Saint Gothard famous for?
The pass of Saint Gothard was known even in the time of the ancient Romans, as one of the four shortest ways to cross the Alps . However, it was possible to pass this route only 5-6 months a year. However, even in these periods there was a danger from the river gorges. Slightly leveled this problem with the help of the construction of suspension bridges. The first stone bridge appeared here in 1595, and it ran through the ravine of the Reus river. He carried a very specific name - "Devil's Bridge". According to legend, in the construction of this structure participated himself horned, and in return demanded the soul of the first who crossed it. However, ingenious villagers have passed through the bridge of a goat, so the devil was left without benefit. In honor of this legend today on the rock near the base of the bridge are two figures in the form of the main characters of this legend.
The Saint Gotthard Pass is also known in the pages of Russian history textbooks. In the memory of local residents, tales still remain about how the great Russian commander A.V. Suvorov took the impregnable "Devil's Bridge". He made his famous crossing through the Gotthard Pass in September 1799. In honor of this event, a monument to the great commander is erected here, and as a sign of memory and sorrow for the dead in the rock above the gorge of the Ryos River, a 12-meter-high Orthodox cross was carved, and over their graves a small chapel was built.
In 1872, the first work began on the project of a railway tunnel through the Gotthard Pass. In 1880, an ideal 15-kilometer passage through the Alps was laid, and the first trains began to run since 1885. Today it is one of the busiest interchanges in Switzerland. Almost every 10 minutes here there are trains carrying dozens of tons of cargo, and a tunnel was built nearby, which allows to cross the Saint Gotthard Pass by car.
Practical information
The Alpine pass of Saint Gotthard is of particular importance not only as a transport interchange. It is a mountain knot, several ridges converge, and a complex system of rivers and lakes makes it one of the most important watersheds in Switzerland . The Saint Gotthard Pass is located on the border of the cantons of Valais, Ticino, Graubunden and Uri. Territorially it belongs to the Lepontinsky Alps. The Saint Gotthard is located at an altitude of 2106 m, in length it reaches 38-42 km, in width - 10-12 km. Its northern slope is a gentle slope, the southern slope is steep and rocky.
How to get there?
You can see the famous pass using public transport . An express bus runs from Andermatt, which will take you to your destination.
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