Page 186 - DIVA_MY WORKS 1918-2022

international

Swiss hike of “four springs” - the sources of horse-drawn carriage like in the days of the
four major European rivers: the Ticino, the famous 19 century Gotthard Post. Only on
th
“here you have the first soul that crosses the Reuss, the Rhine and the Rhone. this route can you feel the heart and the soul
bridge!”. Full of anger, the Devil tore the billy of the Confederation, its cradle, its birthplace,
goat apart and found a huge stone to destroy The birth of tunnels. Foot traffic has used this its main vital artery. Furthermore, if you take
the bridge again. However, an elderly woman pass since 1200, and the first carriage crossed the southern side from the Pass, you will have
passed by, recognized him and carved a cross July 1940, with most of Europe at war, neutral in 1775. Less than a century later, after decades the privilege of travelling through time on a
into the stone. When the Devil saw this, he Switzerland implemented a defensive strategy of debate over routes and costs, work began nostalgic and a fascinating paved road called
missed his target and the stone landed in the based on mountains, especially the Gotthard. on a rail tunnel beneath the pass. Over seven Tremola.
valley below, not far from Göschenen where it Passages, tunnels, redoubts and bunkers were years and 277 lives later, the tunnels which
has been lying ever since and is known as the dug out of the mountain, many of which had begun simultaneously from Göschenen Tremola. Tremola is a marvel. This serpentine
“Devil’s Stone”. Today the image of the Devil remain today. One such Swiss army hidden and Airolo met midway on February 29, 1880. cobbled road - with 24 hairpin bends, each
from this legend can be seen at the tunnel artillery fortification, considered top secret The first trains ran through the 15km tunnel of which has its -own name – connects the
entrance. until a few years ago, is now open to the public in 1882. This line is still a vital north–south Gothard Pass to Airolo through the Val
as part of the Sasso San Gottardo Museum. artery, at peak times carrying an average Tremolo (Valley of Trembling). This is an
Suworow -Denkmal and related memorials. On the underground Metro des Sasso you can of one train every six minutes: five million unforgettable journey through time, whether
1
The Devil’s bridge is a historical and legendary travel through the fortification and learn its passengers and 25 million tonnes of freight you are driving, biking or even taking a
place as it was an obligatory route for all history. Currently closed for renovation, this carried each year. The Gotthard road tunnel horseride over this historic road, literally
travellers. It has witnessed many events of unique, deep underground museum will open was completed in 1980 after eleven years of “trembling” on the narrow cobblestone path.
historical significance, as well as furious again in June this year. Another museum, construction. It is, at 16.3km, the longest In just four kilometres this tortuous road takes
battles, most significantly that led by the the National St. Gotthard, is also situated at road tunnel in the world, and although prone you via spectacular twists
Russian Generalissimo Suworow, who along the height of the pass. This 1834 building is to hideous kilometres-long jams at least it and turns to an altitude
with the Austrians defeated the French here dedicated to the economic, strategic, political remains open all year while the pass above is difference of 300 metres.
in 1799. A huge commemorative memorial and cultural impact of this pass. blocked in winter. Another tunnel is expected It is part of the first
is chiselled into the rock just opposite the to be built by 2030. The tunnels changed the carriage road through
Devil’s bridge overlooking the Schöllenen Another historical monument in the pass is view and approaches to the Gotthard Pass the Gotthard and was
Ravine, with another monument to Suworow dedicated to the famous Swiss aviator Guex, itself, simplifying movement there. Taking built between 1828 and
erected on top of the Gothard Pass itself. This who died for the motherland in the Alpine the tunnels saves journey time, but misses 1832 by the engineer
symbolizes the crossing of the Alps in his region of the Gotthard. This was built in something much more significant. The path from Ticino Francesco,
campaign, and two museums in his honour 1928 by Fausto Agnelli, as was the previously through the Schöllenen Ravine and the barren Moschini, to replace
– the Talmuseum Ursern in Andermatt and mentioned monument to Marshall Suworow. Urseren Valley up to the Pass Heights can be the prior mule track.
Suworow museum in Altdorf – are dedicated There is also a historic hospice: Ospizio taken on foot, in a nostalgic PostBus, or in a The total distance of the
to these historical events. San Gottardo, originally built in 1237 and climb from Airolo to the
preserved by European Heritage. It was Gothard Hospice is 13

St Gothard is a Military Fortress. The recently renovated by the architects Miller & km, almost all cobbles,
Gotthard Pass is also a military fortress. In Maranta in a perfect fusion between antique with 900 metres of
and modern. You can stay here to be inspired,
just like Goethe, the Count of Cavour, Honoré altitude gain. The whole
Alexander Suworow was a Russian Command- de Balzac and Petrarch, all of whom have climb is very popular
er in service of the Russian Empire. He was Count with cyclists, who call it
of Rymnik, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, rooms dedicated to them. Those fond of “the little “Paris-Roubaix
Prince of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Prince of the hiking can do the challenging five-hour hike of the Swiss Alps”. It
Russian Empire and the last Generalissimo of the past the seven St. Gotthard lakes at the top of
Russian Empire. the pass. St. Gothard is also a part of a bigger is like an incredible
porphyry snake, climbing

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