The first highway over the Alps - Simplon Pass
Overview
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Intro
Since time immemorial, the Simplon Pass has been one of the main Alpine thoroughfares linking northern and southern Europe. Well preserved sections of the old Stockalper trail and impressive structures from various epochs bear witness to its eventful past.
Archaeological finds suggest that the Simplon – at 2,005 metres above sea level, the lowest of all the passes linking Valais and Switzerland – was already a thoroughfare in the Bronze and Iron Ages. By the 12th century it formed the heart of the trade route between the economic powerhouse of Upper Italy and the markets of the Champagne. Kaspar Jodok von Stockalper, dubbed “King of the Simplon”, ordered improvements to the 35-kilometre section of road between Brig and Gondo in 1635 and had a number of monumental buildings erected along it. In 1800, Napoleon had the road expanded into a broad highway for reasons of military strategy. Completed in 1805, the 63-kilometre route with its eight large bridges and seven galleries set into the rockface is considered to be the first true highway over the Alps.
After the opening of the Simplon railway tunnel in 1906, road traffic dwindled almost to nothing. But that was to change with the advent of motor vehicles: Postbus services over the Pass had already begun in 1919, and the road was gradually paved and improved. The road’s military significance increased further during the Second World War, when the whole area around the pass was used for infantry and artillery manoeuvres. An imposing stone eagle stands as a reminder to the military occupation of this border region.
The historical development of the Simplon is reflected in a number of remarkable structures. The bleak landscape around the col is dotted with unusual stone-built Alpine settlements dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. The old hospice, also known as Alter Spittel, with its onion dome and open belfry, was built on a moraine mound in 1666 on the orders of Kaspar Stockalper. Just below it, the 120-metre long Barralhaus with its 35 sets of windows sits ruler-straight in the landscape. The massive Hospiz, dating from Napoleonic times, is the largest of the hospices on the European Alpine passes. The Bellevue Hotel bears witness to the rise of tourism, its plain exterior belying a Belle Époque interior.
Trip tip
The Simplon Pass offers a wealth of excursion options. Large sections of Stockalper's cobblestone pack-animal path have been preserved and now serve as part of the ViaStockalper trail. Napoleon’s Hospiz is an impressive sight. The largest of the Alpine hospices, it accommodates up to 130 guests.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
