ViaSuworow
Overview
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Distance 15 km
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Duration 4 h 50 min
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Ascent 500 m
Intro
The Chinzigpass awaits with bizarre rock formations and views of the Alps in the Chinzer and Hürital valleys. Unfortunately, Suvorov's troops saw little of these as they had to scale the pass with their heavy field guns on a dull, rainy day.
Description
The hike into the Muotathal valley begins on the sunny terrace with great views over the Schächental valley, surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery. Hikers must climb about 500 metres to Chinzig Chulm (2,073 metres above sea level). After one and a half hours, you have made it. The summit panorama is also spectacular from the top of the pass, with the Rossstock, Chaiserstock, Hoch Pfaffen and Glärnisch in plain sight.
Suvorov's troops set out towards the Chinzig Pass on 27 September at around five o'clock in the morning under the command of Prince Bagration. Despite insufficient supplies and equipment, they reached the pass, where a small chapel stands, around noon. However, the 22,000 Russians who were led over the pass into the Muotathal saw nothing of the surrounding mountains and the magnificent panoramic views. It was rainy and cold.
After the pass, hikers descend via Chinzertal and Wängi into the Hürlital valley. The latter is reached after about two hours. The path to the Muotathal steepens again here, with a 600-metre descent over a distance of three kilometres.
Despite the poor weather, Suvorov's first troops advanced from the Hürlital towards Muotathal around three o'clock in the afternoon. The unexpected appearance of the strange figures left a lasting impression on the population. The French did not expect the Russians to advance over the Chinzig Pass. They were taken by surprise, leading to roughly one company's capture. Some Frenchmen managed to escape to Schwyz. Village priest Lukas Geisser recalls the events: After the French had been put to flight, two horsemen armed with spears, sabres, and a pistol headed up the hill towards him. Another 30 soldiers soon followed them. The officer leading them came up to him, opened his uniform jacket and showed him the large cross on his chest. In broken German, he said: "We also good Christians, we enemies of the French, you also, we therefore friends."
*Background information and quotations stages 55.1-55.9: Alois Camenzind (1992), Maultiere machen Geschichte oder Suworows Krieg in den Schweizer Alpen im Jahre 1799, Luzern: Verlag Pro Libro Luzern GmbH
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Biel-Chinzig
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Muotathal
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1200 m
|
| Ascent |
500 m
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| Descent |
1500 m
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| Distance |
15 km
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| Duration |
4 h 50 min
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| Duration back |
5 h 50 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Season |
June - October
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| Theme |
Along Water, To an alp
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
