ViaGottardo
Overview
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Distance 10 km
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Duration 3 h 15 min
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Ascent 680 m
Intro
Closely watched by the devil, the route leads from Wassen to Göschenen and through the bottleneck of the Schöllenenschlucht gorge to Andermatt. The sequence of historic routes, bridges, customs posts and hostels bring pre-modern transport to life.
Description
The historic hike to Andermatt starts in Wassen, famous for its "Chileli" (little church). Since the Gotthard Railway opening in 1882, it has been a landmark on the train ride south, during which you get to see the little Baroque church from three different angles. The stone and wood-built houses, along with the splendid fountain dominating the village square, are also a sight to behold. After two short sections along the motorway, the route leaves the road for good and continues slightly above the Reuss river. At Fusterblacken, you are directly above the motorway. A little further on, the path turns into a gravel road. The route continues along the railway line to Göschenen.
Most people know Göschenen, located at the top of the Urner Reusstal valley, only from passing through it. The village was bustling between 1872 and 1882 and again almost a hundred years later, from 1970 to 1980. At the time, the world's longest railway tunnel and later the longest road tunnel were built. For this purpose, thousands of guest workers come to the village. Stretching to the west of Göschenen, away from the flow of traffic, lies the Göscheneralptal valley, a breathtakingly beautiful recreational area boasting reservoirs, moors, ponds and the 3,630-metre-high Dammastock.
The route now leads through the Schöllenenschlucht (gorge) and, shortly after, across the beautiful, three-arch Häderlisbrücke (stone bridge). Your hike continues directly above the road, with the Reuss roaring ever more wildly through the valley. After the last bends, you can already see the monument to General Suvorov, who in 1799 successfully led Russian troops through the Schöllenenschlucht despite resistance by the French. The famous Teufelsbrücke (Devil's Bridge) follows immediately after that. Around the year 1200, the people of Ursern – who knows, maybe even with help from the devil – achieved the unique feat of building a bridge across the gorge, which was previously considered impassable. In 1595, the wooden bridge was replaced by a stone structure. Note: The short 15-minute detour passing through the military shaft and above the Teufelsbrücke is worthwhile. The stage ends in Andermatt at the foot of the Oberalp Pass.
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 |
Wassen
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Andermatt
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| Direction |
One way
|
| Ascent |
680 m
|
| Descent |
160 m
|
| Distance |
10 km
|
| Duration |
3 h 15 min
|
| Duration back |
2 h 45 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
March - October
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| Theme |
Through a gorge, Along Water
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
