Percorso Passo San Bernardino
Overview
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Distance 10 km
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Duration 5 h
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Ascent 560 m
Intro
Following a charming up and down path, this trail leads through glacier-formed mounds to the San Bernardino pass. It is the most extensive landscape of this type throughout Switzerland and thus of national importance.
Description
The majority of cars speed by the village on the A13. They’re missing out: San Bernardino, dominated by the angular Piz Uccello, has plenty to offer. Here are some impressive moor landscapes, which can also be explored during wintertime. This snowshoe trail starts in the village center, passing the mineral water source to the north. The healing powers of this water have been known since Roman times. With the mountain pass road built in 1823, the mineral water source once again regained importance. Attracting well-to-do guests from northern Italy, San Bernardino became a noble resort, but the World Wars put an end to the spa tourism period. Today, guests travel to Misox because of its unique natural landscape.
From Via Gareida Sot, the route runs beneath Gareida Sora towards the old pass road, then shadowing and crossing it several times before reaching Lago Moesola. This lake lies at the lowest point of the pass, in a hollow between Piz Moesola and Piz Uccello. The 2724 meter high pyramid is considered the landmark of San Bernardino. The ascent to the San Bernardino Pass leads through a varied, hilly landscape, typical of the region and of national importance. In fact, this high-moorland laying beneath the snow cover is one of the most extensive of its type in Switzerland; in the summer , countless tiny lakes are located between the mounds shaped by glacier movement.
San Bernardino Pass is not far away. Its name goes back to Saint Bernard of Siena. In prior times, the pass was called Mons Avium, Latin for Bird Mountain, or Piz Uccello. This name was later transferred to the adjacent mountain itself. The way back follows the river Moesa and to the bridge "Pont Nef“ (new bridge). It was built in 1864 as a substitute for the dilapidated arch bridge Vittorio Emanuele, named after the Sardinian king. Between 1819 and 1823 his empire participated in the financing of the bridge, which represented the centerpiece of the old trade route connecting the economic centers of Lombardy and Piedmont with the north of Europe. Above the Pont Nef, you can see the course of the old road. An information panel reminisces about the so-called „king’s bridge” from the past. Another section in the forest and past the Capanna Genziana, the tour ends again in the village of San Bernardino.
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 |
San Bernardino
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|---|---|
| Destination |
San Bernardino
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| Ascent |
560 m
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| Descent |
560 m
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| Distance |
10 km
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| Duration |
5 h
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
Ente Turistico Regionale del Moesano
La Dogàna
6565
San Bernardino
Phone
+41 (0)91 832 12 14
info@visit-moesano.ch
visit-moesano.ch
Quick Facts
Route number
