ViaSett

The Julier and Septimer passes have shaped Bivio for centuries. The villagers speak German and Romansh as well as Italian. The name Bivio means “parting of ways”, in reference to the cultural influences of the Val Bregaglia and Engadin valleys.

The first section features a leisurely climb towards the Septimer Pass. After just a few metres, you will have a view down over the Julier Pass road. After around an hour and a half of hiking through the serene mountainous landscape, you will arrive at the pass at around 2,310 metres above sea level. Even the Romans walked through here, as confirmed by a road directory and archaeological finds. In the High Middle Ages, the pass was an important trade route that netted the Bishop of Chur a great deal of wealth. But, with the construction of the Julierstrasse road between 1820 and 1826, the importance of the pass began to wane.

Once you reach the top of the pass, you will be greeted by a fantastic view of the Cima di Castello, Pizzo di Zocca and Pizzo Cengalo mountains. Now comes the beautiful descent and the gravel road gives way to a path. After crossing the old stone bridge, follow the Aua da Sett stream. Passing by the Sascel battü (hewn stone), which marks the border between the Val Bregaglia and Bivio, turn off into the wide and wonderful Val Maroz valley, through which the Maira stream flows.

With the high valley behind you, it’s time for the final steep section through the woods leading to Casaccia. Now comes a leisurely walk through the Val Bregaglia to Vicosoprano, your destination for this second-to-last leg and the largest village in the Val Bregaglia. Along the way, you will catch sight of the 115-metre dam wall of the Albigna Lake on the left side of the valley. The dam was built in 1959. On the concave side of the gravity dam wall, a high Alpine solar farm with 1,200 photovoltaic panels was installed in 2020.