Cycling in Switzerland
Grimsel Pass trade route
Guttannen
Grimsel Pass trade route
On the Grimsel mule track route from Meiringen to the top of the pass, an interesting section on the climb from Handegg to the Räterichsbodensee reservoir is considered to be extremely beautiful, both in terms of the line of the route and the landscape.
The Grimselpass never held the same importance as the north-south Alpine transit links of the Gotthard, Grand St-Bernhard or Graubunden passes. From the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland aspect however, the Grimsel-Gries route played an important role in the transport of Sbrinz, a cheese produced in the east of the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland and much in demand in Northern Italy.
The topographically difficult route presented rather a challenge in terms of construction technology. This is particularly illustrated by the fact that the danger of avalanches and landslides made it impossible to avoid bridging the River Aare several times. The two Bögelisbrüggli (arched bridges) are prime examples of bridge-building skills. The Hasli region was responsible for the maintenance of the entire route network, however, the revenue from tolls collected at Ägerstein was insufficient and the Bernese authorities continually had to provide subsidies.
The topographically difficult route presented rather a challenge in terms of construction technology. This is particularly illustrated by the fact that the danger of avalanches and landslides made it impossible to avoid bridging the River Aare several times. The two Bögelisbrüggli (arched bridges) are prime examples of bridge-building skills. The Hasli region was responsible for the maintenance of the entire route network, however, the revenue from tolls collected at Ägerstein was insufficient and the Bernese authorities continually had to provide subsidies.
On the Grimsel mule track route from Meiringen to the top of the pass, an interesting section on the climb from Handegg to the Räterichsbodensee reservoir is considered to be extremely beautiful, both in terms of the line of the route and the landscape.
The Grimselpass never held the same importance as the north-south Alpine transit links of the Gotthard, Grand St-Bernhard or Graubunden passes. From the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland aspect however, the Grimsel-Gries route played an important role in the transport of Sbrinz, a cheese produced in the east of the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland and much in demand in Northern Italy.
The topographically difficult route presented rather a challenge in terms of construction technology. This is particularly illustrated by the fact that the danger of avalanches and landslides made it impossible to avoid bridging the River Aare several times. The two Bögelisbrüggli (arched bridges) are prime examples of bridge-building skills. The Hasli region was responsible for the maintenance of the entire route network, however, the revenue from tolls collected at Ägerstein was insufficient and the Bernese authorities continually had to provide subsidies.
The topographically difficult route presented rather a challenge in terms of construction technology. This is particularly illustrated by the fact that the danger of avalanches and landslides made it impossible to avoid bridging the River Aare several times. The two Bögelisbrüggli (arched bridges) are prime examples of bridge-building skills. The Hasli region was responsible for the maintenance of the entire route network, however, the revenue from tolls collected at Ägerstein was insufficient and the Bernese authorities continually had to provide subsidies.
