Cycling in Switzerland
Hinterrhein
Rheinwald
Hinterrhein
For geographers, Hinterrhein is the first village on the jungen Rhein (Young Rhine), for those heading south, the last stop before the San Bernardinopass and for historians, the oldest Walser settlement in Graubunden.
Hinterrhein, with its 80 inhabitants, lies at 1600 m altitude at the foot of the San Bernardinopass. Large Italian-style stone houses stand next to sun-browned wooden chalets, marking the meeting point between the harsh mountain world and southern climes.
For centuries, the trade traffic over the pass was the source of income for the Hinterrhein people. Business began to dry up with the opening of the pass road in 1820 and did so completely in 1882 with the opening of the Gotthard Railway. All that now remains is mountain farming, which is still how most of the inhabitants earn their living. In summer, cows and goats are driven through the village and out to the pastures. Mountain farming contrasts with the motorway, which runs right next to the village then disappears to the south into the San Bernardino tunnel. This has guaranteed an all-year link to the south since it opened in 1967. Hinterrhein is a starting point for hikes and in winter for popular ski tours up to Chilchalphora (3038 m).
For centuries, the trade traffic over the pass was the source of income for the Hinterrhein people. Business began to dry up with the opening of the pass road in 1820 and did so completely in 1882 with the opening of the Gotthard Railway. All that now remains is mountain farming, which is still how most of the inhabitants earn their living. In summer, cows and goats are driven through the village and out to the pastures. Mountain farming contrasts with the motorway, which runs right next to the village then disappears to the south into the San Bernardino tunnel. This has guaranteed an all-year link to the south since it opened in 1967. Hinterrhein is a starting point for hikes and in winter for popular ski tours up to Chilchalphora (3038 m).
Highlights
- Ski tours up to Chilchalphora.
For geographers, Hinterrhein is the first village on the jungen Rhein (Young Rhine), for those heading south, the last stop before the San Bernardinopass and for historians, the oldest Walser settlement in Graubunden.
Hinterrhein, with its 80 inhabitants, lies at 1600 m altitude at the foot of the San Bernardinopass. Large Italian-style stone houses stand next to sun-browned wooden chalets, marking the meeting point between the harsh mountain world and southern climes.
For centuries, the trade traffic over the pass was the source of income for the Hinterrhein people. Business began to dry up with the opening of the pass road in 1820 and did so completely in 1882 with the opening of the Gotthard Railway. All that now remains is mountain farming, which is still how most of the inhabitants earn their living. In summer, cows and goats are driven through the village and out to the pastures. Mountain farming contrasts with the motorway, which runs right next to the village then disappears to the south into the San Bernardino tunnel. This has guaranteed an all-year link to the south since it opened in 1967. Hinterrhein is a starting point for hikes and in winter for popular ski tours up to Chilchalphora (3038 m).
For centuries, the trade traffic over the pass was the source of income for the Hinterrhein people. Business began to dry up with the opening of the pass road in 1820 and did so completely in 1882 with the opening of the Gotthard Railway. All that now remains is mountain farming, which is still how most of the inhabitants earn their living. In summer, cows and goats are driven through the village and out to the pastures. Mountain farming contrasts with the motorway, which runs right next to the village then disappears to the south into the San Bernardino tunnel. This has guaranteed an all-year link to the south since it opened in 1967. Hinterrhein is a starting point for hikes and in winter for popular ski tours up to Chilchalphora (3038 m).
Highlights
- Ski tours up to Chilchalphora.
