Berninapass, Switzerland
Berninapass, Switzerland

Photo by Uwe Conrad on Unsplash

-14°C

Open, snow covered. Risk of slippery ice

Pontresina - San Carlo 

Pontresina - San Carlo snow covered

Winter tyres are obligatory for the whole winter period. Depending on the weather conditions, snow chains may be obligatory over a short period, or the pass may close.


Updated on: 21.12.2024, 07:03

Berninapass

Based on the many stone-age menhirs found in the area, it is believed that the Bernina Pass has been connecting the Upper Engadin, Pushlav and Veltin for many thousands of years. Unlike the Splügen and Septimer passes, the Bernina pass was never an important European transit route and only became important at the beginning of the 16th century when the three leagues conquered the Veltlin in 1512. The Bernina pass was used as a direct route with its immediate neighbour the republic of Venice The constant French messenger service between Lyon and Venice used

 the Albula, Bernina and Aprica passes around the year 1550. There were actually two routes over the pass, east and west. One lead into Val Laguné, the other into the valley floor at Cavaglia and the route was chosen depending on the time of year, amount of snow and condition of the trail. Use of the west route was forbidden in winter after a fatal avalanche in the 1800’s which lead to the east route being widened between 1842 and 1865. The road has been widened a number of times since then and has been open in summer and winter since 1965.

The Bernina pass is one of the highest passes which is open all year round. The world famous Bernina railway has been travelling over the pass in summer since 1910 and since 1913 in winter, too. The train route follows the west route mentioned above, mainly due to touristic considerations. Energy source for the train line is the «Lago Bianco» hydro storage lake.

Location

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Technical Data

South17 kmPoschiavo (1022 m.a.s.l.)7.5%3%2328 m.a.s.l.Samedan (1720 m.a.s.l.)North20 km
Cantons
Graubünden (GR), Graubünden (GR)
Distance
37 Km
Vertex
2328 m.a.s.l.
Max. gradient
10 %
Passable
open all year round

Signalisation

Pontresina und San Carlo

- Anhänger an schweren Motorwagen vom 15.4. - 15.11. gestattet

Passes