Principal passes of the Alps
Encyclopedia
This article lists the principal mountain pass
es and tunnel
s in the Alps
, and gives a history of transport across the Alps.
sinks to form depressions, up to which deep-cut valleys lead from the plains & hilly pre-mountainous zones
. The oldest names for such passes are Mont (still retained in cases of Mont Cenis
and Monte Moro
), for it was many ages before this term was applied to mountains themselves, which with a few very rare exceptions (e.g. Monte Viso
was known to the Romans as Vesulus) were for a long time disregarded.
Native inhabitants of the Alps were naturally the first to use the passes. The passes first became known to the outside world when the Romans
crossed them to raid or conquer the region beyond. Romans, once having found an "easy" way across the chain, did not trouble to seek for harder and more devious routes. Hence, passes that can be shown as certainly known to them are relatively few in number: they are, in topographical order from west to east, the Col de l'Argentiere, the Col de Montgenèvre
, the two St Bernard passes (Little St Bernard Pass
and Great St. Bernard Pass
), the Splügen Pass
, the Septimer Pass
, the Reschen Pass, the Brenner Pass
, the Plöcken Pass
, the Pontebba Pass (or Saifnitz Pass), the Radstädter Tauern Pass
and the Solkscharte Pass
or Sölk Pass.
Of these the Montgenèvre and the Brenner were the most frequented. In the Central Alps only two passes (the Splügen and the Septimer) were certainly known to the Romans. In fact the central portion of the Alps was by far the least Romanised region until the early Middle Ages
. Thus the Simplon
is first definitely mentioned in 1235, the St Gotthard
in 1236, the Lukmanier in 965, the San Bernardino in 941; of course they may have been known before, but authentic history is silent as regards them till the dates specified. Even the Mont Cenis (from the 15th to the 19th century the favourite pass for travellers going from France to Italy) is first heard of only in 756.
In the 13th century many hitherto unknown passes came into prominence, even some of the easy glacier passes. In the Western and Central Alps there is only one ridge to cross, to which access is gained by a deep-cut valley, though often it would be shorter to cross a second pass in order to reach the plains, e.g. the Montgenèvre, that is most directly reached by the Col du Lautaret
; and the Simplon, which is best reached by one of the lower passes over the western portion of the Bernese Oberland chain. On the other hand, in the Eastern Alps, it is generally necessary to cross three distinct ridges between the northern and southern plains, the Central ridge being the highest and most difficult to cross. Thus the passes which crossed a single ridge, and did not involve too great a detour through a long valley of approach, became the most important and the most popular, e.g. the Mont Cenis, the Great St Bernard, the St Gotthard, the Septimer and the Brenner.
As time went on the Alpine passes were improved to make travel easier. A few passes (e.g. the Semmering
, the Brenner, the Col de Tende
and the Arlberg
) had carriage roads constructed before 1800, while those over the Umbrail and the Great St Bernard were not completed till the early years of the 20th century. Most of the carriage roads across the great alpine passes were thus constructed in the first half of the 19th century, largely due to the Napoleon's need for such roads as modes of military transport. As late as 1905, the highest pass over the main chain that had a carriage road was the Great St Bernard (8111 feet), but three still higher passes over side ridges have roads—the Stelvio Pass
(9055 feet), the Col du Galibier
(8721 feet), in the Dauphiné Alps
, and the Umbrail Pass
(8242 feet).
Railway lines, like the Brenner
and the Pontebba
lines, were added to speed travel through the passes and tunnels supplemented passes at the Col de Tenda, the Mont Cenis, the Simplon and the St Gotthard.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
es and tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, and gives a history of transport across the Alps.
Main chain
From west to east:| name | location | countries | elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colle di Cadibona Colle di Cadibona Colle di Cadibona is a mountain pass between Savona and Ceva in the Ligurian Alps, delineating the boundary with the Apennine Mountains.... |
Savona Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea.... to Ceva Ceva Ceva, the ancient Ceba, is a small Italian town in the province of Cuneo, region of Piedmont, 49 km east of Cuneo. It lies on the right bank of the Tanaro on a wedge of land between that river and the Cevetta stream.-History:... |
Italy | 436 |
| Colle di Melogno Colle di Melogno Colle di Melogno is a mountain pass in the Province of Savona in Italy. It connects Ceva and Calizzano with Magliolo and Finale Ligure on the coast of Mediterranean-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe* List of mountain passes... |
Finale Ligure Finale Ligure Finale Ligure is a comune on the Gulf of Genoa in the Province of Savona in Liguria, Italy. It is considered part of the Italian Riviera.-Geography:... to Ceva Ceva Ceva, the ancient Ceba, is a small Italian town in the province of Cuneo, region of Piedmont, 49 km east of Cuneo. It lies on the right bank of the Tanaro on a wedge of land between that river and the Cevetta stream.-History:... |
Italy | 1028 |
| Colle San Bernardo | Albenga Albenga Albenga is a city and comune situated on the Gulf of Genoa on the Italian Riviera in the Province of Savona in Liguria, northern Italy.left|thumb|220px|Towers of Albenga.The economy is mostly based on tourism, local commerce and agriculture-History:... to Garessio Garessio Garessio is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 100 km south of Turin and about 40 km southeast of Cuneo.The Reggia di Valcasotto is located in the communal territory.- Notable people:... |
Italy | 957 |
| Colle di Nava | Imperia Imperia Imperia may be:* Imperia , an Italian city* Province of Imperia, the Italian province of the above city of Imperia* IMPERIA, a vodka produced by Russian Standard* Imperia , a statue in Constance, Germany... to Ormea Ormea Ormea is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 100 km south of Turin and about 40 km southeast of Cuneo... |
Italy | 934 |
| Col de Tende Col de Tende Col de Tende is a high mountain pass in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.It separates the Maritime Alps from the Ligurian Alps. It connects Nice and Tende in Alpes-Maritimes with Cuneo in Piedmont.... |
Tende Tende Tende is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Tende is located within Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The mountainous commune is bordered by Italy to the north, with the boundary determined by the watershed line between the two countries... to Cuneo Cuneo Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area... |
France, Italy | 1870 |
| Maddalena Pass Maddalena Pass The Maddalena Pass is a high mountain pass between the Cottian Alps and the Maritime Alps, located on the border between Italy and France. It connects Barcelonnette in France with Cuneo in Italy... /Col de Larche |
Barcelonnette Barcelonnette Barcelonnette is a commune in the Ubaye Valley, in the southern French Alps, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, of which it is a subprefecture.-History:... to Cuneo Cuneo Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area... |
France, Italy | 1996 |
| Col Agnel Col Agnel Col Agnel is a mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, west of Monte Viso between France and Italy which links the Queyras valley with Pontechianale in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont.... |
Queyras Queyras The Queyras is a valley located in the French Hautes-Alpes, of which the geographical extension is the basin of river Guil, a tributary of the Durance... to Sampeyre Sampeyre Sampeyre is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 35 km northwest of Cuneo... |
France, Italy | 2744 |
| Col de Montgenèvre Col de Montgenèvre The Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.The pass takes its name from the village Montgenèvre , which lies in the vicinity... |
Briançon Briançon Briançon a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.... to Susa Susa, Italy Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:... |
France, Italy | 1854 |
| Col du Mont Cenis | Modane Modane Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:... to Susa Susa, Italy Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:... |
France, Italy | 2084 |
| Little St Bernard Pass Little St Bernard Pass The Little St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level. It is located between Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy to the south of the Mont Blanc Massif, precisely on the main alpine watershed. There is also a Great St... |
Bourg-Saint-Maurice Bourg-Saint-Maurice Bourg-Saint-Maurice, popularly known as Bourg, is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is the last large town along the Tarentaise valley in the heart of the French Alps.-History:... to Prè-Saint-Didier Prè-Saint-Didier Pré-Saint-Didier is a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy, at 1,004 m above sea level.-Transportation:A terminus of a regional railway is located there; direct trains connect the town with Aosta, which is connected to the rest of the Italian network... |
France, Italy | 2188 |
| Great St Bernard Pass | Martigny Martigny, Switzerland Martigny is the capital of the French-speaking district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of , and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants . It is a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland... to Aosta Aosta Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes... |
Switzerland, Italy | 2469 |
| Simplon Pass Simplon Pass Simplon Pass is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It connects Brig in the canton of Valais with Domodossola in Piedmont . The pass itself and the villages on each side of it, such as Gondo, are in Switzerland... |
Brig Brig, Switzerland Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:... to Domodossola Domodossola Domodossola is a city and comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy... |
Switzerland | 2005 |
| Furka Pass Furka Pass Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass... |
Brig Brig, Switzerland Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:... to Andermatt Andermatt Andermatt is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.With Realp and Hospental, it is located in the Urseren valley, south of Altdorf.-Geography:... |
Switzerland | 2429 |
| Grimsel Pass Grimsel Pass Grimsel Pass is a Swiss high mountain pass.-Position:It connects the valley of the Rhone River in the canton of Valais and the Haslital in the canton of Bern.... |
Brig Brig, Switzerland Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:... to Meiringen Meiringen -References:... |
Switzerland | 2164 |
| Nufenen Pass Nufenen Pass Nufenen Pass is the highest mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. It lies between the summits of Pizzo Gallina and Nufenestock .... |
Brig Brig, Switzerland Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:... to Airolo Airolo Airolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into... |
Switzerland | 2478 |
| St Gotthard Pass | Andermatt Andermatt Andermatt is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.With Realp and Hospental, it is located in the Urseren valley, south of Altdorf.-Geography:... to Airolo Airolo Airolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into... |
Switzerland | 2108 |
| Lukmanier Pass Lukmanier Pass Lukmanier Pass is a pass in the Swiss Alps.The road from Disentis/Mustér in the canton of Graubünden leads through the Val Medel across the pass to the Blenio valley and Biasca in the canton of Ticino.The Pass is kept opened during the winter.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe*... |
Disentis to Biasca Biasca Biasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as Aviasca in the Liber viventium of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as Abiasca.-Early history:... |
Switzerland | 1916 |
| San Bernardino Pass San Bernardino Pass San Bernardino Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona . Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Little St. Bernard Pass... |
Splügen to Bellinzona Bellinzona Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000.... |
Switzerland | 2065 |
| Splügen Pass Splügen Pass The Splügen Pass is a high mountain pass which marks the boundary between the Lepontine and Rhaetian Alps.... |
Splügen to Chiavenna | Switzerland, Italy | 2113 |
| Maloja Pass Maloja Pass Maloja Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Graubünden, linking the Engadin with the Val Bregaglia and Chiavenna in Italy... |
St. Moritz St. Moritz St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden... to Chiavenna |
Switzerland | 1815 |
| Julier Pass Julier Pass The Julier Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, in the Albula Range of the Alps. It connects the Engadin valley with the rest of Graubünden... |
Thusis Thusis Thusis is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Thusis has an area, , of . Of this area, 18% is used for agricultural purposes, while 58.2% is forested... to St.Moritz |
Switzerland | 2284 |
| Bernina Pass Bernina Pass The Bernina Pass is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It connects the famous resort town of St. Moritz in the Engadin valley with the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, which ends in the Italian town of Tirano in Valtellina.... |
Pontresina Pontresina Pontresina is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History and name:The city was first mentioned in medieval Latin documents as pontem sarasinam in 1137. In 1237 it was mentioned as de Ponte Sarraceno and in 1303 as ponte sarracino... to Tirano Tirano Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town.... |
Switzerland | 2323 |
| Albula Pass Albula Pass Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps... |
Bergün Bergün Bergün/Bravuogn , is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The double name has been the official name since 1943.-Geography:... to La Punt |
Switzerland | 2312 |
| Flüela Pass Flüela Pass Flüela Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Graubünden. The pass road connects Davos and Susch in the lower Engadin valley.Since the Vereina Tunnel opened in 1999, the road is no longer open all year.-See also:... |
Davos Davos Davos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range... to Susch Susch Susch is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.The Flüela Pass connects Susch with Davos.-Demographics:Susch has a population of .... |
Switzerland | 2383 |
| Fuorn Pass Fuorn Pass Fuorn Pass or Ofen Pass is a high alpine mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The name is based on the ovens that were used in ironworks in the area... |
Zernez Zernez Zernez is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.Zernez is a major node in the regional road network, with roads leading into the Upper Engadin and towards Italy, the Lower Engadin and towards Austria, over the Fuorn Pass into the Val Mustair and over the Flüela Pass... to Val Müstair Val Müstair Val Müstair is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It was formed on 1 January 2009 through the merger of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Santa Maria Val Müstair and Müstair.-Demographics:... |
Switzerland | 2149 |
| Umbrail Pass Umbrail Pass Umbrail Pass is a high mountain pass on the Swiss-Italian border connecting Santa Maria in Val Müstair with Bormio in the Adda valley. On the Italian side, it connects to the Stelvio Pass road.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe... |
Val Müstair Val Müstair Val Müstair is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It was formed on 1 January 2009 through the merger of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Santa Maria Val Müstair and Müstair.-Demographics:... to Bormio Bormio Bormio is a town and comune located in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy. It has a population of 4,200... |
Switzerland, Italy | 2501 |
| Stelvio Pass Stelvio Pass The Stelvio Pass , located in Italy, at 2757 m is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, slightly below the Col de l'Iseran .-Location:... |
Bormio Bormio Bormio is a town and comune located in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy. It has a population of 4,200... to Stelvio Stilfs Stilfs is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is located near the northern ramp of the Stelvio Pass.... |
Italy | 2757 |
| Reschen Pass | Nauders Nauders Nauders is a municipality in the district of Landeck in Tyrol, Austria. It can be found 29 km south of the city of Landeck. As it is near both the Italian and Swiss borders, at the end of World War II numerous Nazi officials fled through Nauders to escape arrest.-External links:... to Meran |
Austria, Italy | 1507 |
| Timmelsjoch Timmelsjoch Timmelsjoch , is a high mountain pass that creates a link through the Ötztal Alps along the border between Austria and Italy.... |
Ötztal Ötztal The Ötztal is a 65-kilometer long alpine valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol. The Ötztaler Ache river flows through the valley in a northern direction. The Ötztal separates the Stubai Alps in the east from the Ötztal Alps in the west. The northern end of the valley is at the confluence of the... valley to Meran |
Austria, Italy | 2509 |
| Brenner Pass Brenner Pass - Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe... |
Innsbruck Innsbruck - Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus... to Sterzing Sterzing Sterzing is a comune in South Tyrol in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. It is the main village of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.-Origin:... |
Austria, Italy | 1370 |
| Grossglockner High Alpine Road Grossglockner High Alpine Road The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a panoramic road in Austria, in the state of Salzburg. It connects the state of Salzburg with the state of Carinthia... |
Zell am See Zell am See Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region... to Lienz Lienz Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:... |
Austria | 2505 |
| Gardena Pass | Sëlva Sëlva Sëlva is a comune in the Val Gardena in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about 70 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 30 km east of the city of Bolzano.-Geography:... to Corvara Corvara Corvara is a comune in the province of South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 80 km northeast of Trento and about 40 km east of Bolzano... |
Italy | 2136 |
| Sella Pass | Val Gardena to Canazei Canazei Canazei is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located in the upper part of the Val di Fassa, about 70 km northeast of Trento... |
Italy | 2244 |
| Pordoi Pass | Arabba to Canazei Canazei Canazei is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located in the upper part of the Val di Fassa, about 70 km northeast of Trento... |
Italy | 2239 |
| Campolongo Pass | Corvara Corvara Corvara is a comune in the province of South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 80 km northeast of Trento and about 40 km east of Bolzano... to Arabba |
Italy | 1875 |
| Radstädter Tauern Pass Radstädter Tauern Pass Radstädter Tauern Pass is a high mountain pass in the Radstädter Tauern which are in the Niedere Tauern range of the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Radstadt and Mauterndorf in the state of Salzburg.... |
Radstadt Radstadt Radstadt is a historic town in the district of St. Johann im Pongau in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It is located at the confluence of the Taurach stream and the Enns river, at the foot of Roßbrand mountain, part of the Salzburg Slate Alps.-History:... to Mauterndorf Mauterndorf Mauterndorf is a market town in the Tamsweg district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The municipality also comprises the Katastralgemeinden Faningberg, Neuseß and Steindorf.-History:... |
Austria | 1739 |
| Schober Pass Schober Pass Schober Pass is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps, located in the Bundesland of Styria.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe* List of mountain passes... |
Liezen Liezen Liezen is a municipality in the Austrian federal state of Styria, district capital of the district of the same name and economic center on the River Enns.Liezen covers a surface of 56.36 km2 and has a population of 6,991 people, as of the 2001 census... to Leoben Leoben Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining... |
Austria | 849 |
| Präbichl Präbichl Präbichl Sattel is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps within the Bundesland of Styria.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe* List of mountain passes... |
Eisenerz Eisenerz Eisenerz is a market place and old mining town in Styria, Austria, . N.W. of Graz by rail. Pop. 6,400. It is situated in the deep Erzbach Valley, dominated on the east by the Pfaffenstein , on the west by the Kaiserschild , and on the south by the Erzberg... to Leoben Leoben Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining... |
Austria | 1204 |
| Aflenzer Seeberg | Mariazell Mariazell Mariazell is a small city in Austria, in Styria, well known for winter sports, 143 km N. of Graz. It is picturesquely situated in the valley of the Salza, amid the north Styrian Alps.... to Bruck an der Mur Bruck an der Mur Bruck an der Mur is a city of some 13,500 people located in the Austrian state of Styria. It is located at the confluence of the Mur and Mürz Rivers. Its manufactures include metal products and paper; Bruck is an important rail junction in the region located on the Graz to Vienna main... |
Austria | 1254 |
| Semmering Semmering For the town of the same name, see Semmering, Austria.Semmering is a mountain pass in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps connecting Lower Austria and Styria, between which it forms a natural border.-Location:... |
Gloggnitz Gloggnitz Gloggnitz is a mountain town in the Neunkirchen district of Lower Austria, Austria.Gloggnitz is situated in the south-western part of the Vienna Basin in Lower Austria. It is surrounded by the highest mountains in Lower Austria, Mount Rax and Mount Schneeberg... to Mürzzuschlag Mürzzuschlag Mürzzuschlag is a town in northeastern Styria, Austria, the capital of the Mürzzuschlag District. It is located on the Mürz river near the Semmering Pass, the border with the state of Lower Austria, about southwest of Vienna. The population is 8,745... |
Austria | 965 |
Other passes
Detailed lists of passes are given by Alpine subdivision, see the following articles:- Western Alps
- Ligurian AlpsLigurian AlpsThe Ligurian Alps are a mountain range in northwestern Italy. A small part is located in France. They form the south-western extremity of the Alps, separated from the Apennines by the Colle di Cadibona. The Col de Tende separates them from the Maritime Alps...
- Maritime AlpsMaritime AlpsThe Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French département Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian province of Cuneo. The Col de Tende separates them from the Ligurian Alps; the Maddalena Pass separates them from the Cottian Alps...
- Cottian AlpsCottian AlpsThe Cottian Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France and Italy...
- Dauphiné AlpsDauphiné AlpsThe Dauphiné Alps are a group of mountain ranges in southeastern France, west of the main chain of the Alps. They are separated from the Cottian Alps in the east by the Col du Galibier and the upper Durance valley; from the western Graian Alps in the north-east by the river Arc; from the lower...
- Graian AlpsGraian AlpsThe Graian Alps are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in France , Italy , and Switzerland...
- Pennine AlpsPennine AlpsThe Pennine Alps are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland and Italy...
- Bernese AlpsBernese AlpsThe Bernese Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the western part of the Alps, in Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Valais, Lucerne, Obwalden, Fribourg and...
- Lepontine AlpsLepontine AlpsThe Lepontine Alps are a mountain range in the central part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland and Italy .On the north the upper Rhône valley separate them from the Bernese Alps and the Furka Pass and the upper Reuss valley separates them from the Urner Alps; on the west the Simplon Pass...
- Tödi Range
- North-Eastern Swiss Alps
- Ligurian Alps
- Eastern Alps
- Northern Limestone Alps
- The Alps of Bavaria, the Vorarlberg, and Salzburg
- Central Eastern AlpsCentral Eastern AlpsThe Central Eastern Alps comprise the main chain of the Eastern Alps with its highest peaks, located between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps, from which they differ in geological composition....
- Bergamo AlpsBergamo AlpsThe Bergamo Alps are a mountain range in the Italian Alps which forms part of the Central Eastern Alps. They are located in northern Lombardy and named after the city Bergamo, south of the mountains....
- Rhaetian Alps, including Bernina RangeBernina RangeThe Bernina Range is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland and northern Italy. It is considered to be part of the Central Eastern Alps. It is one of the highest ranges of the Alps, covered with many glaciers. Piz Bernina , its highest peak, is the most easterly four thousand-metre...
, Livigno RangeLivigno RangeThe Livigno Range is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland and northern Italy, around the Italian village Livigno. It is considered to be part of the Central Eastern Alps....
, Sesvenna RangeSesvenna RangeThe Sesvenna Range is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland, northern Italy and western Austria. It is considered to be part of the Central Eastern Alps....
, Albula RangeAlbula RangeThe Albula Alps is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland. It is considered to be part of the Central Eastern Alps. It is named after the River Albula...
, Silvretta and RätikonPasses of the Silvretta and Rätikon RangesThe chief passes of the Silvretta and Rhatikon Ranges, from the Fuela Pass to the Reschen Scheideck and the Arlberg Pass, are:Mountain passlocationtype elevationJamjochGuarda to GalturSnow 0 meters10 112 feet... - Verwall Alps and Samnaun AlpsPasses of the Silvretta and Rätikon RangesThe chief passes of the Silvretta and Rhatikon Ranges, from the Fuela Pass to the Reschen Scheideck and the Arlberg Pass, are:Mountain passlocationtype elevationJamjochGuarda to GalturSnow 0 meters10 112 feet...
- Tyrolean Alps, including Ötztal AlpsÖtztal AlpsThe Ötztal Alps are a mountain range in the central Alps of Europe, part of the Central Eastern Alps. They are arrayed at the head of the Ötztal, a side valley of the Inn River southwest of Innsbruck, Austria; the line of summits forms part of Austria's border with Italy.The western border is the...
, Stubai AlpsStubai AlpsThe Stubai Alps is a mountain range in the Central Eastern Alps of Europe. It is named after the Stubaital valley to its east. It is located southwest of Innsbruck, Austria, and several summits of the range form part of Austria's border with Italy...
, Kitzbühel Alps, Hohe TauernHohe TauernThe Hohe Tauern or High Tauern are a mountain range on the main chain of the Central Eastern Alps, comprising the highest peaks east of the Brenner Pass. The crest forms the southern border of the Austrian state of Salzburg with Carinthia and East Tyrol, while a small part in the southwest belongs...
and Zillertal AlpsZillertal AlpsThe Zillertal Alps are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps on the border of Austria and Italy. The range is named after the Zillertal on its north.... - Niedere TauernNiedere TauernThe Niedere Tauern or Low Tauern are a mountain range in central Austria, part of the Central Eastern Alps. They lie on the main chain of the Alps in in the states of Salzburger Land and Styria...
- Bergamo Alps
- Southern Limestone AlpsSouthern Limestone AlpsThe Southern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The distinction from the Central Alps, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological...
- Adamello-PresanellaAdamello-PresanellaThe Adamello-Presanella Alpine group is a mountain range in the Italian Alps. It is part of the Southern Limestone Alps. It is located in the provinces of Trentino and Brescia...
and Brenta GroupBrenta GroupThe Brenta Group is a mountain range of the Rhaetian Alps. It is located in the Italian province of Trentino.The Brenta Group is separated from the Ortler Alps in the north by the Noce valley; from the Adamello-Presanella group in the west by the Campo Carlo Magno Pass and the river Sarca; from... - Ortler AlpsOrtler AlpsThe Ortler Alps are a mountain range in the central Alps of Italy. They are considered to be part of the Central Eastern Alps or the Southern Limestone Alps....
- DolomitesDolomitesThe Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley...
- Carnic AlpsCarnic AlpsThe Carnic Alps are a range of the Southern Limestone Alps in East Tyrol, Carinthia, South Tyrol and Friuli . They extend from east to west for about between the Gail River, a tributary of the Drava and the Tagliamento, forming the border between Austria and Italy.They are named after the Roman...
- Julian AlpsJulian AlpsThe Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains...
- Karavanke
- Kamnik AlpsKamnik AlpsThe Kamnik–Savinja Alps are a mountain range, part of the Southern Limestone Alps in north Slovenia and at the border with Austria. Its western part, the Kamnik Alps, is in the basin of the Kamniška Bistrica and is named after the town Kamnik. Its eastern part is in the basin of Savinja and is...
- Adamello-Presanella
- Northern Limestone Alps
Road tunnels
Main chain, from west to east:| name | location | countries | length (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col de Tende Road Tunnel Col de Tende Road Tunnel thumb|Portal on Italian sideCol de Tende Road Tunnel is a 3182 metre long road tunnel running under Col de Tende between France and Italy. It was inaugurated in 1882 and it was until 1964 the longest road tunnel in the Alps. At its opening time it may have been one of world's longest road tunnels.... |
Tende Tende Tende is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Tende is located within Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The mountainous commune is bordered by Italy to the north, with the boundary determined by the watershed line between the two countries... to Cuneo Cuneo Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area... |
France, Italy | 3.2 |
| Fréjus Road Tunnel Fréjus Road Tunnel The Fréjus Road Tunnel is a tunnel that connects France and Italy. It runs under Col du Fréjus in the Cottian Alps between Modane in France and Bardonecchia in Italy... |
Modane Modane Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:... to Susa Susa, Italy Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:... |
France, Italy | 12.9 |
| Mont Blanc Tunnel Mont Blanc Tunnel The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as... |
Chamonix Chamonix Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics... to Courmayeur Courmayeur Courmayeur is an Italian town and comune in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, in the Graian Alps range, and is crossed by the Dora Baltea... |
France, Italy | 11.6 |
| Great St Bernard Tunnel Great St Bernard Tunnel The Great St Bernard Tunnel is a road tunnel complementing the Great St Bernard Pass, linking Martigny with Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses .... |
Martigny Martigny, Switzerland Martigny is the capital of the French-speaking district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of , and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants . It is a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland... to Aosta Aosta Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes... |
Switzerland, Italy | 5.9 |
| St. Gotthard Tunnel Gotthard Road Tunnel The St. Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the Canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is just under in length below the St. Gotthard Pass... |
Göschenen Göschenen Göschenen a village in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Göschenen is first mentioned in 1280 as Geschenden. In 1290 it was mentioned as Gescheldun, then in 1294 as Geschenen and in 1429 as ze Gestinen.-Geography:... to Airolo Airolo Airolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into... |
Switzerland | 17 |
| San Bernardino Tunnel San Bernardino (road tunnel) The San Bernardino road tunnel is a road tunnel on the A13 motorway/expressway in southeastern Switzerland, completed in 1967 and replacing the San Bernardino Pass road. It begins near the town of San Bernardino, Graubünden and ends north in Hinterrhein.... |
Splügen to Bellinzona Bellinzona Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000.... |
Switzerland | 7.7 |
| Felbertauern Tunnel | Mittersill Mittersill Mittersill is a city in the federal state of Salzburg, Austria, in the Pinzgau region of the Alps. It is located on the Salzach River. It had a population of 5,464 in 2005.- Geography :... to Lienz Lienz Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:... |
Austria | 5.3 |
| Tauern Road Tunnel Tauern Road Tunnel The Tauern Road Tunnel is located in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg in Austria on the Tauern Autobahn north - south connection between Germany and Italy and Slovenia. This is a toll road. Since October 2007, the toll has been 12 euros per car and journey... |
Eben im Pongau Eben im Pongau Eben im Pongau is a municipality in the St. Johann im Pongau district in the state of Salzburg in Austria.... to Sankt Michael im Lungau Sankt Michael im Lungau Sankt Michael im Lungau is a market town on the upper Mur River in the Tamsweg district in the Austrian state of Salzburg.-History:The parish church dedicated to Saint Michael was first mentioned in 1147... |
Austria | 6.4 |
Railway passes and tunnels
Main chain, from west to east:| name | type | location | countries | length (km) | elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colle di Cadibona | pass | Savona Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea.... to Ceva Ceva Ceva, the ancient Ceba, is a small Italian town in the province of Cuneo, region of Piedmont, 49 km east of Cuneo. It lies on the right bank of the Tanaro on a wedge of land between that river and the Cevetta stream.-History:... |
Italy | 436 | |
| Tunnel de Tende | tunnel | Tende Tende Tende is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Tende is located within Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The mountainous commune is bordered by Italy to the north, with the boundary determined by the watershed line between the two countries... to Cuneo Cuneo Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area... |
France, Italy | 8.1 | |
| Fréjus Rail Tunnel Fréjus Rail Tunnel The Fréjus Rail Tunnel is a rail tunnel of length in the European Alps, carrying the Turin–Modane railway through Mount Cenis to an end on connection with the Culoz–Modane railway and linking Modane, France and Bardonecchia, Italy... |
tunnel | Modane Modane Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:... to Susa Susa, Italy Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:... |
France, Italy | 13.7 | |
| Simplon Tunnel Simplon Tunnel The Simplon Tunnel is an Alpine railway tunnel that connects the Swiss town of Brig with Domodossola in Italy, though its relatively straight trajectory does not run under Simplon Pass itself. It actually consists of two single-track tunnels built nearly 20 years apart... |
tunnel | Brig Brig, Switzerland Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:... to Domodossola Domodossola Domodossola is a city and comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy... |
Switzerland, Italy | 19.8 | |
| Oberalp Pass Oberalp Pass Oberalp Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis and Andermatt.-Winter closure:... |
pass | Andermatt Andermatt Andermatt is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.With Realp and Hospental, it is located in the Urseren valley, south of Altdorf.-Geography:... to Disentis |
Switzerland | 2044 | |
| Gotthard Rail Tunnel Gotthard Rail Tunnel The Gotthard Rail Tunnel, is a 15-kilometre long railway tunnel and forms the summit of the Gotthard Railway in Switzerland. It connects Göschenen with Airolo and was the first tunnel through the Gotthard massif... |
tunnel | Göschenen Göschenen Göschenen a village in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Göschenen is first mentioned in 1280 as Geschenden. In 1290 it was mentioned as Gescheldun, then in 1294 as Geschenen and in 1429 as ze Gestinen.-Geography:... to Airolo Airolo Airolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into... |
Switzerland | 15 | |
| Bernina Pass Bernina Pass The Bernina Pass is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It connects the famous resort town of St. Moritz in the Engadin valley with the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, which ends in the Italian town of Tirano in Valtellina.... |
pass | Pontresina Pontresina Pontresina is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History and name:The city was first mentioned in medieval Latin documents as pontem sarasinam in 1137. In 1237 it was mentioned as de Ponte Sarraceno and in 1303 as ponte sarracino... to Tirano Tirano Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town.... |
Switzerland | 2323 | |
| Brenner Pass Brenner Pass - Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe... |
pass | Innsbruck Innsbruck - Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus... to Sterzing Sterzing Sterzing is a comune in South Tyrol in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. It is the main village of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.-Origin:... |
Austria, Italy | 1370 | |
| Tauern tunnel | tunnel | Bad Gastein Bad Gastein Bad Gastein is a spa town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, situated at the northern rim of the Hohe Tauern national park. It has 5,838 inhabitants. The name "Bad" means "spa", reflecting the town's history as a health resort. It is located at the head of the Gastein valley, about 1,000 metres ... to Obervellach Obervellach Obervellach is a municipality in the district of Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia in Austria. It is situated in the valley of the Möll river, on the southern slope of the Hohe Tauern mountain range... |
Austria | 8.6 | |
| Schoberpass | pass | Liezen Liezen Liezen is a municipality in the Austrian federal state of Styria, district capital of the district of the same name and economic center on the River Enns.Liezen covers a surface of 56.36 km2 and has a population of 6,991 people, as of the 2001 census... to Leoben Leoben Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining... |
Austria | 849 | |
| Präbichl | pass | Eisenerz Eisenerz Eisenerz is a market place and old mining town in Styria, Austria, . N.W. of Graz by rail. Pop. 6,400. It is situated in the deep Erzbach Valley, dominated on the east by the Pfaffenstein , on the west by the Kaiserschild , and on the south by the Erzberg... to Leoben Leoben Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining... |
Austria | 1204 | |
| Semmering Semmering For the town of the same name, see Semmering, Austria.Semmering is a mountain pass in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps connecting Lower Austria and Styria, between which it forms a natural border.-Location:... |
tunnel | Gloggnitz Gloggnitz Gloggnitz is a mountain town in the Neunkirchen district of Lower Austria, Austria.Gloggnitz is situated in the south-western part of the Vienna Basin in Lower Austria. It is surrounded by the highest mountains in Lower Austria, Mount Rax and Mount Schneeberg... to Mürzzuschlag Mürzzuschlag Mürzzuschlag is a town in northeastern Styria, Austria, the capital of the Mürzzuschlag District. It is located on the Mürz river near the Semmering Pass, the border with the state of Lower Austria, about southwest of Vienna. The population is 8,745... |
Austria | 1.5 | 965 |
History
Places where the Alps were crossed are called passes, and are points at which the alpine chainMain chain of the Alps
The Alpine divide is the central line of mountains that forms the water divide of the range. Main chains of mountain ranges are traditionally designated in this way, and generally include the highest peaks of a range; the Alps are something of an unusual case in that several significant groups of...
sinks to form depressions, up to which deep-cut valleys lead from the plains & hilly pre-mountainous zones
Foothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
. The oldest names for such passes are Mont (still retained in cases of Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis is a massif and pass in Savoie in France which forms the limit between the Cottian and Graian Alps.A road over the pass was built between 1803 and 1810 by Napoleon...
and Monte Moro
Monte Moro
Monte Moro is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the Swiss-Italian border.-External links:*...
), for it was many ages before this term was applied to mountains themselves, which with a few very rare exceptions (e.g. Monte Viso
Monte Viso
Monte Viso or Monviso , is a mountain in the Cottian Alps in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape, and because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m it can be seen from some distance, from the Piedmontese plateau and the...
was known to the Romans as Vesulus) were for a long time disregarded.
Native inhabitants of the Alps were naturally the first to use the passes. The passes first became known to the outside world when the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
crossed them to raid or conquer the region beyond. Romans, once having found an "easy" way across the chain, did not trouble to seek for harder and more devious routes. Hence, passes that can be shown as certainly known to them are relatively few in number: they are, in topographical order from west to east, the Col de l'Argentiere, the Col de Montgenèvre
Col de Montgenèvre
The Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.The pass takes its name from the village Montgenèvre , which lies in the vicinity...
, the two St Bernard passes (Little St Bernard Pass
Little St Bernard Pass
The Little St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level. It is located between Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy to the south of the Mont Blanc Massif, precisely on the main alpine watershed. There is also a Great St...
and Great St. Bernard Pass
Great St. Bernard Pass
Great St. Bernard Pass is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. It connects Martigny in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland to Aosta in Italy. It is the lowest pass lying on the ridge between the two highest summits of the Alps, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa...
), the Splügen Pass
Splügen Pass
The Splügen Pass is a high mountain pass which marks the boundary between the Lepontine and Rhaetian Alps....
, the Septimer Pass
Septimer Pass
Septimer Pass is a high mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in the Swiss Alps between the valleys of Bregaglia and Oberhalbstein ....
, the Reschen Pass, the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
, the Plöcken Pass
Plöcken Pass
Plöcken Pass is a high mountain pass in the Carnic Alps mountain range at the border between the Austrian state of Carinthia and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. It links the market town of Kötschach-Mauthen in the Gail Valley with Tolmezzo on the Tagliamento River.-See also:* List of...
, the Pontebba Pass (or Saifnitz Pass), the Radstädter Tauern Pass
Radstädter Tauern Pass
Radstädter Tauern Pass is a high mountain pass in the Radstädter Tauern which are in the Niedere Tauern range of the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Radstadt and Mauterndorf in the state of Salzburg....
and the Solkscharte Pass
Sölk Pass
Sölk Pass is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps in the Bundesland of Styria.It crosses the Niedere Tauern and connects the Mur River valley with the Enns River valley.The pass road is a secondary highway and is not cleared in winter...
or Sölk Pass.
Of these the Montgenèvre and the Brenner were the most frequented. In the Central Alps only two passes (the Splügen and the Septimer) were certainly known to the Romans. In fact the central portion of the Alps was by far the least Romanised region until the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Thus the Simplon
Simplon Pass
Simplon Pass is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It connects Brig in the canton of Valais with Domodossola in Piedmont . The pass itself and the villages on each side of it, such as Gondo, are in Switzerland...
is first definitely mentioned in 1235, the St Gotthard
St. Gotthard Pass
The Gotthard Pass or St. Gotthard Pass is a high mountain pass in Switzerland between Airolo in the canton of Ticino, and Göschenen in the canton of Uri, connecting the northern German-speaking part of Switzerland with the Italian-speaking part, along the route onwards to Milan.Though the pass...
in 1236, the Lukmanier in 965, the San Bernardino in 941; of course they may have been known before, but authentic history is silent as regards them till the dates specified. Even the Mont Cenis (from the 15th to the 19th century the favourite pass for travellers going from France to Italy) is first heard of only in 756.
In the 13th century many hitherto unknown passes came into prominence, even some of the easy glacier passes. In the Western and Central Alps there is only one ridge to cross, to which access is gained by a deep-cut valley, though often it would be shorter to cross a second pass in order to reach the plains, e.g. the Montgenèvre, that is most directly reached by the Col du Lautaret
Col du Lautaret
Col du Lautaret is a high mountain pass in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.It marks the boundary between the valleys of the Romanche and the Guisane, a tributary of the Durance which has its source at the col. The valleys are linked by national route 91...
; and the Simplon, which is best reached by one of the lower passes over the western portion of the Bernese Oberland chain. On the other hand, in the Eastern Alps, it is generally necessary to cross three distinct ridges between the northern and southern plains, the Central ridge being the highest and most difficult to cross. Thus the passes which crossed a single ridge, and did not involve too great a detour through a long valley of approach, became the most important and the most popular, e.g. the Mont Cenis, the Great St Bernard, the St Gotthard, the Septimer and the Brenner.
As time went on the Alpine passes were improved to make travel easier. A few passes (e.g. the Semmering
Semmering
For the town of the same name, see Semmering, Austria.Semmering is a mountain pass in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps connecting Lower Austria and Styria, between which it forms a natural border.-Location:...
, the Brenner, the Col de Tende
Col de Tende
Col de Tende is a high mountain pass in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.It separates the Maritime Alps from the Ligurian Alps. It connects Nice and Tende in Alpes-Maritimes with Cuneo in Piedmont....
and the Arlberg
Arlberg
Arlberg is a mountain range or massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria.The highest peak is the "Valluga" at . The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes . Another story derives...
) had carriage roads constructed before 1800, while those over the Umbrail and the Great St Bernard were not completed till the early years of the 20th century. Most of the carriage roads across the great alpine passes were thus constructed in the first half of the 19th century, largely due to the Napoleon's need for such roads as modes of military transport. As late as 1905, the highest pass over the main chain that had a carriage road was the Great St Bernard (8111 feet), but three still higher passes over side ridges have roads—the Stelvio Pass
Stelvio Pass
The Stelvio Pass , located in Italy, at 2757 m is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, slightly below the Col de l'Iseran .-Location:...
(9055 feet), the Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
(8721 feet), in the Dauphiné Alps
Dauphiné Alps
The Dauphiné Alps are a group of mountain ranges in southeastern France, west of the main chain of the Alps. They are separated from the Cottian Alps in the east by the Col du Galibier and the upper Durance valley; from the western Graian Alps in the north-east by the river Arc; from the lower...
, and the Umbrail Pass
Umbrail Pass
Umbrail Pass is a high mountain pass on the Swiss-Italian border connecting Santa Maria in Val Müstair with Bormio in the Adda valley. On the Italian side, it connects to the Stelvio Pass road.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe...
(8242 feet).
Railway lines, like the Brenner
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
and the Pontebba
Pontebba
Pontebba is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located about 100 km northwest of Trieste and about 50 km north of Udine, on the border with Austria...
lines, were added to speed travel through the passes and tunnels supplemented passes at the Col de Tenda, the Mont Cenis, the Simplon and the St Gotthard.
See also
- AlpsAlpsThe Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
- List of mountain passes in Switzerland
- Valleys of the AlpsValleys of the Alps-Rhine basin :High Rhine*Aare**Limmat***Linth ****Lake Walen*****Seez****Klöntal****Sernftal**Reuss River***Lake Lucerne****Sarner Aa ****Muotathal***Schächen, Klausen Pass connects to Glarus...