The Rhaetian Railway Route is a local miracle of Switzerland

The route of the Rhaetian Railway, built at the end of the 19th century, lies through rugged areas in the mountains of Switzerland. It is considered a unique engineering achievement of science and the main transport highway of the country. Since 2008, it has been included in the UNESCO special list as a World Heritage site, a monument of architecture and technology. If you are a connoisseur of mountain and railway routes, such a trip is an ideal option. Travelers from all over the world are attracted by the views of mountain landscapes, valleys and peaks covered with snow - an exciting sight. Hiking and cycling routes are also common and equipped here.

The Rhaetian route consists of eight railway lines, the most popular of which are the Berninskaya and Albuliskaya. The first of them includes a mountain pass at an altitude of more than 2,250 meters from sea level.

Bernina branch

It was established in 1910 and serves as a connection between Switzerland and Italy. The length is 61 km. The famous Bernina Line (Berninaban) passes through 13 tunnels, 52 viaducts and a local pass. The internationally famous "Bernina Express" red train runs along it. The route connects the resort of St. Moritz with the city of Tirano (Northern Italy). You can transfer between the stations and take a ride on the funicular / cable car and enjoy unforgettable impressions. One of the bridges of this road is considered the highest railway crossing in Europe (height 2253 m), as well as one of the steepest lines in the world (the angle of inclination of the route surfaces is 7 degrees). In addition, it is worth seeing the famous local lake Poschiavo (between stops in Miralango and Le Presse).

An interesting fact: the peculiarities of the climate, the risk of avalanches and the difficulty of mountain movements force railway workers to carry out artillery shelling of mountain slopes - a non-standard method of effectively clearing the tracks.

Albula branch

It runs in the South-East of the country through the center, connects the spa resort of St. Moritz and Tusis (Swiss commune), the length of the railway is 67 km. Despite its relatively short length, the Albuli Railway passes through 42 tunnels and about 144 viaduct bridges. The famous arched high-rise bridge (65 m), opened in 1902, is located on it - the symbol of the Albuli route.

Berninsky Express

This is a famous train that crosses the Langwasser Bridge (a large mountain viaduct), it is most often printed on the photo of the Rhaetian railway route.

Additional comfort and pleasure during the trip are provided by the presence of electricity, panoramic windows, an audio guide in several languages, and a bathroom. There are 55 tunnels and about 200 bridges along the 4-hour route of the 156 km long Berninsky Express.

It is important to book tickets in advance (at least 90 days before the trip) in order to reserve a seat on the express (the cost of the tourist tour is included in the price). The ticket price for the route from Tirano to St. Moritz is 5145 rubles.

Glacier Express

The slowest express in the world, allows you to see in detail all the beauties of the Swiss landscapes, enjoy the view and capture it on camera in 7.5 hours and 291 km (including 91 tunnels and about 300 bridges). The train runs a route through small villages, along a Swiss canyon 400 meters deep, between the famous Alpine resorts of St. Moritz, Zermatt. Another point recommended for visiting is the Oberalp Pass (altitude 2033 m above sea level).

The atmosphere created by this place gives an unusual feeling of the fabulous throughout the journey. For true connoisseurs, the express has everything you need - a restaurant car serving a five-course lunch, a bar with a wide selection of drinks, tablets for leisure. Each passenger is served a special greeting dish and a glass of champagne at the beginning of the journey.

What else is worth seeing

The railway through the Alps is not the only attraction that is interesting to visit and enjoy the local beauty. We also recommend visiting:

1) Ruinault Gorge by the Rhine River — "Swiss Grand Canyon". It was formed more than 10 years ago after a landslide. There are several ways to get there, for example by bike or on foot.

2) The alpine lake Silzerse is located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level and is navigable. A famous visitor to this place was Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher. He lived in a local village for 7 years.

3) Mount Korvach is the highest point in the St. Moritz region (3,300 m), where you can climb by cable car and enjoy a delicious lunch and a stunning view of the Bianca mountain range.