Bernina Pass

The Bernina Pass (el. 2328 m.) (Passo del Bernina) is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons) 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. The pass lies a few kilometres east of Piz Bernina, and south of Val Minor.

The Bernina Pass is crossed by both the Hauptstrasse 29 road and the Bernina railway line, with a popular tourist train, the Bernina Express operating year-round between Chur and Tirano. The train crosses the pass west of the road at a slightly lower 2253 m (at Ospizio Bernina) – it is the highest adhesion railway route in Europe.

Lago Bianco, Lej Nair and Lej Pitschen are located on the pass.



History
The pass was an important trade route over the Alps during the Middle Ages. In 1410 several communities north and south of the pass agreed to work together to maintain the path. In 1512 the Three Leagues and their Swiss allies invaded the Valtellina region through the Bernina Pass. Around this time the route over the pass was described for the first time. It covered a distance of about 20 mi from Poschiavo to Pontresina.

The building of the road began in 1842. Head of engineers was Rudolf Albertini (1821–1896) from Zuoz. The work was finished in 1865 and a hospice at an elevation of 2307 m was also opened. Since this time the road has been widened several times. Since 1965 it has been open all year round, although there is snow during 8 months.