Viamala

Via Mala or Via Mala ( Firm Latin, Romansch " veia mala ", translated " bad way " ) refers to an earlier infamous, around 8 km long section of path along the Hinterrheins between Thusis and Zillis- Reischen in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The deeply entrenched gorge is the most difficult obstacle in the course of the Lower road from Chur to the Alpine passes Splügen and San Bernardino.

History

The Roman Way

As shown by research by Armon Planta, already a path led to the Roman period through the Via Mala. It is unclear whether he could be traveled by car. Rock carvings from the Bronze Age to Carschenna and Bronze and Iron Age finds in Shams in the south and Domleschg in the north already have at that time (ie, since about 1500 BC) on a mule track over the Alps ( Splügen and San Bernardino ) through this area.

For access to the gorge from the north, there were two options: the left side of Masein about Rongellen, or right side of Sils im Domleschg about Hohenrätien castle and the church of St. Albin. The latter variant was probably popular in Roman times, but was in 1300 by landslides impassable and only created once again in 1666, which resulted because of the competition for the page Thusis for short-term exclusion of shame from the horror of Nations. Both paths met on Nesselboden, the northern entrance to the Via Mala, which the Romans were able to conquer the left side with several rock-hewn half Galleries. Probably in the range below the present highway bridge at the bridge of the trail today ( Punt da Suransuns ) conducted a wooden bridge to traffic again on the right side of the Rhine, on Reischen to Zillis.

The Via Mala letter from 1473

In the Middle Ages, the long-distance transport shifted from Splügenpass more and more on the competing, sponsored by the influential Bishop of Chur Oberestrasse over the Septimerpass. The poorly -maintained path at the back of the Rhine fell into disrepair, so gorge and road were named for the 13th century Via Mala.

1473 the municipalities planned Thusis, Masein and Cazis, the rich and the rhinestone waeg entzwüschend Tusi and Shams, one howen nempt Fyamala zuo, uffzuorichten and make ze. In this bold project, the Heinz Berger found by the other Porten (transport cooperatives) along the lower road support. Instead of the old wooden bridge still for about 1.5 km to the south the mighty stone Punt da Tgiern. The Roman stretch was redeveloped and then cut up to the new bridge a bold way partly out of the rock, partly out on boardwalks through the dizzying abyss.

The bishop could not prevent the removed Splügen became the most important Graubünden transit link; his power had waned and the court communities developed in the Three Leagues to the sovereign. Besides Säumerkarawanen, commercial travelers, diplomats and " early tourists " also passed the Lindau Messenger, an organized courier service from the town of Lindau, on his way to Milan, the Via Mala.

The transport history of the Via Mala is in the summer nightly shows visitors presented as " Via Mala Notte ".

Latter-day extensions

In the years 1738-1739 the Davos architect Christian Wildener created two bridges, with those of the most exposed section of the Roman road Via Mala could be bypassed on the right side; one of which has survived to this day.

During the famine in Graubünden in 1816 but rotten still be purchased and available food stocks south of the Alps, as the transport capacity was not sufficient over the passes. Under this impression the government pressed ahead with the development of a road network, also with the mission of building a road through the San Bernardino Pass. Under the direction of Richard La Nicca 1818-1821 was the new carriage road in the Via Mala. Takes you to the north entrance of tunnels and galleries through the Lost hole, eliminating the reverse pitch on the Rongeller height. The three existing bridges were still in use, between blown up a new route from the rock.

A devastating flood in 1834 destroyed the road in the area of ​​Punt da Tgiern. The bridge itself stood firm, but was then useless and was left to decay. As a replacement was built in 1836 north of it the Rania bridge. The road course in 1836 corresponds to the modern canton road, apart from a new tunnel at the A13 connection and the two bridges that were in charge of the traffic no longer grown Wildener bridges 1935/38 (which remained a bridge and is accessible for pedestrians ). Between the two bridges, at a parking area with kiosk, leads a staircase with 321 steps into the depths of the canyon.

The highway opened in 1967 A13 bypasses the narrowest portion in a 742 m long tunnel and crosses the southern part of the Via Mala on a large bridge. The 1958 newly built section between Thusis and Rongellen was replaced in 1996 by the 2171 m long tunnel Crapteig.

In the same year the historic right bank route was renewed by the construction of a bridge, which connected the remains of the Roman Wegverlaufes. This bridge did the Roman way and the same was destroyed by rockfall in 1999. A 2005 new bridge is longer and also a staircase. Another pedestrian bridge in the southern part makes the trek to experience.

Currently, the tourist infrastructure is renewed. Planned are a new shop with visitor terrace and a new toilet facility. Moreover, the stair system is to be rehabilitated. The planned investments amount to CHF 1.4 million.