Susten Pass
While the rest of Europe were busy shooting at, and dropping bombs on, each other, the neutral Swiss simply got on with life and building one of the most impressive roads in Europe.
The Susten pass was built between 1938 and 1945, linking the cantons of Uri and Bern, running from Wassen to Innertkirchen. Although I guess if you live in Bern, that should probably be the other way around. Which makes me think I’ve never driven it that way, so maybe there’s a trip coming on.
It’s been the subject of some serious roadworks over the past few years, and now has a very good surface, ideal for either cars or bikes.
And if you don’t feel like driving, you can always take the bus. Public transport is renowned for its quality, and the Postbus is a familiar sight in the mountains. Buses run about every two hours, and link up with trains at both ends. Remember, this is Switzerland, so should a delay occur, one will wait for the other.
Probably the most impressive part of the journey is the moment when you come round a corner to discover a glacier coming the other way. Fortunately they don’t move too quickly, so if you do hit it, it’ll be your fault.
The Steingletscher is receding slightly these days but before you blame global warming or climate change, I think I should point out that according to a survey carried out by the most prestigious of Swiss Universities, there is more ice around now than there was 2,000 years ago.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
4 Comments
My partner and myself toured Switzerland in 1996 we traveled 2,200 miles on a bmw motocycle from Preston, Lancashire, England in ten days. The susten pass was incredible. we camped in Miringen but traveled to many sights during are stay, Richenback falls, Grindalwal, Luzern (by Train). it was the most memorable tour i had ever been on. Nothing could compare.
Jacqueline.
Jacqueline,
Thanks for your comments. I agree, the whole area around there is lovely. I’m sure you’ll be coming back!
Geoff
My husband and I rented a car a drove all of Europe for our honeymoon. We took the Susten Pass to get to Interlocken. We drove it at night which was terrifying. There were no street lights and we only passed 1 or 2 other motorist. None of the houses we past had their lights on… it was scary. We had no idea how high we were up in the mountain until we saw snow on the ground. We just know that if we fell of the side, it was a long way down. We finally made to Inerlocken after about 2 hour, 15mph trip through the Susten. It’s a great story to tell now, but just thinking about it again gets my stomach in knots. I would suggest traveling this road in the daylight!
I’ve never driven it at night, but admit I’m tempted to put the roof down on the two seater and give it a blast.
I hate to be one of those people that say “Oh, you think that’s bad…” but I really can relate to how you felt. I had to drive back from the Italian GP once and came over the Splügen pass – which is a bit narrower and tighter, and the buildings don’t even have roofs, let alone lights…
Throw in a petrol guage reading empty (so I was coasting down the hill to save petrol, and avoiding using the brakes wherever possible). My passengers weren’t reassured by the gaps in the wooden barriers, where a car had rolled down across five loops of the road. Neither were the cows in the middle of the road impressed when a silent car came round the hairpins with ligts on full. We got to the end though, and only recently did I go back to try it again. With no passengers this time