Valais/Italian border
Simplon Pass
The Simplon pass stands high above the town of Brig, home of its patron Kasper Stockalper
History
The Simplon pass was a route for smugglers and mercenaries back when today's Canton of Valais was still independent of Switzerland. It took the investment of a local entrepreneur and politician, Kaspar Stockalper to build it. Today the original route - the Via Stockalper, is still traversed by walkers.
Notes
The Via Stockalper trail features a secret underground fortress built around 100 years ago and designed to stop any enemy advances through the narrow valley of Gondo and was used through the World Wars. Declassified in the 90s, tours of the facility are available. Gondo was the scene of a disaster in October 2000 when a mudslide swept through the village killing 13 people and destroying many of the buildings and damaging the Stockalper tower. The tower was later reconstructed and is now a hotel and restaurant.
Map
Statistics
| Summit coordinates | 46°15’03.5”N, 8°01’58.5”E |
|---|---|
| Summit Altitude | 2005 metres |
| Distance | 40 kilometres |
| Start | Brig 691 metres |
| End | Gondo 855 metres |
| Opens | All year* |
Swiss Passes
- Index
- Albula pass
- Bernina pass
- Col de Champex
- Col de la Croix
- Col de la Forclaz
- Col du Marchairuz
- Col des Mosses
- Col du Pillon
- Flüela pass
- Furka pass
- Great Saint-Bernard pass
- Gotthard pass
- Grimsel pass
- Jaun pass
- Julier pass
- Klausen pass
- Lukmanier pass
- Majola pass
- Nufenen pass
- Oberalp pass
- Ofen pass
- San Bernardino pass
- Simplon pass
- Splügen pass
- Susten pass
- Umbrail pass