ViaGottardo

What would the Gotthard be without its access routes? The ViaGottardo reaches the central Alpine pass from Chiasso in the south, from Schaffhausen in the northeast and from Basel in the northwest of Switzerland. There are many traces of these transport links to discover along the way.

The 330-kilometre long-distance hike begins at Basel SBB railway station. Beyond Muttenz, the trail climbs to the Wartenberg with its three medieval castle ruins. It continues through the forests, meadows and villages of the Baselbiet to the Unterer Hauenstein at around 700 m, then via Olten and Aarburg into the Swiss Plateau. Near Sempach, the trail runs directly along the shore of the Sempachersee.

In Luzern, the route reaches the Vierwaldstättersee and later continues to Flüelen. From there, it leads via Altdorf into the increasingly narrow Reusstal. Beyond Amsteg and Gurtnellen, longer sections of mountain trail climb towards Göschenen and Andermatt. In the Gotthard region, the highest point lies near Monte Prosa at just over 2,100 m. At the Passo del San Gottardo, the route crosses to the southern side of the Alps.

The descent leads via Airolo and Faido through the Leventina to Biasca. Open slopes, woodland and more densely populated valley areas then alternate. Via Giubiasco, Isone and Tesserete, the route reaches Lugano; the final kilometres lead through the southern suburbs to the destination in Chiasso, near Piazza Indipendenza.