ViaSuworow, Stage 2/11

The descent into the Urserntal valley leads through the rugged Gotthardreusstal valley, mainly along the old trading route. Suvorov set up his quarters in Hospental in the Hotel St. Gotthard (formerly Ochsen). The route continues along the valley floor to Andermatt.

The approximately 13-kilometre hike begins at the Gotthard Passhöhe stop. From the Middle Ages until the construction of the railway and motorway tunnels, the pass was an important north–south link. After a short ascent, the white-red-white waymarked mountain trail reaches the highest point of the route at just under 2,100 metres.

The trail then heads northwards across open, at times rocky slopes. The long descent defines this stage: it drops around 780 metres in total, while the vast high-Alpine landscape gradually gives way to gentler pastures and the first signs of settlement. After just over two hours, Hospental draws closer.

In the village, the route passes St. Karl Chapel. The nearby tower of the Lords of Hospental is another defining feature of the village. The route now changes from a mountain trail to a yellow-waymarked hiking trail and follows the valley floor towards Andermatt. After just over three hours, the hike ends near the Andermatt, Tourist Info stop.