The History and Significance of the Gotthard Pass and Tunnel

A Gateway Through the Alps


Reading Time:     4 Min.
Publication:         December 16, 2025, Jonathan Schönholzer

For centuries, the Gotthard region has been one of Europe’s most important north–south corridors, a dramatic and often treacherous gateway carved through the spine of the Alps. Long before high-speed trains and modern engineering transformed the route into a smooth passage, the Gotthard Pass was a rugged mountain track that shaped trade, politics, and cultural exchange across the continent. Today, its legacy lives on through a triad of extraordinary tunnels that have redefined what it means to cross the Alps.

A Medieval Lifeline Through the Mountains

The story of the Gotthard begins in the Middle Ages, when merchants and pilgrims sought a faster route between northern Europe and the Mediterranean world. Although steep, narrow, and prone to avalanches, the Gotthard Pass offered a surprisingly direct path over the mountains. By the 13th century, the construction of the first Teufelsbrücke, the “Devil’s Bridge”, helped tame one of the wildest stretches of the journey across the Schöllenen Gorge. Legends grew around the bridge, the pass, and the people who braved it, giving the Gotthard a mystical aura and cementing its role as a crucial trade artery.

For centuries, mule caravans traversed this route, carrying spices, textiles, salt, and cultural influences between regions that would otherwise remain distant. The pass linked the Swiss Confederation with Italy’s trading cities, helping Switzerland grow prosperous while placing the Gotthard at the heart of European commerce.

Engineering Triumphs of the 19th and 20th Centuries

By the 19th century, industrialization demanded faster, more reliable transport than a high alpine road could provide. Engineers turned to a new solution: a massive railway tunnel that would pierce straight through the mountains. Completed in 1882, the Gotthard Rail Tunnel was a marvel of its time, 15 kilometers of rock drilled and blasted through with early industrial tools, costing numerous workers their lives. When it opened, the tunnel dramatically reduced travel times, strengthened Switzerland’s position as a key transit country, and became a landmark achievement in engineering.

The 20th century brought another revolution: the automobile. After decades of planning, the Gotthard Road Tunnel opened in 1980, instantly becoming one of the longest road tunnels in the world. Its impact was enormous. Tourism soared, trade accelerated, and the Alps, once a formidable barrier, could suddenly be crossed in comfort regardless of the season. But its popularity also brought traffic bottlenecks that every summer create legendary queues stretching for kilometers.

The Modern Era: A High-Speed Gateway for Europe

The latest chapter in the Gotthard’s history is perhaps the most impressive. In 2016, Switzerland inaugurated the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest and deepest railway tunnel on Earth. Operated by the SBB, and Running 57 kilometers through the base of the Alps, it allows high-speed trains to travel nearly flat, straight, and fast, reshaping European rail connections and promoting a shift from road to rail freight. This modern masterpiece embodies Switzerland’s commitment to precision engineering and sustainable mobility.

Despite these technological leaps, the spirit of the Gotthard remains rooted in its ancient role: a bridge between cultures, a meeting point of north and south, and a symbol of human determination to overcome natural obstacles. Whether experienced through breathtaking mountain roads or in the quiet glide of a train beneath the earth, the Gotthard continues to tell a story of connection, a story as old as Europe itself and still evolving with each generation.

All information provided without guarantee.

Bilderquelle: LSC via Pixabay

Location: Schöllenen Gorge, 6487 Göschenen, Switzerland

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