Starting in Chur or St. Moritz, the express and regional trains of the Rhaetian Railway wind their way to Pontresina and through the heart of the Bernina Glaciers adventure region. And while passengers are still marvelling at the 4,049-metre-high Piz Bernina, the train descends steeply into Valposchiavo and towards Tirano. From the glaciers to gelato. Including the Italian palm climate.
From the very outset , the railway line over the Bernina Pass was intended as a tourist attraction. Before around 2,500 construction workers set to work in 1902, engineers had spent much time planning a largely tunnel-free route, so that travellers could marvel at the natural beauty of the Grisons during the journey. And, not only them: Furthermore, the stonework viaducts were fitted with slender pillars and narrow arches for a more elegant effect. Travellers were also spared the torment of steam locomotives, as the line was electrified from the very beginning . The entire length of the line was opened in 1910, and even today the trains whirr quietly past the mountain villages, just as they did over a century ago.
The free visitor centre in the Diavolezza valley station invites you to travel back in time.
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The glacial potholes of Cavaglia, which are up to 15 meters deep, are an impressive natural phenomenon.
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In addition to impressive gradients, the Bernina Express also crosses 196 bridges and 55 tunnels. These include structures, which are not only fascinating for model railway fans looking out of the panoramic windows. One of the highlights is even a 136 metre-long viaduct near Filisur, which ends in a vertical rock face to access a tunnel through the mountainside. Equally impressive is the circular viaduct in the valley at Brusio. The approximately 122-kilometre-long Albula and Bernina Line between Thusis and Tirano is considered a true masterpiece of engineering and layout, which is why it has been awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. No matter whether railway fans, nature enthusiasts or culture vultures, the Bernina Express Route has been delighting visitors from all over the world for decades.
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Intermediate
Waterfall trail «Cascada da Bernina». Translated from Romansh, the word «Cascada» means waterfall. Because the mountain stream «Ova da Bernina» plunges about two hundred vertical meters down to the valley floor. Besides the roaring spectacle, visitors can also expect technical pioneering achievements.
584 m
16 m
85 hm
0 hm
Albergo Ristorante Alp Grüm
Rustic and cozy restaurant serving local specialties
Casa Alpina Belvedere
A beautiful place with a unique view of the Val Poschiavo
Restaurant 2309
Restaurant with traditional Swiss and Italian dishes at 2309 m above sea level.
Ristorante Cambrena
The Cambrena restaurant is located on the Bernina Pass at 2253 m above sea level
Camping Restaurant z'reschti
The restaurant at Camping Morteratsch - cozy and uncomplicated
Restaurant Morteratsch
Local, down-to-earth, almost always homemade - the restaurant at the foot of the Morteratsch glacier
Morteratsch Alpine Cheese Dairy
Alpine brunch, cheese making show, whey bath - cheese for all the senses
Berghaus Diavolezza
Eating well in view of Piz Palü and the Bernina Group
VR Bistro Diavolezza
Small bistro at the exhibition «VR Glacier Experience» at the valley station Diavolezza
Mountain restaurant Lagalb
Enjoyment with a view of the Lago Bianco, across the Puschlav and into the Valtellina
Station buffet Ospizio Bernina
The small station buffet is located directly next to the Ospizio Bernina train station on Lago Bianco