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Impressions of Switzerland, Part 2: Over the Saint Gotthard mountain

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Last week, I took a trip to one of my favorite parts of the country, the Ticino, the southern and Italian part of the country. You can get there by train or car. The train takes you through a 9-mile (15 km) tunnel underneath the Swiss Alps from Göschenen on the Swiss German side to Airolo on the Swiss Italian side. A new railway tunnel is being constructed at the moment and expected to be finished in 2016. It will be the longest railway tunnel in the world with a total length (including tunnels, shafts, and passages) of 94.3 miles (151.84 km). By car you can either drive through the road tunnel (with its 10.5 miles or 16.9 km, it is the third longest car tunnel in the world) or you can cross the St. Gotthard Pass (6909 ft., 2106 m high), the mountain that divides and connects the German and the Italian part of the country.

My favorite way to get from north to south or vice versa is either by train, or, if the weather permits, by car over the St. Gotthard Pass (the mountain is closed during winter due to heavy snow). Named after Saint Gotthard, the Bishop of Hildesheim, this mountain has fascinated me since childhood, when my father drove my mother and me over the pass for the first time in his small VW bug. The history of Saint Gotthard and its importance as a route that connects the north and south of the continent dates back to Roman times. For those who are interested, here is a link to a short overview of its history.

St. Gotthard is a rough and, to me, mysterious, mountain. Even during the hottest days in summer, a cold breeze blows on top and if you get caught in a rain or snow storm, beware! The landscape is rocky, full of granite and gneiss. There is a museum, a chapel, a couple of modest but good restaurants and, in summer, a stand with barbecued sausages next to a beautiful lake.

I drove across the pass to the south of the country during a gorgeous, sunny day and the mountain showed its friendly face. Here are a few pictures.  

A cup of coffee and a snack to prepare for the drive through
the lengthy tunnel or over the mountain

View from the northern side

 The drive up the narrow and curvy mountain road.

Wild mountain stream

Wild flowers
 


The highpoint of my drive over the mountain: this was the first time I saw the old Gotthard stagecoach that used to bring the mail and passengers across the mountain. Nowadays, it’s a tourist attraction and can be rented for a fun ride and a time travel experience.
 
Clean, clear but oh, so cold, water!
A monument at the top commemorating an airman who
crashed while on military service in 1928.

 
The simple but lovely mountain inn. It also houses a museum and a souvenir store

 
And, of course, after the drive to the top of the mountain, you need a hearty meal and an espresso.
 

And now, it’s time for the drive down the southern face of the mountain toward the lovely canton Ticino.
 
 

 
 
 
Here, the grapes are already ripening, getting ready to be transformed into the delicious local wine: Merlot del Ticino or Nostrano!
 
 

 
I arrive in Biasca, a town in the northern part of the Ticino, where I spend a week with my dear friends and hosts Silvia and Curzio. And dinner at the grotto, the traditional Ticinese inn, is, of course, a must!
 
 
 

Here the wine is served in the typical small cup, tazzino.

Yummy prosciutto, salami, and other delicacies, tasty bread, and a cup of Nostrano. What else could one wish for? A good meal and great company to end a marvelous day.
 
More next time!
 
 


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About Christa Polkinhorn

Born and raised in Switzerland, Christa Polkinhorn grew up surrounded by mountains, lakes, and a deep curiosity about the world beyond her country’s borders. Her passion for travel has taken her across Europe, China, Japan, and South America, experiences that now infuse her fiction with authentic settings and rich cultural detail. After settling in Southern California, Christa built a dual career as a writer and translator. She began her literary journey with The Path of Fire, a collection of poetry that explores themes of passion, identity, and transformation. She then turned to fiction with the Family Portrait trilogy, weaving intimate family dramas and love stories across continents. Her Wine Lover’s Daughter mystery series combines love and suspense, strong characters, and the evocative backdrop of European and Californian wine country. Her most recent novel, Letter from a Cave, is a historical mystery and romance that connects the past to the present. Christa’s writing is fueled by her fascination with other cultures, her love of language, and her belief that stories connect us across borders. When she’s not writing or translating, she can be found reading, traveling, or enjoying art, music, dark chocolate, and red wine.

Comments

Impressions of Switzerland, Part 2: Over the Saint Gotthard mountain — 16 Comments

  1. What a treat being able to share in your travels!!! Love reading the posts and looking at the photos~thanks for sharing! ❤

  3. You're a wonderful travel guide, Christa! You make it all come alive. Is that the grotto from Emilia?

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and impressions.

  7. Thank you! Your posts give me a feeling for Switzerland. Keep them coming! — Lindsay

  9. It's wonderful to read about your adventures in Switzerland. Can't wait for the next installment!
    Diane

  11. I'm enjoying reading about your travels. Hope to see it myself one day. I had one overnight in Lugano during a trip to Italy, but I need a lot more!

  13. Awesome post! The white horses are beautiful! It reminds of the carriage I believe I rode in at your wedding. And those views….I'm not sure I have the stomach for riding DOWN. That looked scary. I believe you have a hidden talent for travel writing, Christa! …..a Rick Steves in the making. Love your detailed descriptions not only of your surroundings but also of the food and drink.

  14. Dorothy, how funny you would say this. I love Rick Steves' travel shows and I even bought one of his day packs! I also have his travel guide. He is funny, interesting, and very knowledgeable.

  15. Don't think I didn't notice that big, near empty bottle of vino towards the end. I know those cups were too small for someone like YOU, but to drink straight out of the bottle…SHOCKING!!!! Where are the shots of you passed out in the gutter? OH MY STARS!!!! I know you like to keep "on the move" in Swiss Land so the authorities don't close in and kick you out of the country. But if you keep living it up and drinking all of the wine, well… You're making a spectacle of yourself and people WILL notice. You'll get busted and deported (AGAIN) and have to come crawling back to Santa Monica… Positively SCANDALOUS!

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