Cultural
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
Tirano, Italie
Inscribed 2008
Photo : Hans-Rudolf Berner (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Stretching across the Swiss-Italian border, this railway line connects the Albula and Bernina mountain landscapes through a series of distinctive engineering works. The route was constructed between 1898 and 1910 to connect the Swiss canton of Graubünden with the Italian region of Lombardy, representing a significant technological achievement in Alpine railway engineering. The site's UNESCO inscription recognises the outstanding universal value of its railway infrastructure, which includes viaducts, tunnels, and stations that exemplify early 20th-century mountain railway construction techniques. The landscape encompasses steep alpine terrain with notable architectural elements such as the Landwasser Viaduct and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct, which demonstrate innovative solutions to challenging topography. Visually, the railway winds through dramatic mountain scenery, passing through forests, high plateaus, and across deep valleys, creating a striking interaction between human infrastructure and natural landscape. The site testifies to the economic and cultural connections established between Switzerland and Italy through improved rail transport during this historical period.
Location
Tirano, Italie
Inscription
2008
