Via Sett: Die Julierstrasse

In 1816 there was a famine in the mountain villages of Graubünden, as not enough grain could be brought from the lowlands to the Alpine valleys due to a lack of roads and avalanche danger. As a result, the cantonal government decided to build roads that could be used all year round and commissioned Richard La Nicca to build the Julierstrasse in 1820.

Expanding the Julierstrasse and not the Septimerstrasse was due to the simpler geographical location and lower avalanche danger. They also wanted to create access to the Engadine, which would not have been possible via Septimerstrasse. Even today, the Julier Pass is one of the most important connections to the Engadine. Around 3000 vehicles pass through it every day.