UNESCO World Heritage
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The Albula and Bernina lines between Thusis and Tirano are outstanding and technically innovative examples of how the high-Alpine landscape has been opened up, and are among the most spectacular narrow-gauge railways in the world. The Rhaetian Railway forms the backbone of the Albula/Bernina landscape. The Albula Railway was completed in 1903, the Bernina Railway in 1910. From the very outset, the Albula Railway was recognised as a masterpiece of railway engineering. The Bernina Railway (St Moritz–Tirano) became the model for many planned and several executed projects throughout the Alps. Today it holds a unique position worldwide: it is Europe's highest-altitude transalpine railway and one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world.
The surrounding landscape is an essential aspect of the exceptional importance of the Albula and Bernina lines. On the one hand, the railway structures themselves perfectly reflect a direct link with the landscape; on the other, the railway runs through an extremely varied and rich cultural landscape. The engineering structures merge with the extraordinary topography to form an integral whole. The choice of routing was largely motivated by the desire to make the route especially appealing for tourism by highlighting the spectacular scenery. The cultural features of both past and present interact with an Alpine and high-Alpine natural landscape of spectacular beauty.
The railway lines
The Albula and Bernina railway lines constitute the central element of the World Heritage. The Albula Railway was completed in 1903, the Bernina railway in 1910. The Albula Railway was constructed as a classic mountain railway for operation with steam engines. The layout of the line and the engineering structures built of locally quarried stone mark the zenith of the classic era of railway construction.
The Bernina Railway is an innovative adaptation of an electric overland railway with an exceptionally skilful layout in a high-Alpine landscape. Both railways link the Upper Engadin with international tourism and represent a real "adventure experience" for tourists.
The engineering structures of the Albula and Bernina lines (bridges, station buildings, signal complexes, tunnels and their portals) merge with the striking topography to form an integral whole. The choice of routing, in particular of the Bernina line, was largely motivated by the desire to make the route especially appealing for tourism by highlighting the spectacular scenery. Both railways integrate buildings of the highest quality and conceptualise them in relation to the landscape in terms of both their route layout and structures.
The "railway" perimeter comprises the Thusis–St. Moritz–Tirano section.
Special offers within the UNESCO World Heritage site
- Bernina Express on the Landwasser viaduct
©RhB
Since 1972, 185 states – including Switzerland – have become signatories to the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. This important agreement is dedicated to preserving what is valuable by taking care to protect the world’s outstanding cultural and natural treasures.
One of these treasures is the Albula and Bernina line of the Rhaetian Railway, which was recognised in July 2008. The UNESCO World Heritage "Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes" includes not only the railway line, but – as the name suggests – the adjacent countryside. Railway and landscape blend into one in a series of wide expanses and imposing man-made structures - all carefully embedded into the steeply-sloping Alpine valleys. Man cannot live from the railway alone, but he can use it to make his way to all that is worth seeing in three different linguistic and cultural regions. These attractions include such sights as the Landwasser Viaduct, the series of winding tunnels between Bergün and Preda and, as the highlight, the Circular Viaduct at Brusio.
UNESCO World Heritage Pass
The century-old railway line across the Albula and Bernina is regarded as a true masterpiece of railway engineering. Designed from the outset to exist in perfect harmony with the surrounding countryside, the line stands as a proud monument to the pioneering days of railway construction. Since July 2008, the Albula and Bernina lines are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Landscape and railway blend into one, in a series of wide expanses and imposing man-made structures along the winding route through abruptly-sloping Alpine valleys. The line’s designers and builders made every effort to harmonise it with the area’s natural attractions. Monumental landmarks and photo opportunities along the way include the Landwasser Viaduct, the series of winding tunnels between Bergün and Preda, and the Circular Viaduct at Brusio. Man cannot live from the railway alone, but he can use it to make his way to all that is worth seeing in three different linguistic and cultural regions.
Ideal for: bons vivants, culture lovers and adventurers.
Sightseeing attractions: Landwasser Viaduct, Bergün Local History Museum (with a model of the Albula Line), winding tunnels between Bergün and Preda, the Glacier Garden in Cavaglia, the Circular Viaduct at Brusio and the Old Town in Poschiavo.
A tip for UNESCO fans
Take in no fewer than six World Heritage sites all in one go on the Venice–St. Moritz tour. This new railway/postal bus trip takes you to six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Switzerland and Italy.
New: From Tirano by bus back in time to the Neolithic age
Use the new public transport link between Tirano and Val Camonica, with its UNESCO World Heritage site at Capo di Ponte, famous throughout the world for its Neolithic rock paintings. Passengers can buy Tirano-Edolo-(Tirano) bus tickets directly from the driver. The corresponding Swiss train/bus ticket entitles passengers on the connecting train, upon departure from Edolo, to obtain tickets to the desired destination from the train conductor at no extra charge.
Tirano - Edolo | Bus | EUR 3.05 |
Edolo - Capo di Ponte | Train | EUR 2.20 (to Brescia: EUR 6) |
Special offers on the World Heritage route
- Two days’ unlimited travel on all trains between Thusis and Tirano (except the Bernina Express/Glacier Express)
- UNESCO World Heritage Guidebook, price: CHF 15.00
- The ticket is valid for 4 days from the moment it is punched for the first time
- Children travel free with the Junior or Grandchild Card
- Guidebooks without train tickets are available at RhB railway stations
- No discounted transfers within the Oberengadin Fare Association zone
Fares (CHF) | 1/2 | 1/1 |
1st class | 83.00 | 102.00 |
2nd class | 53.00 | 68.00 |
Special offers with travel to and from any RHB railway station
- Two days’ unlimited travel on all trains between Thusis and Tirano (except the Bernina Express/Glacier Express)
- UNESCO World Heritage Guidebook, price: CHF 15.00
- The ticket is valid for 4 days from the moment it is punched for the first time
- Children travel free with the Junior or Grandchild Card
- Guidebooks without train tickets are available at RhB railway stations
- No discounted transfers within the Oberengadin Fare Association zone
Fares (CHF) | 1/2 | 1/1 |
1st class | 128.00 | 156.00 |
2nd class | 79.00 | 104.00 |
Both legs of the return trip on this section must take place on the same day as the journey on the World Heritage route.
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