Via Sett: Die Julierstrasse

In 1816 there was a famine in the mountain villages of Graubünden, because due to the lack of roads and the danger of avalanches, not enough grain could be brought from the lowlands to the Alpine valleys. 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.

The decision to expand the Julier road and not the Septimer road 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 the Septimer road. Even today, the Julier Pass is one of the most important connections to the Engadine. Around 3000 vehicles pass through it every day.