The Simplon Pass (French: Col du Simplon; German: Simplonpass; Italian: Passo del Sempione; Lombard: Pass del Sempion; 2,006 m or 6,581 ft) is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It connects Brig in the canton of Valais with Domodossola in Piedmont (Italy). The pass itself and the villages on each side of it, such as Gondo, are in Switzerland. The Simplon Tunnel was built beneath the vicinity of the pass in the early 20th century to carry rail traffic between the two countries.
Simplon Pass
View of the Simplon Pass from above with the Rotelsee (left) and Lake Hopschu (right). Note the slightly lower marshland behind the road.
The lowest point of the col, and the lowest point on the watershed between the basins of the Rhone and the Po in Switzerland lies in marshland about 500 m (1,640 ft) west of the Simplon Pass settlement at an altitude of 1,994 m or 6,542 ft.[2]
Rotelsee is a lake located near the pass at an elevation of 2,028 m (6,654 ft).
There had been a locally used passage through the mountains here for several centuries, but the pass acquired international significance during the Napoleonic occupation. Between 1801 and 1805 the Simplon Road was constructed by the engineer Nicolas Céard at the direction of the emperor in order to transport artillery pieces through the pass between the Rhône valley and Italy. Since then, the pass has been usable by road vehicles: first post carriages, replaced early in the twentieth century by post buses.
The road was periodically improved and in 1950 the cantonal authorities created a plan whereby the pass could be kept open all through the year, and not closed to traffic between October and late April, like most Alpine passes at this altitude.[3] The improvements included several lengthy avalanche shelters along the more exposed stretches of road and the expansion of certain road tunnels to accommodate full size tourist coaches which were significantly taller than the post buses used for local passengers.[3] In October 1970, a party of journalists was invited to inspect the improvements and it was announced that the necessary improvements had been implemented on 37 km (23 mi) of the 42.5 km (26.4 mi) between Brig in Valais and the Italian frontier at Gondo, that 110 of the 180 million Swiss francs budgeted to the project had been spent and that, while a further five years would be needed to complete all the projected improvements, the Simplon Pass could now be used safely all through the year.[3] The former Simplon département (the Swiss canton Valais) was named after the pass.
The Simplon Pass was also outfitted with rails for train service. The 20 km (12 mi)-long Simplon Tunnel was opened in 1906. The historic Orient Express used the Simplon route intermittently during the twentieth century, as it carried passengers between Istanbul and Paris.[4]
The Hospice du Simplon, at the top of the pass, is owned by the Congregation of Canons Regular at Grand-Saint-Bernard.
Monumentsedit
The Simplon Eagle
During the Second World War, officers of the 11th Alpine Brigade of the Swiss Army, based in Zwischbergen, proposed the construction of the stone monument depicting an eagle, the symbol of the brigade. The Bernese architect Erwin Friedrich Baumann designed the monument based on the use of granite blocks from the old fortification of Gondo (a town near the pass) to build a statue about nine meters high. The monument was inaugurated in September 1944.
In 2005, a memorial was built representing the 200th anniversary of the construction of the "Napoleon Road".
^ abc"Simplon Pass: Always Open: Switzerland spends 180 million francs to keep the famous Alpine crossing in year-long use". Autocar. 134 (nbr 3902): 38–39. 7 January 1971.
^Smith, Mark. "A history of the Orient Express". Seat Sixty One. www.seat61.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simplonpass.
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The Simplon Pass French Col du Simplon German Simplonpass Italian Passo del Sempione Lombard Pass del Sempion 2 006 m or 6 581 ft is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland It connects Brig in the canton of Valais with Domodossola in Piedmont Italy The pass itself and the villages on each side of it such as Gondo are in Switzerland The Simplon Tunnel was built beneath the vicinity of the pass in the early 20th century to carry rail traffic between the two countries Simplon PassView of the Simplon Pass from above with the Rotelsee left and Lake Hopschu right Note the slightly lower marshland behind the road Elevation2 006 m 6 581 ft 1 Traversed byRoadLocationValais SwitzerlandRangeAlpsCoordinates46 15 6 N 8 2 0 E 46 25167 N 8 03333 E 46 25167 8 03333Location in SwitzerlandThe lowest point of the col and the lowest point on the watershed between the basins of the Rhone and the Po in Switzerland lies in marshland about 500 m 1 640 ft west of the Simplon Pass settlement at an altitude of 1 994 m or 6 542 ft 2 Rotelsee is a lake located near the pass at an elevation of 2 028 m 6 654 ft There are several high peaks around that can be climbed directly from the pass These include Wasenhorn Hubschhorn Breithorn Simplon and Monte Leone Contents 1 History 2 Monuments 3 See also 4 Picture 5 Gallery 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp The hospice in 1914 nbsp Post bus at the hospiceThere had been a locally used passage through the mountains here for several centuries but the pass acquired international significance during the Napoleonic occupation Between 1801 and 1805 the Simplon Road was constructed by the engineer Nicolas Ceard at the direction of the emperor in order to transport artillery pieces through the pass between the Rhone valley and Italy Since then the pass has been usable by road vehicles first post carriages replaced early in the twentieth century by post buses The road was periodically improved and in 1950 the cantonal authorities created a plan whereby the pass could be kept open all through the year and not closed to traffic between October and late April like most Alpine passes at this altitude 3 The improvements included several lengthy avalanche shelters along the more exposed stretches of road and the expansion of certain road tunnels to accommodate full size tourist coaches which were significantly taller than the post buses used for local passengers 3 In October 1970 a party of journalists was invited to inspect the improvements and it was announced that the necessary improvements had been implemented on 37 km 23 mi of the 42 5 km 26 4 mi between Brig in Valais and the Italian frontier at Gondo that 110 of the 180 million Swiss francs budgeted to the project had been spent and that while a further five years would be needed to complete all the projected improvements the Simplon Pass could now be used safely all through the year 3 The former Simplon departement the Swiss canton Valais was named after the pass The Simplon Pass was also outfitted with rails for train service The 20 km 12 mi long Simplon Tunnel was opened in 1906 The historic Orient Express used the Simplon route intermittently during the twentieth century as it carried passengers between Istanbul and Paris 4 The Hospice du Simplon at the top of the pass is owned by the Congregation of Canons Regular at Grand Saint Bernard Monuments edit nbsp The Simplon EagleDuring the Second World War officers of the 11th Alpine Brigade of the Swiss Army based in Zwischbergen proposed the construction of the stone monument depicting an eagle the symbol of the brigade The Bernese architect Erwin Friedrich Baumann designed the monument based on the use of granite blocks from the old fortification of Gondo a town near the pass to build a statue about nine meters high The monument was inaugurated in September 1944 In 2005 a memorial was built representing the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Napoleon Road See also edit nbsp Alps portalVal Divedro List of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passes List of the highest Swiss passesPicture edit nbsp Panoramic view of the Simplon passGallery edit nbsp Pack animal on Simplon pass 2020 nbsp Mount Fletschhorn seen from Simplon pass nbsp Rotelsee on Simplon Pass nbsp Col du Simplon nbsp Scenery of the area nbsp Retaining wall from Napoleon Road on summit of passBibliography editNicola Pfund Sui passi in bicicletta Swiss Alpine passes by bicycle Fontana Edizioni 2012 p 122 127 ISBN 978 88 8191 281 0References edit Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic map 1 25 000 Finsteraarhorn peakbagger com a b c Simplon Pass Always Open Switzerland spends 180 million francs to keep the famous Alpine crossing in year long use Autocar 134 nbr 3902 38 39 7 January 1971 Smith Mark A history of the Orient Express Seat Sixty One www seat61 com Retrieved 2013 03 13 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simplonpass Coolidge William Augustus Brevoort 1911 Simplon Pass Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed p 135 Profile on climbbybike com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simplon Pass amp oldid 1152804735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
