Septimer Pass (German: ''Septimerpass'', Italian: ''Passo del Settimo'', Romansh: ''Pass da Sett''; elevation ) is a high
mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...
in the
canton of
Graubünden in the
Swiss Alps
The Alps, Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps, represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss portion of the Jura Mountains, one of its three main Physica ...
between the valleys of
Bregaglia (Bergell) and
Surses
Sursés () is a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Albula Region of the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2016 the former municipalities of Bivio, Cunter, Marmorera, Mulegns, Riom-Parson ...
(Oberhalbstein). It is traditionally considered the boundary between the
Oberhalbstein and
Albula Alps. During the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, this, the
Great St. Bernard, and the
Brenner Passes were the preferred routes over the
Alps
The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
...
for traveling emperors. The nearest inhabited localities on the approaches of the Septimer Pass are
Casaccia on the south and
Bivio on the north.
Already in use by the
Romans, who maintained a legion camp in the pass around AD 15–16, this pass was an important trade route from
Milan
Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
through Bivio to
Augsburg
Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part of Swabia, Germany, around west of the Bavarian capital Munich. It is a College town, university town and the regional seat of the Swabia (administrative region), Swabia with a well ...
It was easier to use than the
Splügen Pass
The Splügen Pass (; ; ) is an Alpine mountain pass of the Lepontine Alps. It connects the Swiss, Grisonian Splügen to the north below the pass with the Italian Chiavenna to the south at the end of the Valle San Giacomo below the pass ...
, due to the latter having the difficult gorges of the river
Hinterrhein. One of the earliest mentions of a Christian
hospice
Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life b ...
was the one placed at the pass itself, mentioned in 831. It was mentioned in documents for the following millennium, even though it was abandoned in the tenth century and rebuilt at the beginning of the eleventh. (The hospice was later abandoned for good in 1778.) During the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
the Septimer Pass was crucial to the temporal power of the
Bishopric of Chur, whose extensive territories until the fourteenth century included
Chiavenna. In 1236 the
St. Gotthard Pass opened, allowing traffic from
Lucerne
Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...
to Milan, which diverted merchants from going through Chur. The pass further lost importance after the construction of roads over the
Julier and
Maloja passes.
See also
*
Julier Pass and
Maloja Pass
Maloja Pass ( Italian: ''Passo del Maloja'', German: ''Malojapass'') (1815m a.s.l.) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Graubünden, linking the Engadine with the Val Bregaglia, still in Switzerland and Chiavenna in ...
, road passes in proximity of the Septimer Pass
*
List of mountain passes in Switzerland
This is a list of mountain passes in Switzerland. They are generally situated in the Jura Mountains or in the Swiss Alps.
Pass roads
Trails
Railway
See also
* List of highest road passes in Switzerland
* List of highest paved roads in Sw ...
Notes
Sources
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External links
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Crossing Septimerpass like the RomansSwitzerland Mobility
{{Authority control
Mountain passes of Switzerland
Mountain passes of the Alps
Mountain passes of Graubünden
Bregaglia
Surses