Page "Graubünden" Paragraph 49

Transport has always been an important issue in the area ; cart tracks from the Roman era were found on Julierpass and Septimerpass was rebuilt for cart use in 1387 and, although it later became unimportant, it is still in its 1800 form ( for hikers only ).

Corniche paths were necessary for long stretches, and gorges such as the Viamala gave construction problems for any kind of transport.

The first real roads of 4 yards width were built across the Alps from around 1816, one of which is still in a very good historical condition as this connection across Splügen Pass lost its importance after the opening of rail tunnels crossing the alps.

The last valley to be connected to the road system in the state of Graubünden was Avers, whose remote hamlet of Juf was only reached in 1897.

Eventually, the inhabitants of Graubünden gave up their resistance against individual motor traffic in 1926, and the 1967 opened San Bernardino road tunnel, built to host tourism traffic, is used also by heavy goods vehicles nowadays although not really suitable for them for its ascent gradients.

Most other passes have lost their importance for goods transport nowadays.

Huge efforts ensure Public transport to ( nearly ) every settlement by an integrated timetable of postbuses and the Rhaetian Railway, the largest narrow-gauge railway network in Switzerland, in which the cantonal government is the largest shareholder.

Even Juf, inhabited by some 30 people only but holding an European record, is reached 5 times a day by public transport.

The Swiss Federal Railways extend only a few kilometres into the canton, to the capital, Chur, where passengers transfer to the Rhaetian Railway.

" Rhaetia " is the Latin name for the area.

The Albula Line became a UNESCO world heritage as did the Bernina Railway, the highest and only railway to cross the alps without the use of a tunnel at the pass.

In winter some of the road passes are closed whereas several high mountain passes such as the Julier, Bernina and Lukmanier are kept open all winter ( subject to restrictions ).

Being the highest elevated state in Switzerland, Graubünden hosts huge alpine areas that are not accessible by any means of transport but have to be walked to.