Klausen Pass

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Klausen Pass
Klausenpass Hotel Passhoehe.jpg
Hotel Passhohe
Elevation 1,948 m (6,391 ft)
Traversed byRoad
Location Uri, Switzerland
Range Alps
Coordinates 46°52′05″N08°51′20″E / 46.86806°N 8.85556°E / 46.86806; 8.85556 Coordinates: 46°52′05″N08°51′20″E / 46.86806°N 8.85556°E / 46.86806; 8.85556
Switzerland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Klausen Pass
Location of Klausen Pass

Klausen Pass (German: Klausenpass; elevation: 1,948 metres or 6,391 feet) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Altdorf in the canton of Uri with Linthal in the canton of Glarus. Somewhat unusually, the boundary between the two cantons does not lie at the summit of the pass, but some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) down the slope towards Linthal, with the summit being in Uri. [1] [2]

Contents

The Klausen Pass is crossed by a paved road, which has a length, between Altdorf and Linthal, of 46 kilometres (29 mi). The road approaches the summit from Altdorf via the Schächen Valley communities of Bürglen, Spiringen and Unterschächen, and descends to Linthal via the Urnerboden. The road is normally closed between October and May, due to the high snowfall on the pass. During the open period, a PostBus Switzerland service crosses the pass several times a day, connecting Fluelen station, on the Gotthard railway and Lake Lucerne, with Linthal station, the terminus of the railway line through Glarus. [1] [3] [4]

At the top of the pass is a historic chapel, the Bruder-Klaus-Kapelle, whilst 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) to the west side of, and 100 metres (330 ft) below, the summit is the Hotel Passhohe.

As well as being a popular route for cyclists and motorcyclists, the Klausenpass also forms part of the Alpine Pass Route, a long-distance hiking trail across Switzerland. However the hiking trail approaches the pass from both sides using a route different from that of the road. [5]

History

Bruder-Klaus-Kapelle Picswiss UR-26-13.jpg
Bruder-Klaus-Kapelle

The Klausen Pass was originally a cattle track, which by 1196 was controlled by a customs office in Bürglen. [2]

According to legend, the border between Glarus and Uri was determined in 1315, following prolonged disputes. The two cantons agreed that at first cockcrow, two runners would start from Altdorf and Linthal, respectively, and the border would be where they met. The people of Glarus decided to feed their cock well, so that it might be sympathetic to their cause, while the people of Uri gave theirs nothing to eat at all. The result was that the Glarus cock overslept, while the Uri one, driven by hunger, crowed exceptionally early, and the runner of Uri crossed the entire Urnerboden before the Glarus runner even set out. On the pleading of the Glarus runner, the man of Uri agreed to let him carry him back uphill as far as he could, and the present border between Uri and Glarus is where the Glarus runner fell dead, exhausted from carrying the runner from Uri. [6]

In 1590, a hospital for travellers was built at Urnerboden, with the maintenance of the pass shared between the cantons of Uri and Glarus. In 1625 Glarus transferred their section of the route to a private individual. In 1717, a chapel was built at the summit, probably dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra. In 1870, a road was built from Altdorf to Unterschächen, and in 1893-99 the road was extended across the pass to Linthal. The building of the road required the demolition of the 1717-built chapel, and the current Bruder-Klaus-Kapelle was built in 1938. [2]

Klausen hill climb

Klausenpass sign, with a slightly different elevation Klausenpass Passhoehe.jpg
Klausenpass sign, with a slightly different elevation

An historic hillclimb, almost 14 miles long, known as the Klausenpassrennen. Whitney Straight finished third in the 1934 event.[ citation needed ]

1922 Nieth (Hispano Suiza) 21m 42s
1923 Rutzler (Steyr) 20m 24.4s
1924 Merz (Mercedes) 18m 48.6s
1925 Masetti (Sunbeam) 17m 28.8s
1927 Rosenberger (Mercedes) 17m 17s
1929 Chiron (Bugatti) 16m 42.4s
1930 Chiron (Bugatti) 16m 24.6s
1932 Caracciola (Alfa-Romeo) 15m 50s
1934 Caracciola (Mercedes) 15m 22.2s (record) [7]

In 1993 the Klausenrennen memorial run took place, and is now held (nominally) every four years for vintage cars. The most recent event was held on 27–29 September 2013.

See also

Related Research Articles

Glarus Alps Mountain range in central Switzerland

The Glarus Alps are a mountain range in central Switzerland. They are bordered by the Uri Alps and the Schwyz Alps to the west, the Lepontine Alps to the south, the Appenzell Alps to the northeast. The eastern part of the Glarus Alps contains a major thrust fault which was declared a geologic UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Altdorf, Uri Municipality in Switzerland in Uri

Altdorf is a historic town and municipality in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri.

Urnerboden Place in Uri, Switzerland

The Urnerboden is a village in the high valley of Urner Boden, and also an alp and a small high Alpine permanent settlement in the Swiss canton of Uri. At 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) in length, it is believed to be the largest alp in Switzerland. It forms a disconnected part of the municipality of Spiringen, separated from the rump of that municipality by some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of the municipality of Unterschächen and by the Klausen Pass.

Spiringen Municipality in Switzerland in Uri

Spiringen is a village and a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. The municipality comprises two disjoint areas, separated by the municipality of Unterschächen and the Klausen Pass. The western area includes the village of Spiringen in the Schächen Valley, whilst the eastern area includes the Urner Boden alp above Linthal and the canton of Glarus.

Linthal, Glarus Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Linthal is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland. The village lies near the head of the valley of the Linth river, and at the foot of the Klausen Pass into the canton of Uri. It is the terminus of the railway line that traverses the length of Glarus.

Betschwanden Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Betschwanden is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Haslen, Glarus Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Haslen is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Luchsingen Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Luchsingen is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Mitlödi Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Mitlödi is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Schwanden, Glarus Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Schwanden is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Rüti, Glarus Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Rüti is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Leuggelbach Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Leuggelbach is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Nidfurn Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Nidfurn is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Diesbach, Glarus Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Diesbach is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Hätzingen Village in Glarus, Switzerland

Hätzingen is a village, and former municipality, in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

Schächental

The Schächental is an alpine valley of Uri, Switzerland, formed by the river Schächen. The valley stretches to the east of Altdorf for some 10 km.

Clariden

The Clariden is a mountain in the Glarus Alps, located at an elevation of 3,267 m (10,719 ft) between the Swiss cantons of Uri and Glarus. While on the north the Clariden overlooks the 1,948 m (6,391 ft) high Klausen Pass, the south side is covered by large glaciers. The Hüfifirn on the west is drained by the Chärstelenbach, a tributary of the Reuss that eventually flows into Lake Lucerne. The Claridenfirn on the east is drained by the Linth that eventually flows into Lake Zürich.

Glarus Süd Municipality in Switzerland in Glarus

Glarus Süd is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Glarus. It comprises the upper Linth valley, and the entire Sernf valley, and includes the villages of Betschwanden, Braunwald, Diesbach, Elm, Engi, Haslen, Hätzingen, Leuggelbach, Linthal, Luchsingen, Matt, Mitlödi, Nidfurn, Rüti, Schwanden, Schwändi and Sool.

Linthal railway station

Linthal railway station is a railway station in the municipality of Glarus Süd in the Swiss canton of Glarus. It is the terminus of the Weesen to Linthal railway line, and serves the village of Linthal.

The Axenstrasse is an 11.4-kilometre-long (7.1 mi) two-lane middle section with ongoing traffic between the A4 motorway and the A2 motorway, and part of European route E41 between the resort of Brunnen in the canton of Schwyz to the village of Flüelen in the canton of Uri in Central Switzerland. The road is built along steep cliffs on the east side of the Urnersee weaving through many rock fall galleries and tunnels along its route. Upon completion in 1865, the Axenstrasse was the first way to get to Uri that did not involve navigating Lake Lucerne.

References

  1. 1 2 map.geo.admin.ch (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  2. 1 2 3 "Klausenpass" [Klausen Pass]. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in German). 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  3. ↑ "Flüelen–Klausen–Linthal" (PDF). Bundesamt für Verkehr. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  4. ↑ "Pässe in der Schweiz" [Passes in Switzerland] (in German). Touring Club Switzerland. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  5. ↑ Reynolds, Kev (2011). "Trek 10 - Alpine Pass Route". Trekking in the Alps. Cicerone. pp. 124–135. ISBN   978-1-85284-600-8.
  6. ↑ The Academy and literature. 42. 1892. p. 27.
  7. ↑ Motor Sport, September 1934, Pages 511-512.
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