Furka Pass

2,436 m above sea level / Realp - Oberwald

As early as the 19th century, the Furka region was discovered as a traveller's paradise as Alpine tourism grew. Even today, many historic hotel buildings along the route bear witness to this period.

The Furka Pass is one of the most impressive Alpine crossings and, at 2,436 metres above sea level, is the fourth highest pass in Switzerland. The skilfully constructed road, which was also travelled by Sean Connery as James Bond in ‘Goldfinger’, connects the Ursern Valley with the Goms in Valais.

On the journey to the top of the pass, you can watch the historic Furka steam railway as it puffs along. From the top of the pass, you can enjoy a breathtaking view. To the east, the view sweeps over the Ursern Valley and the Gotthard massif, to the west towards the peaks of the Valais and Bernese Alps, which are over 4,000 metres high. The pass offers numerous hiking, climbing and mountaineering opportunities. Flower connoisseurs will find a diverse world of plants, and the area is just as rich in minerals.

On the Valais side, at the Hotel Belvédère, around three kilometres below the top of the Furka Pass, there is a view of the Rhone Glacier, which has lost some of its spectacular size due to global warming. Around 1850, the ice flow still reached far down into the valley floor. Today, its glacier tongue lies at the level of the Hotel Belvédère.

Tip: historic settlement of Gletsch

Discover Gletsch, nestled in a wild mountain landscape shaped by the power of water. At the end of the 19th century, Gletsch was an important Alpine crossroads. With the opening up of the railway line, the small village became world-famous.