Intro
"Of all the places I know, this is the dearest and most interesting to me", declared Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He thrice visited the Gotthard area the late 18th century.
The Ursern valley (canton Uri) at the foot of the Gotthard Pass is one of the most impressive upland valleys in Switzerland. Andermatt (1444 m) lies at the heart of Switzerland’s Alpine passes, and is the largest of the three villages in the valley; it's at the crossroads of the mountain passes from north to south and from east to west.The variety of tour options with the eight surrounding Alpine passes is unique worldwide.
Switzerland is considered the water tower of Europe - and in the holiday region of Andermatt you stand right in the middle. Four water sources spring from the Gotthard massif, namely the Rhine, Reuss, Ticino and Rhone, which carry seven percent of the alpine water in all four directions. The four-source path, an attractive and varied hike in five stages, connects the sources.
Eight Alpine passes
Thrilling moments around Andermatt: the Furka, Gotthard, Oberalp, Susten, Klausen, Lukmanier, Nufenen and Grimsel passes. A trip packed with experiences: traverse the passes by PostBus, car, motorbike, racing bike, mountain bike or rent a classic car, board the Glacier Express or a historic post coach, take the Furka steam railway or the Oberalp Openair Express.
Four Springs Trail in the Gotthard Massif
Signed mountain hiking route (85 km) taking in the sources of the Rhine, Reuss, Ticino and Rhone rivers. One-day stages, or a continuous 5-day hike with overnight accommodation options.
