Oven pass - Ofenpass

The Furnace pass (roman .: Pass dal Fuorn) leads from Zernez in the Upper Engadine to Tschierv in the Val Müstair (Munster Valley).

background

The Ofenpass is a north-south connection from the Lower Engadine to the Münstertal, where it connects to the ancient route Via Claudia Augusta. This Roman road was a cross-alpine connection between Bavaria - Tyrol and Northern Italy via the Reschenpass already meaning in ancient times. In the caves Cuvels da l'Ova Spin, which today lie on the lakeshore line below the hamlet of Ova Spin, bones and flint fragments were found, which indicate that these caves had served as a resting place in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. In Roman times a mule track led over the pass.

Furnace pass
Pass dal Fuorn
Pass dal Fuorn
Müstair (Munster)

The importance of the transition from northern Italy (via the Julier Pass) to Chur led to the foundation of the monastery around 800 Mustair. A regulation of the pass traffic has been preserved from 1544, grain, wine, iron, copper and salt were transported over the pass, but from the 16th to the 19th century. compared to Julier, Septimer and Splügen Pass was only of secondary importance in north-south traffic across the Alps.

The furnace pass got its name from the mining industry, from 1332 tunnels were created at Munt Buffalora and iron ore was mined. The (blast) ovens (Fuorns) built at that time gave the oven pass its name. At the end of the 15th century, iron ore was also mined at Murteras da Grimmels and smelted on site, and over the centuries the rich forests were cut down for this purpose. When the sparse iron deposits were exhausted, the wood was used as a raw material and iron ore was used for smelting Bormio brought up; the ruins of a blast furnace from 1684 have been preserved.

From 1846 there was stagecoach traffic on the repaired road Munster Valley possible, but only in 1870/72 did the federal government build the pass road due to its military and strategic importance Zernez to the national border. Postbus courses started running from 1922, and from 1934 they were run all year round.

In 1906 plans were made for a narrow-gauge railway line from Zernez Developed with connection to the Vinschgau Railway, despite the concession granted by the federal government in 1909, the project was never implemented due to financial problems in view of the looming First World War. The dam of the reservoir 1 Lai dad Ova Spin was built in 1965/68. The reservoir is connected to the Livigno reservoir, and when electricity demand is low, water can be pumped into the 150 m higher areas Lake Livigno can be pumped up, if necessary, the energy can be converted back into electricity.

Regions

The Ofenpass combines that Lower Engadine and the Munster Valley (Val Müstair) resp. the Northern Alitic Vinschgau (Val Venosta). On its western ramp, the Ofenpass-Strasse is the only street that runs through the area of ​​the founded in 1914 Swiss national parks, the top of the pass and the Münstertal are then outside the national park area. It is not allowed to park in the national park area (even in mobile homes).

Route

Lock point Ova Spin

The Ofenpassstrasse branches off in Zernez H28 from the Engadiner Talstrasse H27 and initially runs a short distance along the Spöl river. Soon to get to Lock point of Ova Spin, since the 15th century. the road connection to the southeast was secured here. The bunkers from the First World War were expanded and restored in 1933. The military facility, one bunker disguised as a rock formation and the other as the medieval La Serra castle ruins, are considered one of the most worth seeing fortresses of the Swiss armies and are also under protection.

The route begins to climb and climbs up through three galleries, one of them 2 Lookout point at the entrance to the Ova Spin power station there is a beautiful view of Zernez. Soon you get to the hamlet Ova Spin at approx. 1880 m above sea level The route now drops slightly again, circling the rock head of the Muottas da Grimmels and you come to the border post of the Punt la Drossa. After the customs office, the Munt-la-Schera tunnel begins, which runs under the Munt la Schera massif to the Livigno reservoir and afterwards Livigno leads.

The Ofenpass road leads in a somewhat lower position along the valley of the Ova dal Fuorn, leaves it National park area, reaches the Alp Buffalora (ore was mined and smelted here in the Middle Ages) and climbs again slightly to the top of the pass.

After the top of the pass, the road falls in a few curves and two switchbacks Tschierv from, the village has developed into a winter sports resort. After the villages of Fuldera and Valchava Sta. Maria Val Müstair reached. According to the village Mustair the national border is quickly established over the village Taufers (I) becomes the valley of the Vinschgau reached.

Tourist Attractions

Reformed Church Tschierv
Benedictine convent St. Johann, Müstair
  • Visit of the Swiss national parks, the Ofenpassstrasse crosses the national park area on the north ramp. Overnight stays in the park area are not permitted.
1  Mountain accommodation Ova Spin, Fredi Pinchera, 7530 Zernez. Tel.: 41 (0)79 419 07 76, Email: . Simple accommodation for school classes, groups or individual guests.
2  Hotel Parc Naziunal Il Fuorn, 7530 Zernez. Tel.: 41 (0)81 856 12 26, Fax: 41 (0)81 856 18 01, Email: . The traditional hotel in a historical building with 37 simple rooms is one of the few possibilities to stay overnight in the national park area.Open: The hotel is open from the beginning of May to the end of October in the summer months.
  • on the 3 Alp Buffalora there are still ruins of the medieval mining facilities
3  Berggasthaus Buffalora, Ofenpass, 7532 Tschierv. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 51 74, Email: . Mountain inn with five double rooms.
  • This can be found at the top of the Ofenpass
4  Hotel Süsom-Givè, Süsom Givé 82, 7532 Tschierv. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 51 82, Email: .
  • In the town 1 Tschierv is the one under protection 4 Village churchwhich is documented as early as 1471. In 1530 the population had joined the Reformation.
  • In the village 2 Valchava was the 5 reformed Church Mentioned for the first time in 1460, it is executed in the late Gothic style.
6  Chasa Jaura Val Müstair, Bauorcha 17, 7535 Valchava / Val Müstair. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 53 17, Email: . Talschaftsmuseum on the topic of the settlement of the Münstertal; Art exhibition.Price: 10.00 / 5.00 Fr.
  • next town is the main town in the valley 3 Santa Maria Val Müstair: in the village center is the 7 ref. church formative.
8  Muglin Mall Museum, Paclera, 7536 Santa Maria Val Müstair. Tel.: 41 (0)78 853 54 86, Email: . Museum around the historic mill from 1676.
9  Museum 14/18, Chasa Plaz, 7536 Sta. Maria Val Müstair. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 72 28, Email: . Museum with the theme of the war along the front between Italy and Austria along the Umbrail Pass.Open: 1st July - 15th October Tue, Thu 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.Price: 8.00 / 4.00 Fr.
Chasa de Capol knight's house, 7536 Sta. Maria Val Müstair. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 57 28, Fax: 41 (0)81 858 59 56, Email: . Historic restaurant & winery in Chasa Capol.
  • the last village before the border is the eponymous for the valley: 4 Mustair
The Benedictine convent of St. Johann was founded in the 8th century and is probably the most important cultural monument in the valley. The 10 St. Johann monastery church was built in the Carolingian architectural style as a hall church with three apses from 775 and was furnished with frescoes that were exposed again in 1947/51 and, as the most important evidence of Carolingian art, contributed to the fact that the monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage.
The is also in the monastery area 11 Holy Cross Chapel with its cloverleaf-shaped floor plan, it also dates from the 8th century. The 12 Planta tower is a residential tower from the year 960, which was renovated in 1499 by the abbess Angelina von Planta, serves as a museum.
13  St. Johann monastery museum. Tel.: 41 (0)81 858 61 89, Email: . Open: working days in summer 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, November - April 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm; Sundays and holidays 1.30 p.m. - 5 p.m.Price: 12.00 / 8.00 Fr.

activities

  • Skiing in Tschierv: the place with its family ski area and several group accommodations is often visited by schools and groups for ski camps.
SurnamephoneAltitudeNumber of small and large cabin liftsNumber of small and large cabin liftsNumber of chairliftsNumber of chairliftsNumber of drag liftsNumber of drag liftsKilometers of slopes easyKilometers of slopes easyAverage kilometers of slopesAverage kilometers of slopesKilometers of slopes difficultKilometers of slopes difficultΣ
Minschuns - Val Müstair ski area 41 (0)81 861 88 401,700 - 2,700 m——3175325 km
  • Hiking and wildlife viewing in the area of ​​the Swiss national parks.
  • Visit to the monastery of St. Johann in Mustair, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage.

security

The pass road is also kept open in the winter months; if the onset of winter with snowfall and slippery ice occurs in the winter months, winter equipment for the vehicle and, in some cases, snow chains are mandatory.

The valley hospital 1 Center de Sandà Val Müstair lies between Santa Maria and Müstair.

trips

literature

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