Fuorn Pass (Ofen Pass), North Tyrol through Switzerland to South Tyrol

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Day two of a transalpine tour. This day began in Ried in Oberinntal and continued our route from day one along the Inn River from Austria into Switzerland. The Engadin is a long valley in the Swiss Alps located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland.The Engadin is divided into two parts: the Lower Engadine from the Austrian border to Zernez rises quickly and tortuously before the valley oppen remarkably straight and wide and up to S-chanf, fairly flat. We skipped the flat part of the Engadin and at Zernez ascended the Fuorn Pass (Ofenpass) riding through the Swiss National Park. Further into the Engadin above Maloja is Piz Lunghin, the most notable triple watershed in western Europe, from where the Inn flows via the Danube to the Black Sea, the Maira via the Po to the Mediterranean Sea, and the Julia via the Rhine to the North Sea!!! From the Fuorn Pass (Ofen Pass), we descended into the Müstair Valley and then over the border into Italy to our destination in Prato allo Stelvio in South Tyrol.
This day was not only significant from a geographical viewpoint, but also from a cultural-historic one.
The traditional houses of the Engadin are instantly recognisable. Historically the broad saddle roof of the houses would shelter the entire property of an Engadin farming family – living accommodation, cowshed, hayloft, cellar, store and a covered forecourt. Each "chesa" stands with incredibly thick walls–wooden frames to which a stone facade was added to protect from fire, but it is the windows that stand out. The are deeply funneled, as if they were punched out from each wall. Another striking characteristic of the typical "chesea" is the highly imaginative sgraffito decoration on the façades. These elaborate ornamentations are scratched out of the plaster while it is still damp, and show up beautifully thanks to the contrast between the dark and light tones of the two plaster colours. The technique originated in Italy (“sgraffiare” means “to scratch” in Italian), and was brought to Engadin by travelling craftsmen in the 16th century. Unfortunately, I was too busy huffing and puffing to keep up with the group and could not photograph. But I did manage to stop our troupe on the other side of Fuorn Pass in Val Müstair at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint John in the Swiss village of Müstair, in the Canton of Graubünden. By reason of its exceptionally well-preserved heritage of Carolingian art, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

Comments

Agostinho (English)

It wasn 't only a tough ride, it was also very instructive.

10 years ago - Inappropriate

julia7ich (English)

Have you done this ride, Agostinho? It is absolutely stunning!

10 years ago - Inappropriate

Agostinho (Dutch)

No, I never was in that area... at least not on bike. I prefer the Pyrenees and the region of the Mont Ventoux.

10 years ago - Inappropriate

Jan (Dutch)

Impressive ride and pictures. Makes one want to get up and go cycling. 😊

10 years ago - Inappropriate