About the Septimer Pass

Difficult
12.9 km
5:30 h
859 mhd
543 mhd
Über den Septimerpass (oua_57342859_image)
Septimer Brücke

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Über den Septimerpass (oua_57342866_image)

Pass da Sett or Septimer Pass is a crossing used since ancient times. It is the most direct connection between Bergell—that is, with Lake Como and the Po Valley—and the northern side of the Alps.

Technique /6
Fitness 5/6
Highest Point  2311 m
Lowest Point  1456 m
Best Season
Jan
Feb
Mär
Apr
Mai
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Okt
Nov
Dez
Start
Casaccia
Destination
Bivio
Coordinates
46.390175, 9.665566

Details

Description

Known since Roman times, the pass gained increasing importance in the Middle Ages. It was used by merchants, hikers, and pilgrims traveling from Chur to Chiavenna and vice versa. Around 1378, the Bergell knight Giacomo De Castelmur was commissioned to rebuild the route for wagon passage: the cobblestones can still be seen today on various sections of the route and are well preserved. The use of other Alpine pass crossings brought competition that disadvantaged the Septimer Pass. Eventually, the construction of the Julier road (1820 to 1826) led to this crossing being forgotten. For the hiker, the Septimer Pass remains an interesting and pleasant route that, more than any pass open to vehicular traffic, has retained the atmosphere of a mule track over the Alpine ridge.

Hidden Gem

Via Sett can be booked as a package offer from Thusis to Chiavenna  

Safety Note

moderate difficulty route

Equipment

Trekking shoes, plenty of water, sunscreen

Directions

In Casaccia, follow the driving route from the parking lot near the small cemetery. It winds up the wooded level to the entrance of Val Maroz. The footpath takes a more direct course and repeatedly crosses the road, into which it finally merges at the beginning of the valley.
Without going as far as the arch bridge and the alpine huts of Maroz Dora (1799 m), leave the road at the signpost to Bivio and turn right. At first, the path crosses the slope with a gentle ascent, then it climbs more steeply with switchbacks, following the Aua da Sett stream. In the upper part, the mule track enters a narrow, flat valley where it crosses the stream for the first time. Not far from there is Sascel Battü (2073 m): a small dip on the path where you can recognize the ancient and medieval trail footprints.
Continue without straying much from the stream’s course, which you cross two more times: first on a recently renovated arch bridge, and second on a footbridge just before reaching a small driving road. This leads to the broad saddle of Pass da Sett (2310 m). At this point, several paths converge:
- To the right, the route climbs to the Lunghin Pass. Those who want can descend there towards Maloja and return to the starting point Casaccia via the Malögin path.
- The left path leads to the Forcellina, the crossing to Juf in the Avers.
- We continue straight ahead and descend on the driving road, crossing wide alpine meadows and leading us to the alp “la Tgavretga,” where some houses are inhabited year-round. The route continues alongside the stream in the valley bottom, which is crossed repeatedly. Beyond a final mountain ridge, you reach the dwellings of Tua, shortly before arriving in Bivio and connecting to the Julier Pass road. You can return by post bus to Silvaplana and continue through the Engadin towards Maloja and Casaccia.

Directions

Responsible for this content: Bregaglia Engadin Turismo.

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