Trans-Altarezia Bike #32 official route

The bike tour in the «Three Countries Corner» leads along old trade routes, military roads and smugglers' trails through three language regions. Rugged valleys, enchanting mountain lakes and passes in three countries, lead from the Alpine duty-free municipality of Samnaun into southern Veltlin.

Starting point of this bike tour is at 1800 metres above sea level in the municipality of Samnaun in the eastern end of Switzerland. The first part of the tour is characterized by rugged high valleys on the Austrian-Swiss border. Highlights of the first stage are the Val Sinestra, voted Landscape of the Year in 2011 and the typical Engadin village of Sent. The route continues along historic border and smugglers' trails through the Val d'Uina with its spectacular cliff passage, leading first to Italy in the upper Vinschgau and back on to Swiss soil in the Val Müstair biosphere.

From Sta. Maria it leads over the Umbrailpass to Italy where the single trail to the Bocchetta di Forcola begins. In the rugged, high mountain landscape you encounter evidence of the First World War in the form of trenches, fortifications and the remains of dwellings. Here, one century ago, Swiss, Austrians and Italians faced each other without things ever escalating into war. The former military routes have been transformed into attractive bike routes. From Valle di Cancano to Arnoga evidence from a different era becomes visible: the production of electricity by hydropower.

The ascent of the Italian Val Viola brings you to the border pass of Val Viola. On the other side are several mountain lakes of incomparable beauty. The route continues through the Val da Camp down into Val Poschiavo.

The last stage leads to San Romerio. The oldest part of its small church dates from the 11th century. The descent, then leads on gravel and asphalt roads to the Viano border village. After the border crossing you enter the vineyards above Tirano. The landscape and settlements leave no room for doubt that we have arrived on the southern side of the Alps.