The Alpine passes, magnificent gateways through the towering ranges of the European Alps, have been pivotal for trade, migration, and cultural exchange for centuries. Read some heartwarming stories
As long as the mountains have stood, the Alps have been a mighty wall and a bridge between worlds. Long ago, when the first hunters roamed the valleys, they carved paths through the snow and stone. Then came the Romans, who saw not just barriers but highways—great passes like St. Bernard and Simplon, where soldiers marched and merchants traded silk, salt, and stories.
By the Middle Ages, the Alps hummed with life. Pilgrims trudged toward sacred sites, traders bartered wool and wine, and the Gotthard Pass became the beating heart of Europe, linking north and south. The mountains were never silent—they echoed with footsteps, hoofbeats, and the creak of wooden carts.
Then, the world changed. Steam and steel brought trains tunneling through the rock, shrinking distances. The mighty Gotthard Base Tunnel, a modern marvel, now carries travelers beneath the peaks in minutes—yet the old paths still whisper of the past.
Continue reading: https://exegi.substack.com/p/alpine-tales-bring-a-little-warmth
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