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Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform

Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform

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Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform

Name: Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform
Rating: 2

Recommended by 6 hikers

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Location: Airolo, Leventina, Ticino, Switzerland

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Best Hikes to Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform

4.8

(8)

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1. Lago di Sella – Piz Giübin Summit loop from San Carlo

15.4km

05:28

700m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

4.7

(3)

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2. Gotthard Pass – Lago di Sella loop from Lüína

25.7km

11:45

1,620m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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3. Gotthard Pass – Tremola Road loop from Airolo

20.4km

07:20

1,140m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

Tips

Paul

October 8, 2025

"Sasso San Gottardo Fortress"
The fortress, one of the largest underground defense systems in Switzerland, operated as a top-secret military facility until 2001. Today, visitors have the opportunity to explore the extensive tunnels and experience a touch of history. The underground funicular "Metro del Sasso" takes visitors to the historic fortress, where gun rooms, ammunition depots, accommodations, and command centers are concealed. One of the mysterious passages leads to an exit in a rock face and to the viewing platform, which offers an impressive panorama.
Goethe, General Guisan, and the Gotthard Myth. Two figures contributed significantly to the Gotthard myth: the poet laureate Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and General Henri Guisan. Goethe traveled the Gotthard three times, was inspired by the majestic mountain landscape, and collected numerous rock and mineral samples for his geological studies. The Sasso San Gottardo houses the first nationwide permanent exhibition on Goethe's Gotthard journeys. It demonstrates Goethe's fascination with this place and the significance of his research into the Tell legend for Swiss history.
In the historic fortress, a permanent exhibition offers insights into the life and work of Henri Guisan, Switzerland's last general. As Commander-in-Chief of the Swiss Army during World War II, he established the famous Reduit strategy, which focused on the numerous fortifications in the Alpine region, including the Gotthard Fortress. The Tell legend, once made famous by Goethe and his friend Schiller, became an important element of the nation's intellectual defense during the construction of the fortifications.
Text / Source: Uri Tourism AG, Schützengasse 11, Altdorf
uri.swiss/oeffentliche-einrichtung/sasso-san-gottardo#:~:text=The%20fortress%2C%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20underground%20defense%20fortresses%20in%20the%20world,%20and%20experience%20a%20touch%20of%20history.

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Janette 🐕🏃‍♀️🚴‍♀️🥾

July 10, 2024

With good shoes you can get up here relatively quickly. Entrance to an old bunker. Outside you can see how the pass and the complex were defended.

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Greg Turnbull

September 29, 2024

The path up from below is discouraged as they want you to visit the museum which is great

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Details

Informations

Elevation 2,210 m

Weather

Sunday 14 December

2°C

-3°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Airolo, Leventina, Ticino, Switzerland

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Gotthard Fortress — Sass de Pigna Viewing Platform

1. Lago di Sella – Piz Giübin Summit loop from San Carlo

2. Gotthard Pass – Lago di Sella loop from Lüína

3. Gotthard Pass – Tremola Road loop from Airolo

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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