Avalanche gallery Splügen Pass

The Splügen Gallery is located on the north side of the Splügen Pass, just below the top of the pass in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It was designed and built in 1843 by the engineers Carlo Donegani and Richard La Nicca to protect the pass road from avalanches. The construction was financed by Austria, including an inn on the Swiss side. The gallery is a unique example of 19th century engineering and pass traffic and is listed in Switzerland's inventory of historic transportation routes as an object of national importance, which means it is under federal protection.

Road traffic used the gallery until the 1950s, before the Splügen Pass was closed in winter and the gallery was bypassed by a new road. Over time, the masonry was severely damaged by water ingress and frost. To prevent imminent decay, the gallery was renovated from 2007 to 2011 with the support of the federal government, the canton of Graubünden and the Graubünden Heritage Society. Parts of the masonry that had already collapsed were restored.

Today, the entire length of the gallery can be accessed on foot. Its lower section serves as an exhibition space, where panels and photographs provide information about the history and restoration of the building. The restoration of the gallery was ceremoniously completed in 2011, and the 10th anniversary of Via Spluga was celebrated at the same time with guests from Italy and Switzerland.