Landscapes of the Alpine Passes
Photographs from the two books ‘Alpenpässe – Magische Wege über die Berge’ and ‘Passbilder – Landschaften der Alpenpässe’, which I made together with Eugen E. Hüsler, probably one of the best experts on the Alps.
People have been crossing the Alps for centuries: they transported goods, went to war, paid their respects to the Pope, were crowned emperors in Rome, looked for work and happiness elsewhere or travelled to the warming sun. Mobility has always been part of the reality of life in the Alps – and still is today.
Paths were travelled, roads built, tunnels dug and bridges erected in order to reach their respective destinations. Some routes were used so frequently that they became established over time. The Alpine passes are witnesses to these centuries-old stories of movement and migration.
I have been photographing the landscapes and history of the Alpine passes for many years. Each pass is characterised by the topography of the Alps, has a distinctive character and its own history. I try to make this visible with my photographs.
In both books we portray the major passes, but also devote a great deal of attention to the lesser-known crossings, which sometimes have a more interesting history and lead through charming landscapes.
Hardly anyone can escape the fascination of the Queen of the Passes once they have reached the top of the Stelvio Pass after the countless hairpin bends of the eastern ramp. The experience on the long Ligurian border ridge road can also cast a lifelong spell, and the view on the south-east ramp of the Col de la Bonette leaves no one untouched.
What is it about the Alpine passes that fascinates us so much? In the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, the mountain routes over the passes in the Alps are among the most popular stages. The passes continue to exert a magical attraction on cyclists, hikers, motorcyclists and motorists.
Eugen Hüsler gives a wonderful answer to this question with his texts and my pictures try to contribute their part.
