Photograhphs from the two books “Alpenpässe – Magical Routes across the Mountains” and “Passbilder – Landscapes of the Alpine Passes”, which I conceived together with Eugen E. Hüsler – one of the foremost experts on the Alps.

For many years, I have been exploring the landscapes and history of the Alpine passes through my photography. Each pass is shaped by the topography of the Alps, has a distinctive character and its own history. In both books, we showcase the major passes, but we also devote considerable attention to less-travelled routes such as the Strada Militare 79 on Monte Jafferau, the Cormet de Roselend and the Colle del Nivolet, which boast equally captivating scenery and often a more surprising history.

For centuries, people have been crossing the Alps: they transported goods, went to war, paid their respects to the Pope, were crowned emperors in Rome, sought work and happiness elsewhere, or travelled to the warmth of the sun. Mobility has always been part of everyday life in the Alps. And it remains so to this day. Paths were cleared, roads built, tunnels dug and bridges erected. Some routes were used so frequently that they became established over time. The Alpine passes bear witness to this centuries-old history of movement and migration.

Hardly anyone can resist the fascination of the ‘Queen of the Passes’ once they have reached the summit of the Stilfser Joch after navigating the countless hairpin bends of the eastern approach. The experience of cycling along the long Ligurian border ridge road can also captivate you for a lifetime, and the view from the south-eastern approach to the Col de la Bonette leaves no one unmoved.

What is it that fascinates us so much about the Alpine passes? In the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, the mountain stages crossing them are among the most popular routes of all. To this day, the passes exert a magical pull on cyclists, walkers, motorcyclists and motorists alike. For me, part of the answer lies in what each pass reveals: the traces of centuries of human activity, etched into the landscape. From the mule track to the tarmac hairpin bends on the Stelvio Pass.
In his writings, Eugen Hüsler tells the story behind each pass; my photographs seek to bring these traces to life.

A collection of images from both books.