Solis Viaduct

With a mighty leap over a gorge, Saint George is said to have once escaped his pursuers on horseback. Medieval depictions of this legend can be found, for example, in the church of Sogn Gieri near Rhäzüns. Yet the modern form of gorge crossing also appears impressive. From the shadowy side of the wild Schinschlucht to the sunny slopes of the Albula Valley, the Solis Viaduct spans the Albula in a spectacular way, which rushes 89 meters below through the gorge. The arch stretches 42 meters across the depth.

This makes the Solis Viaduct not only the highest bridge of the Rhaetian Railway, but also the one with the largest span of all bridges on the Albula line.

Another superlative was already claimed at the time of its construction: building such a large bridge arch was a novelty in Swiss bridge engineering around the turn of the 20th century. No wonder the viaduct was designed with more detail than other railway bridges. Evidence of this can still be seen today in the finely hewn pillar bases and the masonry parapets. In contrast, the nearby cantonal road bridge running parallel to the viaduct appears almost plain. The proximity of these two engineering structures makes the history of gorge crossing even more tangible.