Rofflaschlucht

Useful Information

Location:	Near Andeer. A13/E43 exit Avers-Rofla, at the road to Avers. Signposted.
Open:	13-APR to 31-APR Thu-Mon 9-18. MAY to OCT daily 9-19. [2006]
Fee:	Adults CHF 3, Children CHF 2. Grouos (10+): Adults CHF 2.50, Children CHF 1.50. [2006]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Rofflaschlucht, Familie Fluregn Melchior-Lanicca, CH-7440 Andeer, Graubünden, Tel: +41-8166-11197, Fax: +41-8166-11049. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1833	tavern at the Rofflaschlucht bought by Johann Melchior.
1907	Christian Pitschen-Melchior starts building the path.
1914	path completed.
1995	Fluregn Melchior-Lanicca new manager.

Description

Rofflaschlucht is probably the only place where you can cross the Rhine underground. Being very close to the springs, this is less impressive than one might think, but still it is impressive. The Rhine cuts another deep gorge into the rock, only 20 km from the famous Via Mala. But here the gorge is not important for travellers, as there is a comfortable path around. There even was no path into the gorge until less than one century ago Christian Pitschen-Melchior built it.

The family Melchior bought the tavern at the road to Italy in 1833. A this time, the road was an important connection across the Alps, either over the Splügenpass or the San Bernadino pass. But when the Gotthard railroad was opend at the end of the 19th century, the road lost a lot of its importance. The number of guests collapsed and the income of the family was gone.

Christian Pitschen-Melchior emigrated with his family to America, the passage was payed by the community Andeer. He worked as butler for a rich englishman, and so one day he visited the Niagra Falls with his employer. Seeing the number of tourists, and the money which was earned with the natural monument, he remembered the gorge and waterfall at home. After he had earned enough money for the journey back, they returned to their tavern. His parents were too old to run the tavern, and so he took over.

During the winter, when there were no guests, he built a path to the waterfall on his own. It took seven years and 8000 explosive charges. He hit the holes necessary for the blasting manually into the hard rock. The gorge really drew visitors the the tavern, some of them stayed for lunch or dinner, some took a room overnight. The times got better and the mid of the 10th century was a very good time for family Pitschen-Melchior.

Unfortunately the same thing happened again, as the new motorway was built, which now goes through a tunnel across San Bernhardino. Much less people visit the gorge now, probably as they do not know it is there, so if you are trevelling across San Berhardino, think about a stopover at the Roflaschlucht, only two minutes from the motorway.