Bhutanese Bridge Over the Illgraben

Bhutanese Bridge in the Wallis Björn S.

Bhutanese Bridge over the Illgraben Colin Gregory

Bhutanese Bridge close to Leuk in Swiss Björn S.

Bhutanese Bridge in the Wallis Björn S.

Bhutanese Bridge over the Illgraben Björn S.

Cross at the Bhutanese Bridge in the Wallis Björn S.

Chorten at the Illgraben Björn S.

Chorten to protect the Bhutanese Bridge over the Illgraben Björn S.

The Illgraben viewed from the Bhutanese Bridge Björn S.

The Illgraben from the Bhutanese Bridge Björn S.

The Illgraben with the Bhutanese Bridge Björn S.

The Illgraben at the Bhutanese Bridge Björn S.

Bhutanese Bridge in the Wallis Theo Lauber

Bhutanese Bridge over the Illgraben Björn S.

Bhutanese Bridge Leuk VS gzhtub (Atlas Obscura User)

In 2002 the United Nations declared the “International Year of Mountains” in order to promote solidarity between the mountainous regions of the world and raise awareness for their sustainable development. From this, the idea to build the Bhutanese Bride over the Illgraben creek in the Wallis region of the Swiss Alps was born—a symbol of the “bridge” between different cultures.

Specifically, the Bhutanese Bridge symbolized the friendship between the canton Wallis in Switzerland, country of the Alps, and the Kingdom Bhutan, country of the Himalaya. The bridge also connects the German-speaking area of the Wallis mountains with the French-speaking area.

Planned in Bhutan, the bridge was built by constructors in Wallis under the supervision of a Bhutanese engineer. During the planning period even the Queen of Bhutan came to visit the Wallis. It opened in 2005. To protect the bridge, both a Christian Cross and a Bhutanese stupa, built by French Lamas, were erected nearby. Prayer flags decorate the bridge along both sides of the rail.

The 134-meter-long bridge offers great views. But be forewarned the small Illgraben Creek often dries up and can quickly become treacherous: Many mudflows occur every year, sometimes carrying several thousand tons of rubble and mud at 25 km per hour, in a wall 2 meters high. Those mudflows are very dangerous, fascinating as they are, even to locals.