Sunniberg Bridge

The Sunniberg Bridge is a road bridge near Klosters in Graubünden, and it is one of the best-known modern bridges in the Alps. It was designed by the Swiss engineer Christian Menn, one of the leading bridge builders of the 20th century, and completed in 1998 to carry the road to Klosters over the Landquart valley, bypassing an avalanche-prone and congested stretch of the old road. The structure is about 526 metres long and is built as a cable-stayed bridge, with the roadway hung from cables fanned out from four slender towers or pylons rising from the valley floor. What makes it unusual is its shape in plan: the roadway is not straight but curved in a long, gentle arc, which was a bold and unusual choice for a bridge of this type.

The curve and the low, slim structure were designed to fit the setting. The valley below is steep and wooded, with the Landquart River running through a deep gorge, and Menn wanted a bridge that would fit into the landscape rather than dominate it. The towers are short in relation to the span, and the deck is slim, so that the bridge appears light and almost graceful, as if floating above the trees. The cables, set in a fan, give it a rhythm that changes as you move. The arrangement also had practical reasons: the curve follows the road’s alignment, and the supports could be placed on stable ground, avoiding the steepest parts of the valley. The bridge has received international attention and awards, and it is often cited in engineering textbooks.

To see it properly, you need to approach it from below or from the side. A path from Klosters leads into the valley and gives views of the bridge from different angles, and the best photographs are taken from the valley floor looking up, or from the paths on the hillsides, when the light shows the curve and the towers. The bridge carries traffic, so it is the surrounding paths and viewpoints that offer a safer and more rewarding experience, and visitors should take care near the road. The setting adds drama: the bridge crosses a deep valley with spruce forests, and the Alps rise behind, so on a clear day the structure appears against a backdrop of snow and rock.

The bridge is best treated as a short stop in a visit to Klosters or the Prättigau, and it fits easily with other places in the area, such as the Madrisa ski and adventure area and the Parsenn slopes. Admission is free, and the place can be visited at any time of year, although snow and ice make the paths slippery in winter.

It suits engineering and architecture enthusiasts, photographers and walkers. Allow an hour, including a walk to a good vantage point.