Museo Nazionale del San Gottardo
Museum in the Alte Sust at the pass summit, telling the story of traffic, tunnel building and fortifications on the Gotthard from around 1200 to today.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Nazionale del San Gottardo opened on August 1, 1986, on the initiative of the Pro San Gottardo Foundation. The foundation had been established on February 22, 1972, to preserve the heritage of the pass summit, and had taken over responsibility for the buildings from the Lombardi family. Between 1982 and 1989 it restored the "Vecchia Sosta", the Alte Sust, which houses the museum.
In 2019 the foundation decided on a fundamental renewal. The Alte Sust was restored over two years, after which the museum reopened with the new permanent exhibition "Gotthard: Geschichte einer Beschleunigung". Concept and design come from the studio Groenlandbasel and the historian Beat Gugger. The guiding motif is the tunnels and caverns hewn into the rock.
The route leads through seven thematic rooms: from the Urnerloch through the railway tunnel, the military fortifications, the power plants and the road tunnels to the base tunnel and the crossing of the pass. An introduction is a multimedia sound and picture show on the upper floor; there are also original films, audio recordings, objects and a children's trail. Through a partnership with the ALPS – Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern, the house serves as the Ticino outpost of that institution.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition "Gotthard: Geschichte einer Beschleunigung" in seven thematic rooms
- Multimedia sound and picture show on the upper floor
- The Alte Sust on the Gotthard Pass as the museum building
- Children's trail
- Partnership with the ALPS – Swiss Alpine Museum
Permanent exhibition
- Gotthard: Geschichte einer Beschleunigung – Seven thematic rooms on the pass road, railway, fortifications, power plants, road tunnels and base tunnel, with original films and objects.
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Fondazione Pro San Gottardo
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 14 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 8Children aged 6 to 16, students, apprentices |
| Children & teens | CHF 8free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 to 16; children up to age 6 free. |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 8Students and apprentices. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –10 percent discount on admission for groups of 10 or more; reservation required. |
| Families | –Family rate for families with at least two adults: adults CHF 14, children aged 6 to 16 CHF 5. |
| Guided tour through the exhibition (approx. 1.5 hours) | CHF 70Advance reservation required. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The exhibition includes a children's trail; for school classes there are worksheets by school level.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the Alte Sust at the pass summit and can be reached via the pass road; from the south side via the historic Tremola from Airolo. It is only open when the Gotthard Pass is passable.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
Restaurants and accommodation at the pass summit (Gastro San Gottardo SA, passosangottardo.ch).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Groups and school classes must reserve (+41 91 869 18 11). Materials for primary and secondary school teachers and pupils are available on the website. |
