Muleteers on the hiking route «ViaSbrinz»

mule drivers on the hiking route «ViaSbrinz» in front of Lake Gries near Ulrichen, Switzerland

The swiss hiking route «ViaSbrinz» is a historical trade route for muleteers

The roots of «Sbrinz» go far back to the 16th century, when cheese was gathered in Brienz (Switzerland) for transport to Italy by mule. One of these was the cheese that would later become known as «Sbrinz» based on the Italian name "lo sbrinzo". In the late Middle Ages, the extra-hard cheese «Sbrinz» became a top Central Switzerland export at the markets of Northern Italy. Not least thanks to this cheese, the mule trail across the Alps developed into a well-established trade route.

In exchange for wine, corn, rice, spices and textiles imported from the south, mainly the «Sbrinz» and slaughter cattle reached the market of Domodossola. The hard cheese was in great demand in Italy as a seasoning for pasta and as a long-life foodstuff for ocean-going ships. Documents prove that as early as the 16th century "formaggio di Sbrinzo - of the best quality" was sent from Central Switzerland over the Brünig, Grimsel and Gries passes to Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605) in Italy.

The merchants and traders who travelled for centuries along the route were known as "Säumer" in German, which translates to "muleteers", "mule packers", "mule drivers" or "packhorse drivers" in English. Traveling on the Sbrinz route was a hazardous undertaking for the "Säumer", as they faced numerous dangers such as steep and treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather conditions, and the risk of robbery or attack by bandits. To protect themselves, muleteers often traveled in groups and carried weapons for self-defense.

Today, the ancient Sbrinz mule trail «ViaSbrinz» is still used by hikers and tourists who want to explore the stunning Alpine scenery and learn about the history of the region.

The «ViaSbrinz» is maintained by the "Förderverein Sbrinz-Route", a local association that promotes tourism and cultural heritage in the region. Once a year the association organizes the "Säumer-Wanderwoche", or mule train hiking week, where visitors can join the mule train. The train consists of men and women dressed in traditional clothing, leading heavily laden mules and donkeys to cross the Alps on foot along the "ViaSbrinz". This week-long and 150-km-long march from Lake Lucerne to Domodossola is suitable for hikers who are in good physical condition and have previous mountain hiking experience.
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