Pantenbrücke, Stone bridge in Linthal, Switzerland

The Pantenbrücke consists of two stone bridges stacked vertically, crossing the deep Linth gorge south of Tierfehd. The lower structure is the older bridge, while the upper one was built directly above it later, with both passages remaining visible.

The first recorded stone arch bridge was built in 1457, then rebuilt in 1560 and 1750 following damage from avalanches and rockfalls. The upper structure was added between 1899 and 1902 to address growing traffic needs.

The name Panten derives from pontus (bridge) and pantum (passage for cattle), pointing to a Romansh settlement in the rear Linth valley rather than a Roman one. The crossing linked Linthal over the Kistenpass with Breil/Brigels and gave access to the Alps in Sand, Baumgarten, Nüschen and Mutten. Its upkeep fell to the owners of the Alps in Baumgarten and Sand, and in 1556 the Glarus Landrat helped fund repairs because cattle farming and export were key income for the canton.

The bridge links Linthal with Breil/Brigels in Graubünden over the Kistenpass and gives access to the Alps at Sand, Baumgarten, Nüschen and Mutten and to the Sandpass. In 1907 the walk from Linthal to Brigels took 11 hours; the Kistenpass route was popular but not without danger. Both bridges were fully renovated in 1997.

From certain vantage points, both bridge levels are visible at the same time, offering a clear view of different construction methods side by side. This rare arrangement allows visitors to see roughly 450 years of bridge-building techniques in one location.