Punt Ota, Footbridge in Grisons, Switzerland

Punt Ota is a wooden bridge over the Ova da Punt Ota stream between the hamlets of Cinuos-chel and Brail, linking the municipalities of S-chanf and Zernez. Since 2008 the timber deck has rested on an underlying steel structure. It carries only slow and forestry traffic, and it marks the boundary between the Upper and Lower Engadin.

The first bridge at this site was built in the 9th or 10th century. From at least the 13th century until the 18th century, the surrounding area was settled under the name Pontalt, the uppermost outpost of Tyrolean rule in the Engadin. In 1356 Ulrich von Planta held tolls and mines in the area as a fief. The present wooden bridge received an underlying steel structure in 2008.

The name Punt Ota means "High Bridge" in the Putèr and Vallader Romansh idioms. The bridge marks the boundary between Oberengadin and Unterengadin, while the Romansh idiom border between Putèr and Vallader lies a few kilometres downstream below Brail. The names of Piz Punt Ota, Ova da Punt Ota, Fuorcla Punt Ota and Lej da Punt Ota all derive from the bridge.

The wooden bridge carries only slow and forestry traffic and has a steel structure beneath its deck since 2008. It links the hamlets of Cinuos-chel and Brail; the through road over the Inn crossing was moved about 25 metres down the valley in 2015. Approach on foot from either hamlet.

The bridge's name is Romansh for "High Bridge", and the same name was once borne by a settlement, Pontalt, that stood by the crossing from at least the 13th century into the 18th. The mountain Piz Punt Ota, the stream Ova da Punt Ota, the pass Fuorcla Punt Ota and the lake Lej da Punt Ota all take their names from it.