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Viamala or Via Mala (Romansh language: literally, "bad path") is a narrow canyon along the river Hinterrhein between Zillis-Reischen and Thusis in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, as well as the ancient and notorious pathway which traverses the gorge. Historically the Viamala was the most serious obstacle on the approach to the Splügen and San Bernardino mountain passes.
In 1473 the then Count of Werdenberg allowed the municipalities and transport of Thusis, Masein, and Cazis to rebuild the passage, which was by then in poor condition: die richstrass und den waeg entzwüschend Tusis und Schams, so man nempt Fyamala zuo howen, uffzuorichten und ze machen. Complete text of the 1473 letter in (old) German
The cooperatives renovated the Roman roads. They also built Punt da Tgiern, the first stone bridge on the Viamala. The Count of Werdenberg's 1473 letter required the cooperatives to design the new path for significant loads, including horses and a "chariot or sled", evincing a high level of technical sophistication. In the northern part of the gorge this new path did not follow the Roman crossing to the right of the river, but stayed on the left riverbank. This led to conflicts as the two villages at the respective ends of the path fought for access and the resulting income. In 1665 Schams was temporarily excluded from the Grey League for supporting the path towards Fürstenau, which led to non-Grey League territory.
An additional bridge called Premoli was constructed in 1936 to relieve the southern 1738-39 bridge. It is still in place as a footbridge. The northern 1738-39 bridge was replaced two years later, with no traces remaining.
In 1958 a new northern part of the road from Thusis to Rongellen was built using longer tunnels. In 1967 the new A13 expressway was opened including the San Bernardino Tunnel and allowing year-round traffic. Before this, both road passes closed in winter. This road uses a long tunnel to avoid the Viamala gorge, crossing the gorge on a long suspension bridge in its southern part. Notable Swiss bridge engineer Christian Menn designed this concrete suspension bridge, which is known as the Great Viamala Bridge. In 1996 the original 1958 tunnels between Thusis and Rongellen were replaced by a long tunnel called the Crapteig.
To connect the visible remains of the Roman path, a pedestrian bridge named the Traversinersteg was erected in 1996. In 1999 a rockslide destroyed this first Traversinersteg. It was replaced by a new bridge—Traversinersteg II—in 2005. Swiss civil engineer Jürg Conzett designed both Traversinersteg bridges, as well as the previously mentioned Pùnt da Suransuns.
German film director Werner Herzog filmed scenes in Viamala for his 1976 film Heart of Glass.
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