Echo

Are you familiar with the echo of the Lucendro dam on the Gotthard Pass? Or that of the Creux du Van in the Neuchâtel Jura? The echo is a natural and cultural phenomenon that has always fascinated us humans. And yet the soundscape of the Alps is far less familiar to us than the mountain landscape we see with our eyes.

‘Echo’ is an acoustic exhibition developed by ALPS in collaboration with musician and vocal artist Christian Zehnder. The main exhibits are sounds and echo recordings from various regions of Switzerland – complemented by fascinating insights into the cultural history of the echo. 

And: ‘Echo’ is also a sound trail. A unique outdoor experience leads to the exhibition: the sound trail from Realp to the Gotthard Pass to Airolo, featuring sounds recorded by the artist and improvisational musician Julian Sartorius along the route. The filmmaker Stephan Hermann documented Julian Sartorius’s sound walk. His film can be viewed at the museum.

Visit ALPS at the Museo Nazionale del San Gottardo at the top of the pass:
Opening hours and further information

What does the barbecue area in Realp sound like? What sounds do stones make on the Gatscholalücke? Percussionist Julian Sartorius has played with stones, wood, metal and water at ten locations along the Realp–Gotthard Pass–Airolo hiking route. We can listen to his sounds in the landscape via QR codes. Get a taste of the sounds here: