How long is the Belchen Tunnel?

How long is the Belchen Tunnel?

Switzerland, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

3,179 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Located on the boundary between the Solothurn and Basel-Landschaft cantons of Switzerland, the Belchen Tunnel is said to be

one of the most haunted tunnels on Earth

The ghost of an old lady is known to haunt this Swiss road.

How long is the Belchen Tunnel?

Opened in 1996 and part of the A2 motorway running from Basel to Chiasso, the tunnel is 3,180 meters (10,430 feet) long. It’s totally paved, cutting through the Jura Mountains. It was fully renovated in 2003.

Is the Belchen Tunnel haunted?

one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world

. The tunnel has become well-known because of a ghost known as the White Lady. She is described as an old woman dressed all in white. It has gained a terrifying reputation for itself. It’s said that two law students were crossing the tunnel when they picked up a pale woman who said she needed help and that something dreadful was about to happen. She got into the backseat. While they were driving through, the strange woman vanished.

Shaped like an old white-clothed hitchhiking woman, a ghost (though not initially recognized as such) appears out of nowhere in front of the drivers and sometimes even speaks to them. This phantom hitchhiker would be picked up from the hard shoulder of the motorway only to vanish from the vehicle in question while in the tunnel.

Another legend involves a tragic accident that supposedly took place there. According to the story, a group of workers constructing the tunnel were killed in a collapse during its construction. It is said that their restless spirits now haunt the tunnel, causing eerie experiences for those who pass through.

The challenging old road to Grimsel Pass

A steep road to Lago del Naret in Ticino

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Road Details

Country
Switzerland
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
3,179 m
Difficulty
extreme

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