FURKA PASS,
SWISS ALPS 🇨🇭
The Swiss alpine pass has a history dating back to the 14th century, but it gained widespread recognition in 1964 when Sean Connery, portraying James Bond, sped across the Furka Pass in his Aston Martin DB5. At an elevation of 2,431 meters (7,975 feet) the Furka Pass is one of the highest passes in the Swiss Alps.
DRIVING THE FURKA PASS
The roughly 70 kilometres long Furka Strasse between the towns of Brig and Andermatt, becomes the Furka Pass 🇨🇭 on its highest stretch between the towns Gletsch and Andermatt in the Swiss alpine region of Obergoms. Offers views of glaciers, craggy mountaintops, and scenic forested areas.
No wonder scenes of the 007 Goldfinger movie were shot here, the Furka is one of the most impressive Alpine crossings in Switzerland, if not the world.
Today most of the pass is paved and only a few stretches of cobblestone remind us what it was like to cross the Alps hundred years ago.
Behind every corner waits another spectacular view and motorists understand why the Furka Pass among all the beautiful Swiss alpine passes has been chosen to shoot scenes of the 1964 James Bond Goldfinger movie.
As you drive along the pass's road, you may see the train that travels the Furka Pass chugging along through the mountainside, creating a picturesque scene for you to hold in your memory.
JAMES BOND & THE FURKA PASS: THE GOLDFINGER ALPINE SCENE
Driving down the pass you will spot some of the points that Goldfinger's Rolls Royce and James Bond in his Aston Martin DB5 drive by during the movie scene on the Furka.
Coming in via the Grimsel Pass watch out for a boulder with the inscription "Kil 47"on the right-hand side of the Furka Pass. On exact the same location stands also James Bond in the movie when Tilly is trying to shoot Goldfinger and the bullets nearly hits him from the back.
Looking down you will notice a small parking space next to a river on the road-side. The Rolls Royce was parked here when Oddjob and Goldfinger bought apples from the kids.
Driving further down where the Furka Pass ends you will approach the picturesque village of Realp, once you leave the village you find yourself on Furkastrasse. Take a look back and you see the village entrance like you have in the movie. Not much has changed.
What comes next will look very familiar, not only to Bond fans: the road behind the village of Realp with railroad tracks on the side. This is where Bond ‘ditched’ Tilly Masterson by shredding the tires of her Mustang pretending he doesn't know how this could have happened.
Towards the end of the Furkastrasse you will reach Andermatt. The gas station "Aurora" in Andermatt is where Bond filled up gas. Sadly on April 23rd 2014, in the same year that the Goldfinger movie celebrates its 50th anniversary the gas station was closed.
ACCESS TO THE FURKA PASS
Usually open from late May till early November and closed during the winter month. Once weather and avalanche conditions allow the Furka Pass will be opened. Constantly updated opening status information on the Furka Pass is available online.
Every year in spring a walkable ice grot is re-drilled into the Rhone Glacier. In the roughly 100 metres long tunnel you see fine shades of blue appearing in magical glows. We recommend to come here already in June, by end of October the tunnel could be a lot shorter because of the melting ice during the summer.
You would park your car at Hotel Belvedere right next to the glacier. Once a thriving hotel in the middle of the wonders of the Swiss alpine landscape.
Also Sean Connery have been staying here during the shooting of Goldfinger, before its forever closing for not being able to attract enough guests because of the decline of the glacier with the ongoing climate change.