The Julier Pass (Passo del Giulia, Pass dal Güglia in Romansh) climbs south from the Surses valley above Savognin to 2,284 metres before descending to the Engadin. It has been a trade and travel route since at least Roman times — two ancient Roman granite pillars stand at the summit as silent evidence of that history.
Today the pass road is paved and open year-round (snowploughed in winter), making it the main connection between Graubünden's interior and St. Moritz. The drive up from Savognin takes about 30 minutes on an increasingly dramatic road with hairpin bends and views back over the Surses valley. At the top, the landscape opens into the treeless high plateau of the upper Engadin.
Walkers and cyclists take the historic mule track rather than the road; the track is quieter, older, and passes closer to the Roman pillars. The pass has featured prominently in Graubünden's history as the route taken by traders, armies, and eventually tourists heading south.