Chaussée along Stelvio Pass, 1831

The Chaussée (French: chaussée, German: "artificial road") is a term borrowed from the French for a developed country road that was often paved with gravel or crushed stone. Chaussees were constructed according to precise plans, making them much straighter than other roads; they also featured drainage systems to allow rainwater to run off. The origin of the chaussée lies in the 18th century in the Netherlands. It was later further developed in England and France, influencing the expansion of long-distance transportation and trade routes.

Gallerie al Rio di Peder, below the Spondalunga inn, going to Bormio = Galerie al Rio di Peder, au dessous de l'Auberge de Spondalunga, en allant à Bormio, Aquatint, 1831, artist: Johann Jakob Meyer (painter), Rudolf Bodmer (engraver); source: Swiss National Library, https://www.helveticarchives.ch/detail.aspx?ID=956544, public domain.