File 008 · Ticino, Switzerland

Verzasca Dam

220 metres of concrete, one stuntman and one take. It opened Pierce Brosnan's first Bond film.

Why go

A 220 m concrete arch from 1965, above a valley of emerald water and the stone Ponte dei Salti.

The place

Power for the south

The dam was built between 1960 and 1965 to make hydroelectric power for Ticino. Pouring the concrete alone took 18 months.

Italian Switzerland

Ticino is the Swiss canton where Italian is spoken. Stone villages with granite roofs climb the valley above the lake, and some are almost empty, sold off one house at a time.

The leaping bridge

Further up the valley at Lavertezzo, the double-arched Ponte dei Salti crosses water so clear it looks green. It is a classic swimming spot. The river is cold and fast after rain, so take care.

The shoot: GoldenEye (1995)

The opening bungee jump off the dam wall.

One take

Stuntman Wayne Michaels jumped from the crest of the dam for the opening of GoldenEye (1995). A special platform kept him clear of the wall, and six cameras caught the fall. It was done in a single take.

A world record

It was recognised as the highest bungee jump from a structure in a film, at over 220 m.

Then everyone wanted to

After the film, the dam's owners let an operator run public jumps from the same spot. More than 10,000 people have since made the leap.

Stand here

Walk out along the dam crest. The jump platform is in the middle of the wall.

46.198, 8.846

Visit

Best: Weekday mornings in summer. Access: Free to walk. The bungee is paid and booked ahead, Apr–Oct. Getting there: Bus or drive from Locarno, 20 minutes. Swim in the Verzasca at Lavertezzo after.

Taste: Polenta, local cheese and a glass of Ticino Merlot in a grotto, the rustic stone taverns of the valley.