When did the major uplift of the Alps begin?

The major uplift of the Alps occurred as part of the Alpine orogeny, a complex mountain-building process that began approximately 65 million years ago as the Mesozoic Era concluded.12

While the broader orogenic event spanned the Paleogene and Neogene periods, the specific tectonic movements that formed the Alps—driven by powerful pressures from the south—began about 44 million years ago. These forces folded deep rock layers from the Tethys Sea against crystalline bedrock, raising them to significant heights. This period of intense tectonic activity continued until approximately 9 million years ago.12