Graubünden: Hiking, Railway Heritage and Culture

Graubünden combines alpine landscapes with special nature and cultural experiences. When planning your trip, you can focus on different themes: hiking trails and geology, historic railway lines, or museums and old towns. When choosing a hotel, it also helps to first consider which of these sides of Graubünden interests you most.

Nature, Hiking Trails and Seasons

Green valleys, snow-covered peaks and alpine lakes define Graubünden. The canton encompasses 150 valleys, more than 1,000 lakes and over 900 mountain peaks. There is a network of 11,000 kilometres of hiking trails and 4,500 kilometres of mountain biking trails for hiking and biking tours. These figures give an impression of the variety of possible activities, but do not replace choosing a specific route.

One example of a multi-day hike is the Parc Ela Trek: its 17 daily stages lead around the nature park over alpine passes and mountain pastures. Check the route details before setting off. The language cultures of Romansh, German and Italian also come together in Parc Ela. A leisurely day hike with puzzles through the landscapes and villages of the park offers another way to explore the region; details of the offer may change seasonally.

Those interested in biodiversity will find a remarkable overview on the approximately five-square-kilometre Alp Flix: more than 3,500 species of fungi, plants and animals have been observed there to date. Inventories may grow with further research. Clear conservation rules apply when visiting the Swiss National Park: do not leave the marked hiking trails or the rest areas marked with posts.

The season can also play a role in planning. Graubünden can be visited in summer and winter; the ski season is highlighted as a time to travel. Nature-related themes range from hiking and biking trails to glaciers and erosion: an exhibition on earth sciences at the Graubünden Natural History Museum explains how climate, water, glaciers and erosion are continually changing the Alps.

Railway Heritage and Alpine Geology

The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes” comprises two historic railway lines that cross the Swiss Alps over two passes. The Albula line is 67 kilometres long and features 42 tunnels and covered galleries, as well as 144 viaducts and bridges. The Bernina line is the highest transalpine railway line and one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world. The Bernina Railway connects St. Moritz via the Bernina Pass with Tirano in Italy.

The Landwasser Viaduct is one of the World Heritage Site’s striking structures. Visitors approaching it on foot can take the Landwasser Viaduct Trail: it leads from Filisur station along the railway line and through the forest to a viewing platform above the viaduct. Check trail conditions before setting off. This way, the scale of the railway lines and a single viaduct each take centre stage, without the two experiences having to offer the same thing.

The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona offers a different perspective on how the Alps were formed. There, the Glarus thrust is exposed in three dimensions, with rock layers lying above and below one another. The landscape illustrates how mountains form through the collision of continental plates. In the Viamala Gorge, glacial ice and the waters of the Hinterrhein tell a different story of landscape formation: thousands of years ago, they carved the gorge into the massive rock. From the visitor centre, 359 steps lead down into its depths; physical access may vary seasonally.

Towns, Museums and Living History

In Chur, explore the old town on a stroll or a guided tour through its winding lanes. It is one of the best-preserved old towns in Switzerland, is now almost entirely traffic-free, and can be explored using red signs pointing to sights, squares and lanes. The availability of guided tours may vary. The Rhaetian Museum presents the history of Graubünden from its beginnings to the present day; its permanent exhibition spans four floors and is complemented by changing special exhibitions.

Other cultural sites offer different highlights. The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Chur, more than 800 years old, is one of Switzerland’s most important cultural monuments. The Cathedral Treasury Museum displays the cathedral treasury and the 1543 cycle of wall paintings known as the Dance of Death across two floors. In Zillis, the ceiling of the Church of St. Martin consists of 153 unique square panels painted in the 12th century. An exhibition explains the historical and geographical context of the panels, as well as their construction, state of preservation and dating.

The Heididorf also brings places and stories together: visitors can explore Heidi’s house and the alpine hut, including Grandfather’s workshop, the goat stable, Heidi’s hay bed and the cheese dairy. The village also includes a village school where visitors can experience the school day of Heidi and Peter, as well as the “Johanna Spyri’s Heidi World” exhibition. The Heidi Trail begins at the Heidi Shop on Bahnhofstrasse, passes through the historic lanes of Maienfeld and continues to Heididorf. Check trail conditions before setting off.

Graubünden offers a wide range of themes, without every trip having to include the same mix.

Discover more destinations: Moesa, Bernina, Maloja, Prättigau-Davos, Hinterrhein, Inn, Albula, Glenner, Imboden, Plessur, Landquart, Surselva.

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