Alvaneu between village history and cultural heritage

Alvaneu lies on the southeastern slope of Piz Mulain and comprises two parts of the village in different locations: Alvaneu Dorf sits on a sunny terrace above the Albula Valley, while Alvaneu Bad lies on the valley floor along the banks of the Albula. When planning your stay, the village and the spa offer two clear geographical reference points. Historic buildings and the blacksmithing tradition shape the village; in Alvaneu Bad, the sulfur springs and golf course are among the main attractions.

Village history and craftsmanship

The historic center of Alvaneu is one of the ten villages in Parc Ela whose villagescape has been classified as nationally significant and included in the Federal Inventory of Heritage Sites (ISOS). Restored houses with paintings and sgraffito add to the village’s character. The church in Alvaneu Dorf brings together different periods: its high altar dates from around 1698, and the painted and carved sections of the winged altar are among the finest examples of late Gothic art in Graubünden. The façade features Baroque murals depicting Saints Mauritius, Georg, Luzius and Primus, as well as an oval Madonna of Mercy.

Pilgrimage is also part of the village’s history. Numerous votive panels in the sacristy and surviving membership panels of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Sorrows attest to its importance in Alvaneu. Religious artefacts and the church’s furnishings thus stand alongside the civic architectural history of the village center.

Alvaneu Dorf has been known for its blacksmithing tradition since the 17th century. Local resident Roman Platz continues this tradition. The workshop and exhibition rooms can be visited by prior arrangement. If you are interested in the craft, you can combine a visit with a look at the restored houses and their paintings and sgraffito.

Command bunker and Cold War history

The Alvaneu command bunker can be explored on a guided tour, which uses a specially designed augmented reality application on an iPad. Around 1,400 telephones are on display on the upper floor. The collection ranges from radio broadcast receivers and rotary-dial telephones to emergency call boxes and mobile phones, and showcases different chapters in the history of Swiss telecommunications. The guided visit also includes a 180-meter-long timeline documenting the Cold War period. The bunker, telephone collection and timeline each highlight a different aspect: technological development, the history of communications and the political era of the Cold War.

Hikes and nature near Crap Furò

Felling trees has been prohibited in the nature forest reserve near Crap Furò since 2008, allowing the forest to develop undisturbed. The Crap Furò Pioneer Trail is signposted in green as local route 754; numbered markers identify its 14 stops. You can hike it from Surava to Alvaneu Bad or return to Surava via Plang digls Bovs. The two options therefore differ in whether Alvaneu Bad is the destination or the route leads back to Surava.

A short circular hike around Alvaneu Dorf passes through Aclas Davains and Aclas Seura in Parc Ela. It is 7 kilometers long and involves 565 meters of elevation gain and loss. Another hike starts at Alvaneu railway station and runs via Ranch Farsox to the Landwasser Viaduct, then on to Filisur railway station. An optional detour to the Hennings viewing platform takes around 30 minutes. When planning, you can choose between a circular hike with stated distance and elevation figures and a hike with an additional detour whose duration is specified.

Alvaneu Bad: springs, golf and regional products

Together with the mineral spring at St. Moritz Bad, the sulfur springs in Alvaneu Bad are among the oldest spa baths in Switzerland. A modern spa with wellness facilities was built there in 2001. The Alvaneu Bad golf course was expanded to 18 holes in 1997; its clubhouse is right next to the spa. The Alvaneu golf course is also recorded as having received the 1st Swiss Golf Award in 2007. The landscape for the 18-hole course was partly reshaped, creating new ponds and pools.

The Ranch Farsox farm shop offers another taste of the region. It sells Farsoxer dried meat, Fitness Salsiz, fresh organic pasture-raised beef, as well as raw bacon and raw ham from alpine pigs, all bearing the Parc Ela label. The selection also includes homemade products and trout raised on the farm. So, alongside culture and nature, regional products are among Alvaneu’s distinctive features.

Discover more destinations: Alvaschein, Stierva, Bergün, Tiefencastel, Vaz/Obervaz, Sur, Brienz/Brinzauls, Savognin.

Go to the main travel overview: Albula.