Ftan – Sunny Terrace and Engadine Village Culture

Ftan is a village in the Lower Engadine in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, situated on a splendid south-facing sunny terrace. Village history, hiking trails, and activities for biking and winter sports give your trip a range of different highlights.

Engadine Village Character and History

The old part of Ftan Pitschen is laid out in a cross shape. Its houses, rebuilt in the 17th century, have largely been restored and decorated with sgraffito. The Ftan–Scuol panoramic hike passes through this part of the village, where you can see village fountains and Engadine houses decorated with sgraffito.

The Reformed church stands in Ftan Grond. It was rebuilt in 1633–34 following the village fire of 1622. Its tower stands on its own on a rock north of the church. Another historic attraction is the Muglin da Ftan, where two mills remain in their original condition. A demonstration shows how grain is milled into the finest flour. Access and demonstrations may vary during conservation work.

The religious and local history also goes back a long way: Ftan’s parish is documented from 1492, and the transition from the Catholic to the Reformed faith took place around 1542. In the 12th century, the Lords of Tarasp owned property in Ftan and made donations to the monasteries of Müstair and Scuol; later, donations were also made to Marienberg Abbey in the Vinschgau. In 1652, Ftan broke away from Austria.

Schüschaiver is celebrated every year on the Saturday before the first Monday in February. The morning program features traditional tree felling. In the afternoon, the village’s young people, paired by lot, make their way to the schoolhouse in traditional Engadine festive dress. The celebrations also include performances by village associations and the traditional Schüschaiver ball. In Ftan, Chalandamarz is held on a Saturday as a carnival procession. Masked schoolchildren and young men parade through the village, hitting girls and adults with thin, inflated pig bladders.

Hiking and Experiencing the Landscape

The Ftan–Scuol panoramic hike starts at the Ftan, cumün PostBus stop. Route details may be adjusted seasonally. The trail passes through Ftan Pitschen, where you can see village fountains and Engadine houses decorated with sgraffito. For another hike, Prui–Piz Clünas–Alp Laret–Ftan, take the chairlift from Ftan, cumün, to Prui.

Alp Laret is about a one-hour-and-45-minute walk uphill from Ftan; walking times may vary depending on conditions. The alp can be reached on foot or by bike, and route conditions may change seasonally. The upper Val Tasna features expansive alpine pastures and mountain flora, offering a distinctive landscape experience.

Two natural attractions lie near the Hochalpines Institut, but on different sides: the Lais da Pesch biotope is just behind it, while the Lai da Padnal bathing lake lies below the institute. The lake is surrounded by mountain scenery. These places add different nature destinations to your hiking and route plans.

Biking, Scooter Rides and Winter Sports

The Palüds trail center near Ftan offers an uphill trail and two lines with distinct characteristics: the Pachific Line is easier and flowy, while the Sulvadi Line is technically challenging. The individual lines may change. This gives you specific trail names and difficulty levels to plan around, without presenting the routes as a single, uniform challenge.

The scooter descent from Motta Naluns to Scuol also follows a clearly described route: it passes through Prui and Ftan and is 10 kilometers long. The route from Motta Naluns goes past the Ftan valley station and through the historic part of Ftan Pitschen.

Winter options also vary depending on the route and operating conditions. Direct access to the Motta Naluns ski and snow sports area is on the north side of the village, at the chairlift’s valley station; lift operations are seasonal. The cross-country ski trail starts on the plateau toward Ardez, where you can ski laps under floodlights at night. Grooming and lighting are seasonal. An approximately four-kilometer sledding run descends through the forest; its operation varies seasonally.

Getting There by PostBus

There is a direct hourly PostBus service between Scuol-Tarasp and the Ftan, cumün stop. Check the current timetable before travelling. The stop is also the starting point for the Ftan–Scuol panoramic hike; for the hike via Prui, the route instead starts with the chairlift to Prui.

Discover more destinations: Guarda, Scuol, Schleins, Samnaun, Tschierv, Susch, Lü, Lavin

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