Discover Sarn: village history, hiking and winter

Different things may shape your stay in Sarn: its compact village centre, local history, or hiking, skiing, winter hiking or mountain biking. Sarn is a district of the municipality of Cazis in the canton of Graubünden. A clustered village situated in the middle of the Heinzenberg region, it is bordered to the west by a mountain range between Tguma (2,163 m above sea level) and Präzer Höhe (2,120 m). The village lies at 1,178 m above sea level. Tguma also features on the circular hiking trail of the same name. If you are looking for hotels in Sarn, you can first consider whether village history, a circular hike or a day in the winter will shape your trip.

Village Centre and History

Some imposing houses cluster around the church in the compact village centre. The church is believed to have opened in 1679, based on the inscription on its pulpit. Its architectural design also has several distinctive features: the main structure is square, the upper storey octagonal, and the onion-shaped roof is topped by a lantern. The interplay of these forms gives the church a distinctive architectural profile.

Agriculture is also part of the village’s history. Sarn is considered the true starting point of Graubünden Brown Swiss cattle breeding, as the first Brown Swiss cattle-breeding cooperative was founded here in the 19th century. Roman-era coins have also been found in Sarn, and the first written record of the village dates from 1156. Local points of interest therefore range from archaeological finds and written records to 19th-century agriculture.

Hiking to Tguma

The Tguma circular hiking trail is 12.8 kilometres long and starts and ends in Sarn Lescha. It leads to Tguma, whose highest point is at 2,163 m above sea level. The distance refers to the entire loop, while the elevation refers to the highest point of the destination. A PostBus connection from Thusis railway station provides access to the circular trail. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable before setting off.

Skiing and Winter Hiking

The Sarn-Heinzenberg ski area extends from 1,300 to 2,163 m above sea level and offers easy to intermediate slopes. The Lescha-Dultschinas chairlift and the Dultschinas-Sarner Höhe ski lift provide access to the runs. The area also has winter hiking trails, including a gently ascending high-altitude trail. This means there are various activities to choose from in winter: the slopes and lifts are part of the skiing offer, while the high-altitude trail is for winter hiking.

Mountain Bike Route and Trip Planning

For mountain biking enthusiasts, the marked Heinzenberg Villages Route MTB Local No. 622 passes through Sarn. It differs from the Tguma circular hiking trail: the hike starts and ends in Sarn Lescha, while the MTB route passes through Sarn. These route types offer different options for your planning: a circular route with a set start and finish, or a marked mountain bike route through the village.

The village centre and church reflect the village’s history; the circular hiking trail, ski area, winter trails and MTB route represent different activities. Consider which of these is most important for your stay and plan your search accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Fürstenau, Tschappina, Avers, Paspels, Innerferrera, Splügen, Andeer, Masein

To the overview of the wider travel region: Hinterrhein.