Imboden: Alpine Landscapes, Water and Culture

Imboden is an administrative region of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The region covers 203.80 km² and ranges from 556 to 3,247 metres above sea level. It comprises Bonaduz, Domat/Ems, Rhäzüns, Felsberg, Flims, Tamins and Trin. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider which aspects of the region you want to shape your stay: alpine landscapes, bodies of water, trails or historic buildings.

Landscapes of mountains, moors and the Rhine

Imboden is known for its alpine landscapes, diverse ecosystems, geological formations and deep gorges. This diversity is also evident in the wider regional area around the Rhine Gorge: the gorge provides a habitat for rare plants, including various orchids, as well as rare animals, especially birds, butterflies and bats. The Rhäzüns Rhine floodplains are among the most intact floodplain landscapes in Switzerland and are of national importance.

Other nature destinations differ in their designations and character. The lower Segnesboden, also called Plaun Segnas Sut, was included in the national inventory of moorland landscapes of particular beauty and importance in 1996. Weihermühle is classified as a fen of national importance; it is home to, among other things, hazel dormice, numerous orchid species and sundew, a native carnivorous plant. In the Canton of Graubünden, Lake Cresta is considered a protected natural monument of regional importance. One striking geological feature is the Martinsloch: this natural opening in the rock face is 19 metres wide and 22 metres high.

Hiking trails and different time budgets

In spring 2014, the Trutg dil Flem received the main prize in the Prix Rando awards from the Swiss Hiking Trails Association. Its original Segnes–Flims section is 8.6 kilometres long. In Flims, the summer visitor offering also includes an extensive network of biking and hiking trails. Another tour crosses the Rhine on the Rhine Gorge suspension bridge – Wackenau Castle Ruins route: the Punt Ruinaulta suspension bridge is 100 metres long.

Two hikes can be compared in terms of the time they take. The moderately difficult Emser Tuma and Rhine Heights hike is 17.6 kilometres long and is listed as taking five hours. The 3.2-kilometre Connbächli route leads to Conn and takes about an hour. The Connbächli itself is six kilometres long. It has been used since the Early Middle Ages to water livestock in Conn and is still considered a cultural asset of the municipality of Flims.

The mountain landscape also offers a variety of regional points of interest. Kunkelspass connects Vättis in the Canton of St. Gallen with Tamins in Graubünden; its mountain landscape is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena. The municipality of Tamins has set up an exhibition room there. In Flims, the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena is directly accessible by cable car and can be explored from Segnesboden along a hiking trail.

Lakes and seasonal water destinations

At Lake Cresta, you can rent rowing boats and go stand-up paddleboarding; the lake is accessible on foot only. At Lake Cauma, there are pedal boats, stand-up paddleboarding, a volleyball court, a sandbox and a playground. In the summer months, Lag Bonaduz becomes a bathing lake, with access to the water via a wooden jetty. These destinations offer different activities, and their access conditions vary.

After the snow melts, around 20 potholes on Alp Mora fill with crystal-clear, turquoise water and invite visitors to swim during the summer months. Private vehicles are not permitted on the access road; in July and August, a bus runs from Trin to Purcs. Check the timetable when planning your trip.

Local history and visitor information

The church of Sogn Gieri stands between Bonaduz and Rhäzüns. Its origins date back to the 6th or 7th century; a new choir was added in the second quarter of the 14th century, followed by a painted church interior. Sogn Paul is a medieval church whose interior preserves remnants of frescoes by the Waltensburg Master and a workshop in the International Gothic style. The historic old village of Felsberg is characterised by narrow lanes and traditional houses from Graubünden.

Rhäzüns Castle was first mentioned in 1288, but is not open to the public. If you are planning excursions by public transport, you can include the connections through the Rhine Gorge: the Rhaetian Railway runs through the Ruinaulta close to the water, and the PostBus serves the villages above the gorge as well as destinations in it. The Rhäzüns–Feldis cable car connects Feldis with Rhäzüns above the Hinterrhein floodplains and provides access from Feldis to hiking and mountain biking tours. As timetables can change, it is advisable to check the current times before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Flims, Bonaduz, Tamins, Trin, Rhäzüns, Domat/Ems, Moesa, Surselva

For the main travel overview: Graubünden.