Ardez: Village Culture and Trails in the Engadin

Ardez combines historic village culture with trails through an impressive mountain landscape. The village lies on a terrace above the Inn Valley at an altitude of about 1,460 metres. The landscape is set between the crystalline mountain ranges of the Silvretta and the Lower Engadin Dolomites. Your stay can therefore focus on both architecture and local history, as well as hiking and cycling routes.

Village History and Architecture

Many handsome farmhouses have protected façades, typically painted and decorated with sgraffito. Ardez is considered a model village of Romansh residential culture. The present-day Reformed church was built in 1576/77 on the foundations of an older place of worship. It is considered the first Reformed gallery church in Switzerland and also one of the rare Renaissance buildings.

The Planta House is a patrician house dating from 1642 and has been the seat of Fundaziun Not Vital since 2006. Another striking building is the ruins of Steinsberg Castle, with the remains of the Chapel of St. Luzius: it is the landmark of Ardez. The ruins stand on a rocky hill at the edge of the village and serve as a viewpoint. The castle can be traced in written records back to 1209. In Ardez, the connections between the castle, settlement and cultural landscape are particularly clear.

At the southwestern edge of Ardez stands Tuor Vonzun, also known as La Praschun, a knightly residential tower dating from the mid-13th century. Four storeys remain of the originally five-storey building. Tuor Vonzun is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside. Sur En d’Ardez also has a film history: the hamlet was the filming location for all the scenes set in the home village of Uorsin, his family and friends in the film “Schellen-Ursli”.

Hiking and Cycling

The Smaragdgebiet Ardez Discovery Trail is an adventure trail for the whole family. At the trail’s high point, there are views of the ruins of Steinsberg Castle and the Engadin mountains; visibility depends on conditions. Check the seasonal conditions before setting out on the hike.

A circular hike from and back to Ardez starts at the railway station, passes through the village centre and reaches a high point of 2,482 metres. Along the way, there are views of the three-thousand-metre peaks on the opposite side of the valley and the side valleys of the Lower Engadin. From higher sections, you can also see some of the approximately 20 mountain lakes of Macun in the National Park. Another high-altitude hike leads from Lavin via Guarda along the Via Engiadina to Ardez; mountain conditions may vary on this tour.

The Inn Cycle Path also passes through Ardez. On the Guarda–Pfunds stage, after passing through the hamlet of Bos-cha, the route descends to the foot of the ruins of Steinsberg Castle. From Ardez, the stage continues along the old main road, with views of the Lower Engadin Dolomites and Tarasp Castle.

If you would like to explore Sur En d’Ardez on foot, the hiking trail from Ardez railway station follows a road down to the Inn and then climbs up to the hamlet. Sur En can be explored on foot in a peaceful atmosphere. The visit thus combines a walk along the Inn with the place whose village scenes in “Schellen-Ursli” depict the protagonist’s home.

Getting There and Seasonal Planning

Ardez railway station is served hourly by the Rhaetian Railway from Chur, Landquart/Prättigau, Scuol or the Upper Engadin. Check the timetable before you leave. Ardez is located directly on the Engadinerstrasse H27; the southern portal of the Vereina Tunnel is about a 15-minute drive away. Traffic and seasonal conditions may affect your journey.

In winter, the natural ice rink right by the schoolhouse adds to the seasonal activities: when temperatures are suitable, it is available free of charge for ice skating and playing ice hockey. For planning, the conditions on site are what matter.

Discover more destinations: Lü, Sta. Maria Val Müstair, Schleins, Remüs, Zernez, Ftan, Brail, Müstair

Go to the main travel overview: Inn.