Landquart: Nature Trails, Wine Routes and History

Landquart is known as the “gateway to Graubünden.” When looking for a hotel, it helps to know that Landquart is the main town of the Landquart region. The region is an administrative unit of the canton of Graubünden, established as part of the territorial reform on 1 January 2017. It comprises Fläsch, Jenins, Landquart, Maienfeld, Malans, Trimmis, Untervaz and Zizers. It covers an area of 174.67 square kilometres, with elevations ranging from 478 to 2,805 metres above sea level.

Getting here and finding your way around

Landquart station offers connections between SBB services from Zurich, St. Gallen and Chur and the Rhaetian Railway. If you are planning to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel date. The station is also the starting point for an easy stroll along the Rhine: the path follows the river towards Mastrils and returns via the Tardis Bridge.

Rhine floodplains and trails around Landquart

The Mastrils Rhine floodplains are the only remaining floodplain habitat in the Landquart region between Reichenau and Lake Constance. Rare species have survived there; among other things, the floodplains are one of the last refuges of the dwarf bulrush. More than ten percent of the dotterel population remaining in Switzerland nests there. Since 2009, more than 90 different bird species have been recorded in the Rhine floodplains.

Another highlight is the Planet Trail in Igis. It follows a forest path from Bawald, above Igis, to Ganda and is around 2.6 kilometres long. The planets are the subject of the trail, with their relative sizes shown to scale: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are each marked and described on an information board. The trail’s length can help you plan your visit; along the way, you can learn about each planet at its station.

From the upper part of Igis village, a narrow, very steep path leads to the ruins of Falkenstein Castle in about 45 minutes. Take care when the ground is wet. The remains of the walls point to at least two phases of construction. The viewpoint at Pizalun involves a different time commitment: the circular route from Mastrils leads via Jägeri and takes about four hours. From Pizalun, you can look up and down the Rhine Valley; on a clear day, Lake Constance is also visible. The routes therefore differ not only in what they offer, but also in the planning details given for each one.

Churches and historic sites

The Reformed church in Igis was first mentioned around 1300 under the patronage of St Thomas. Gothic murals from the first half of the 15th century survive on the north wall of the nave. The church has been a protected monument since 1973. These dates offer visitors interested in culture several points of reference, from the church’s first recorded mention to the later murals.

Marschlins Castle is a former moated castle on the plain northeast of Igis. It is thought to have been founded by the bishop and probably dates from the mid-13th century. Its first written mention, as “castrum Marzhenins,” dates to 12 May 1324. The site is also connected with the history of agriculture: the first potatoes and the first maize in the canton of Graubünden were grown at Marschlins Castle in 1717.

Wine walks and regional visits

The Bündner Rheintal Wine Trail includes circular walks through the vineyards of Trimmis and Zizers, Malans and Jenins, and Maienfeld and Fläsch. Including the circular routes, it offers more than 40 kilometres of signposted trails. Thanks to the sunny valley location, the walks are possible almost all year round, although local weather and conditions should still be taken into account.

The Bündner Herrschaft e-bike wine tour passes through Malans, Jenins, Maienfeld and Fläsch. In Jenins, it includes a self-guided tour through the vineyard at the House of Bündner Wine, with information about vines and winemaking. Near Landquart, the tour follows regional cycle route 21, the Prättigau Route; at Ganda, it turns towards Malans and joins national Rhine Route 2. If you are planning your trip around this kind of tour, these place and route names are useful points of reference.

The doors of the Plantahof stables are open all year round, and visits are intended for both adults and children. The animals kept there include dairy cows, Limousin suckler cows, Toggenburg goats, Lacaune sheep, White Alpine sheep, poultry and bees. The Plantahof farm shops in Landquart and Chur sell, among other things, Alpine cheese, honey, salsiz, fruit, vegetables, wine and spirits. The selection may vary by season.

On a guided tour of the Rhaetian Railway workshops in Landquart, you can find out how trains are maintained, repaired and prepared for daily service. Check the booking conditions for the tour before planning your visit.

The Rhine walk starts at Landquart station, the Planet Trail at Bawald above Igis, the path to the ruins of Falkenstein at the upper end of Igis village, and the circular route to Pizalun in Mastrils. Shape your search around the activity you want to focus on during your stay, and check the location given for any specific offer.

Discover more destinations: Maienfeld, Fanas, Landquart Fabriken, Jenins, Malans, Mastrils, Untervaz, Igis, Says, Zizers.

For the main travel overview: Graubünden.