Casaccia: Bergell Trails and History

Casaccia lies at an altitude of 1,458 metres at the foot of the Maloja and Septimer passes. Hiking trails, the history of the passes and historic buildings shape different aspects of the village. For trip planning, the trails can be distinguished by their length: in addition to a described hike to Soglio, multi-day cultural and long-distance trails also pass through Casaccia or end here.

Passes and Local History

The Maloja Pass leads to the Engadine. The Septimer Pass is an important crossing that was already in use before Roman times. In past centuries, Casaccia was the starting point for important trade routes because of its strategic location. In the past, 40 farriers, many saddlers and inns benefited from traffic over the passes. These details link the history of the crossings with the village’s former trades without implying that the inns of that time are the same as today’s offerings.

Cultural Trails Through Casaccia

The Via Bregaglia is a multi-day cultural trail that can be completed in three or four stages. Its first stage leads from Maloja to Vicosoprano through Casaccia, through forests and meadows, and past the ruins of the Church of San Gaudenzio. The Via Sett long-distance trail is another lengthy route: in five daily stages, it leads from Thusis to Chiavenna, following in the footsteps of Roman emperors as well as kings and merchants. The fourth stage of the interactive Via Sett route ends in Casaccia. Stages can be shortened as desired by using public transport; check connections before your trip.

Hiking to Soglio

The Bergell high-altitude trail, also known as the Sentiero Panoramico, begins in Casaccia and leads towards Soglio and on to Italy. The hike from Casaccia to Soglio is 14.2 kilometres long and takes about five hours. It is classified as a T2 mountain hike and includes 414 metres of ascent and 770 metres of descent. The trail runs along the sunny side of Bergell and repeatedly offers views of the rugged 3,000-metre peaks that separate Bregaglia from Italy. From Casaccia, a country road leads west along the right-hand side of the valley, across the Maira bridge and over flat meadows to the small lake of Löbbia. As trail conditions can change seasonally, it is advisable to check them before setting out.

Churches and Buildings

The San Gaudenzio church complex is owned by the municipality of Bregaglia, is a cultural asset of regional importance and is a protected monument. The large late Gothic church has a single-nave hall and a recessed polygonal choir. Its vaults have collapsed, but the exterior walls remain largely intact. San Gaudenzio was built in 1518 and was already mentioned in 998; in the past, it was a popular pilgrimage site. The site’s long history thus stands alongside the building’s present state of preservation.

La Toracia is the remains of a medieval watchtower on a small terrace above Casaccia. The Reformed church was built in 1742 after a landslide buried the former chapel in 1740. If you would like to learn more about the village’s history and culture, you can book a guided tour on request. It lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.

Landscape, Cycling and Winter

On the plain before Casaccia, meadows and birch and larch forests offer views of the Albigna dam nestled in the mountains. The two passes also offer different experiences for cyclists: the Septimer Pass is used by cyclists and hikers, while the Maloja Pass attracts numerous cyclists in summer. In winter, the small Sur Cresta ski lift is suitable for people learning to ski and is popular with beginners. Before making winter plans, check whether the lift is operating for the season.

Discover more destinations: Stampa, Sils/Segl Baselgia, Zuoz, Surlej, S-Chanf, Bever, Pontresina, Samedan

Return to the main travel overview: Maloja.