Discover Rossa Gr: Local history, hiking trails and mountain nature

Rossa lies in the upper Calanca Valley in the southern canton of Graubünden, near the border with Ticino, at around 1,089 m above sea level. It is considered the highest village in the Calanca Valley. The municipality covers 58.89 km² and features steep slopes, forests, mountain streams and alpine meadows.

Rossa has an alpine climate, with warm summers and snowy winters. These seasonal characteristics can be a helpful guide when planning your trip. Possible themes for your stay include both historic buildings and hikes, as well as a snowshoe hike.

Historic churches, chapels and traces of settlement

Historic stone houses and chapels are part of the village’s cultural heritage. The parish church of San Bernardo was built between 1677 and 1684. The Chapel of San Carlo al Sabbione dates from 1694 and contains paintings by Giorgioli; the Chapel of Santa Maria della Neve in Valbella dates back to 1683. The village’s appearance is another aspect of its history: Rossa is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites of National Importance (ISOS).

La Scata / Calvari, an abandoned historic settlement, lies above Rossa. The Scata / Calvari area is entirely terraced with dry-stone walls. A scenic path leads to the chapels at La Scata / Calvari. This offers a way to explore the history of the settlement and the terraced landscape as distinct but interconnected topics. At the entrance to Rossa, in the hamlet of Pighè, there is also a lime tree that is more than 200 years old.

Forest reserve and mountain landscape

The Bedoleta Forest Reserve is located in the municipality of Rossa on the orographically left-hand valley slope near Valbella. It extends from 1,200 m up to the upper tree line, which lies at an elevation of approximately 2,100 to 2,300 m, and covers around 727 hectares. The high-altitude stands include monumental larches, among the oldest specimens in Europe. The reserve thus spans a wide range of elevations and protects a special natural heritage.

Alpine wildlife can be observed in the forest reserve. This includes ibex, chamois, deer, black grouse, ptarmigan and golden eagles; individual sightings are not guaranteed. Another natural highlight is the Frot waterfall, visible east of Augio. Together, these places showcase different aspects of the landscape: the forests and higher elevations of the Bedoleta area, and the waterfall near Augio.

Hiking and snowshoe route

The ViaCalanca is a hiking trail through the Calanca Valley between Grono and Rossa and can be completed in stages. The third stage runs from Selma to Rossa. The ViaCalanca is also part of the “Itinerari culturali della Svizzera” project, which promotes historic routes and contributes to the conservation of the landscape. The stage information can help with trip planning: the stage mentioned here runs from Selma to Rossa.

Another hike starts in the village of Rossa near the historic parish church of San Bernardo and leads to Lagh de Calvaresc. The lake is also known as the “heart-shaped lake” because of its distinctive shape. While the third ViaCalanca stage starts in Selma and reaches Rossa, this hike starts in Rossa and leads to the lake. The two routes therefore differ in their starting point and destination. The snowshoe hike follows yet another route: from Rossa, it runs along the Calancasca to the small village of Santa Domenica, returning through Augio.

Getting there and planning your hotel stay

From Bellinzona, travellers can take a bus towards Mesocco or San Bernardino, change at the Bivio Calanca stop in Grono, then continue by bus to Rossa. Check the current timetable before departure so you can factor the transfer into your plans.

In the hamlet of Augio, the cultural and leisure centre “La Cascata” also serves as a hotel and restaurant. Before your trip, check whether it is currently open before including this option in your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Santa Maria In Calanca, San Bernardino, Roveredo, Selma, Braggio, Lostallo, Castaneda Gr, Cama.

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