Savognin: Churches, Culture and Mountains

Savognin is a village in the municipality of Surses in the canton of Graubünden. The village offers a range of highlights to help you plan your trip: village history and cultural heritage, mountain activities, and amenities around Lai Barnagn.

Cultural history in the village

The Museum Regiunal Savognin showcases traditional crafts from the region. In front of the museum is a medicinal herb garden with around 100 medicinal and culinary plants, arranged in eight beds. The village’s history can also be explored elsewhere: the «Curvanera» house belongs to the «Curt» settlement group near Nossadonna Church. Curt was an episcopal estate. The municipality of Savognin bought the house in 1979 at the initiative of Romano Plaz; the «Museum Curvanera» foundation was established with the aim of creating a regional museum for the valley.

The «Gir Cultural tras vischnanca» cultural walk is an easy, 1.6-kilometre route through Savognin. It starts at the tourist office and ends at Son Martegn Church. The signs along the walk are in Romansh, German, Italian and English. Son Martegn was consecrated in 1677. Its ceiling painting covers more than 100 square metres and depicts the vision of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Nossadonna and Son Mitgel also have their own historical landmarks. Bishop Johann VI consecrated Nossadonna Church in 1643; classical concerts are occasionally held there today. Check the concert dates before visiting. The present-day building of Son Mitgel was constructed between 1658 and 1663. The church served as a chaplaincy and burial church from the outset.

The «Segantini in Savognin» tour leads from Hotel Pianta to Son Martegn Church. In the years that followed, Savognin’s mountain scenery inspired Segantini to create numerous paintings. A look at the village’s cultural heritage thus also connects the landscape with art history.

Mountains, skiing and biking

A trail-running route starts in the upper part of the village and follows forest paths, mountain trails and a high-altitude trail to the summit of Motta Palousa. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views. In winter, several cable cars operated by Savognin Bergbahnen provide access to the ski areas at Piz Martegnas and in Val Nandro.

At Lai Barnagn, the pump track includes a kids’ track, a pump track area and a skate area. The Lai Barnagn Bike Skills Park offers two jump lines, each with three jumps, as well as a skills line with root sections, tight turns, small drops and balance features at varying levels of difficulty. Use of the pump track is free; check current facility conditions before your visit.

Summer at Lai Barnagn

In summer, Lai Barnagn is used as a swimming lake. The water is dammed and therefore warms up quickly; the lake is considered one of the warmest swimming lakes in the Alps. Alongside the two-wheeled activities, visitors can also choose to spend time by the water.

Mountain carts and scooters can be rented from Wasescha Sport Rent at the valley station of Savognin Bergbahnen. The route from Somtgant to Savognin is 10 kilometres long for both mountain carts and scooters. As rental availability may change, check before your outing.

Getting there

You can reach Savognin from Chur by PostBus. Another option is to take the Rhaetian Railway to Tiefencastel and continue from there by PostBus. Check the current timetables before departure.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Filisur, Wiesen, Bivio, Brienz/Brinzauls, Tinizong-Rona, Salouf, Cunter, Bergün.

Return to the main travel overview: Albula.