Castrisch between the village center and the Rhine Gorge

When looking for a hotel for a stay in Castrisch, you can first consider whether you are especially interested in the historic village center or in the trails and landscape along the Rhine Gorge. Castrisch lies at the entrance to the Ruinaulta, the Rhine Gorge, also known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon.” The village is 2.5 kilometers east of the center of Ilanz. Architectural heritage, hiking trails and riverside scenery offer different focal points for planning your trip.

Village center and Romansh architectural heritage

Castrisch is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of National Importance. The historic center is a large clustered village: farmhouses and residential buildings stand close together along the main axes, alongside a large village square. The farmhouses are notable for their distinctive carriage entrances, known as “bargias.” Stables dating from the 17th to the 19th century are also part of the village’s character. Its classification as a Romansh-speaking hamlet adds a linguistic perspective to its architectural features.

If you are interested in the architecture, you can look at the distinctive carriage entrances and the closely spaced houses together. This gives you an impression that takes in not just individual buildings but also the shape of the village. The large village square is another characteristic feature of the historic center.

Via Glion and trails through the landscape

The Via Glion is a hiking trail about 75 kilometers long, with seven stages. It passes through all 13 hamlets of the municipality of Ilanz/Glion and runs right through the villages. Stage 7 leads from Riein via Sevgein and Castrisch to Ilanz. For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish between the full route and this specific section: the approximately 75 kilometers refer to the entire trail, while Stage 7 is a particular route through several villages.

Along this stage, 13 information boards with audio and, in some cases, video content tell stories about people, events and buildings along the trail. The content is available in German and Romansh. This makes the stage a combination of physical activity and insights into local history. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Official Trail 902 offers a different perspective on the route: it follows the Rhine embankment through the riverside landscape and passes through an underpass below the station into the village of Castrisch. Along the way, it crosses open meadows and offers unobstructed views of the Brigels mountains. The route thus connects the stretch along the Rhine with the path into the village. Hikers, bikers and water sports enthusiasts visit the Ruinaulta landscape associated with Castrisch; you can therefore choose trails and activities to suit your interests.

Riverside and the Isla Sut picnic area

The Isla Sut picnic area is outside the village, at the entrance to the Rhine Gorge. A barefoot trail is located right beside the Rhine. Safety rules apply to its seasonal use and should be taken into account when planning a visit. The picnic area is about a 20-minute walk from Castrisch station. You can treat it as a destination in its own right, separate from the trails through the village center or along the stage route.

Getting there and choosing a hotel

Castrisch is served by the Rhaetian Railway on the Chur–Disentis/Mustér line and by the Ilanz–Versam PostBus. Check the current timetable when planning your journey. The present-day pedestrian bridge between Schluein and Castrisch was built in 2017.

Consider which of these focal points matters most for your trip, then compare your preferences with the information provided by the individual hotels.

Discover more destinations: Rueun, Laax, Obersaxen, Surcuolm, Schnaus, Vals, Sagens, Vella Gr

For the regional travel overview: Surselva.