The complex was built by the Bishop of Chur Volkhart (1237-1251). The once mighty fortification was the centre of the episcopal jurisdiction. Later, the delinquents from the Five Villages district were imprisoned in the castle. The village fire of 1897 severely damaged the complex. Today, the castle is owned by the Five Villages District. In 2001, structural safety measures were taken. One of the oldest buildings still inhabited in Zizers is the House of the Bell. Once it was an inn, to which probably also Susten (warehouses with horse positions) were attached. Later, the Haus zur Glocke served as the town hall of the Five Villages district. It housed the district administration, the district office, the district notary's office, the debt collection and bankruptcy office, and the guardianship authority. Today, the beautifully spruced up Haus zur Glocke is used purely as a residential building.

Haldenstein is the ideal starting point for biking or hiking tours up to 2,800-meter-high Calanda mountain. The mountain range between the Rhine and Tamina valleys is a fascinating landscape offering spectacular views down to the urban valley floor around Chur and onto the Alps. Not far from the village there is the climbing garden Haldenstein, considered the first of its kind in Switzerland. It was comprehensively renovated in 2012 and 2013. But those who are not out for an athletic challenge will feel just as at home in Haldenstein. The banks of the Rhine are the perfect scene for leisurely walks or cycling trips, horse rides and picnics.

Despite the short distance to the cantonal capital Chur, Haldenstein has retained its rural character to this day. However, things to get busy every other year in May, when the Garden Festival at Haldenstein Castle opens its doors to the delight of garden and plant lovers from near and far. It also offers numerous other attractions. Alternating with the Garden Festival, every other year Haldenstein Castle becomes the stage for impressive outdoor opera productions by the Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Graubünden.

History

The area around Haldenstein has been settled during the medieval and Roman periods and as far back as prehistoric times. In the mid-12th century, the church of Haldenstein is first mentioned in a document. It was replaced by a new church in 1732. It's the only church in the bishopric of Chur that is dedicated to St. Gereon. The Reformation did not arrive in Haldenstein until the first half of the 17th century, nearly a century later than in neighbouring Chur.

Its location between Calanda mountain and the Rhine means that the village has faced many perils: In 1868, it was devastated by a flooding of the Rhine, and in 1971 there was a mudflow at Calanda. The village was hit by fire in 1825 and threatened again by a devastating forest blaze in 1943. 

The impressive castle was built in the early 16th century. From 1544 to 1548 the structure was expanded and magnificently decorated. Part of it was panelling which today is at Köpenick Castle in Berlin. The castle was extended by a floor in 1731. One year later it was damaged by fire and immediately rebuilt. From 1763, the north wing of the castle was home to the Phiantrhopinum, a well-known educational institution. Today, Haldenstein Castle hosts the Garden Festival and many other cultural events.

Haldenstein was originally a Romansh-speaking community, but Germanisation set in around the 14the century, even before it had reached Chur. Haldenstein gets its name from the castle above the village. Haldenstein Castle was build in the mid-12th century and was the seat of the house Haldenstein. The castle was inhabited until the end of the 17th century, before it was destroyed by earthquakes in 1769 and 1787. Another fortress, Lichtenstein Castle, was built in the 12th century and was located on a mountain ridge some distance north of the village. It was probably abandoned in the 15th century, after it had come into possession of the Lords of Haldenstein when the house of Lichtenstein died out at the end of the 13th century.

Batänja

Halfway up mount Calanda, at about 1,400 metres above sea level, lies the abandoned settlement Batänja, formerly called Sewils. It was gifted to the brothers Hans, Dietrich and Jos Batänier, a family of Walser origin, by the nobleman Peter von Griffensee. It was inhabited until 1869 and even had its own school. Today, the landowners coordinate a great voluntary effort to ensure the upkeep of the buildings in Batänja.

The uniquely sunny location makes Reichenau and Tamins a fantastic place to live. Inhabitants profit from a well-developed infrastructure and modern school facilities. Locals and tourists alike find excellent public transport links. Tamins is located along the main north-to-south traffic axis, the A13 motorway.

The natural landscape around Tamins is one of a kind, with many hiking trails through forests and meadows and a diverse flora and fauna. The diversity of nature's beauty knows no bounds in this wonderful area. The unique oak forest, the adjacent rough pastures and the dry landscapes are of national importance. The natural reserve Rattena is characterised by its species-rich hedges, old deciduous trees, dry walls and reptile habitats, ponds and the Valtonis creek. The adjacent forests also have an impressive biodiversity. More than 20 different species of deciduous trees can be found here, amongst them some "exotic" species like the downy oak and the chestnut tree. The entire area is integrated into the Eichwald forest reserve. An exciting nature learning trail introduces visitors to the beauty and the inner workings of this unique landscape.

Where earth meets the skies, atop the Kunkels Pass at 1,357 metres above sea level, the municipality of Tamins owns the mountain restaurant "überuf. Here, hikers and cyclists can refill their batteries, for example with locally produced cheese from the alp at "überuf". For mountaineers wanting to climb up to Ringelspitze, the Ringelspitz cabin offers shelter and an ideal starting point for the expedition.

History

Excavations at burial sites suggest that the area has been inhabited since the Iron Age (around 500 BCE). The Romans were here, too, witnessed by a number of graves and Roman coins that were found top the Kunkels Pass. The grave of an Alemannic warrior suggests that the area remained settled after the fall of the Roman empire. The first written sources mentioning Tamins date back to 1399. In 1540, the parish adopted the Reformation. The village was repeatedly devastated by fires, for instance in the years 1616 and 1631. In 1799, it was set ablaze during the French invasion. The last great fire occurred in 1905.

Reichenau

The name Reichenau goes back to the monastery of the same name at Lake Constance which purchased property in this area during the early Middle Ages. Reichenau Castle was probably built when the seat of the house of Schauenstein was moved to Reichenau in the early 17th century. Around 1755, the residential buildings and workshops in the castle were extended under supervision of Johann Anton Buol.

In 1793 Johann Baptista von Tscharner's educational institution called "Philanthropinum" moved to Reichenau Castle. Teachers like Johann Peter Nesemann and Johann Heinrich Zschokke made the school a renowned institution until its end in 1798. Even Louis-Philippe I, later king of France, thought at Reichenau Castle for some time, adopting the pseudonym "Monsieur Chabos". In 1820 the castle came into possession of the Planta family who gave it its current appearance. Especially noteworthy are the dining room and a small hall in the garden wing.

Kunkels Pass

A particular challenge for bikers is the Kunkels Pass leading to Tamina valley, itself part of the canton of St. Gallen. In old times the route was often used by smugglers trying to avoid tolls around Chur and elsewhere, but it was also an alternate route whenever the Rhine flooded or bridges spanning it had collapsed. 

Rhine gorge

Tamins is the gate to the fascinating world of the Rhine gorge at Ruinaulta. (For water sports, it's the destination!) It is one of the greatest and most diverse landscapes of the Alps. A wild gorge with a raging river, white cliffs and vast forests. Quiet lakes are filled as if by magic and rare birds breed in the forests along the river. Even orchids can be found in this little Paradise. The Ruinaulta is also easy to discover and explore on your own. In the forests and along the Rhine you will find a dense network of hiking trails, various cycling routes and beautiful rest areas. Three stations of the Rhaetian railway (Trin, Versam-Safien and Valendas-Sagogn) are located at either entrance and even in the middle of the Rhine gorge. Those wanting to get to know the Rhine gorge intimately can do so riding on the waves of the river. Ruinaulta offers one of Europe's most exciting routes for canoeing, kayaking and river rafting!

Domat/Ems lies at the beginning of the wide Chur Rhine valley, surrounded by wooded hills and high mountain ranges - a landscape in grand style. The location of Domat/Ems between small round hills, known as the «Tumas», is also distinctive. The «Tumas» are relics of past landslides that have shaped the lowlands around Domat/Ems. They were originally formed from harder debris that was not washed away by erosion. The distinctive talus slopes lean against the southern foot of the mountain; they jut out in the shape of a fan and roll in gentle slopes down to the plain. The «Tumas» are under conservation.

The Haldenhüttli is a small wooden pavilion on Schanfiggerstrasse, which leads from Chur to Arosa. The pavilion was built in 1879 by the Chur city association as part of the idea of turning Chur into a climatic health resort. It is also an observation point and retreat for lovers and offers a romantic view of the city to the southwest. The board with the panoramic map on the site helps visitors identify the surrounding peaks.

The Sura Alp - also known as Rhäzünser Alp - stands at 1760 metres above sea level above Rhäzüns. There are 1250 meters of altitude to overcome from the village to the alp. The panoramic view of the Vorab, the Tschingelhörner, the Ringelspitz, the Calanda, and the Rhine valley near Chur, as well as the Safier and Domleschg mountains make this climb well worth the effort. The Rhäzünser Alp can be reached via hiking trails or on rewarding mountain bike tour, which is sign posted by the official number 262.

The bikeshop for rental, sale & service for freeride-, downhill- and enduro bikes, directly nearby the station of the Chur gondola and Alpenbikepark.