Surselva - «above the forest» - Graubunden’s largest Romansch-speaking region. The wild gorge of the Vorderrhein is awe-inspiring - Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. Chur, the oldest town north of the Alps boasts the highest density of restaurants.

The starting point of the first stage is left up to the hiker: directly from the station or by bus to Meiersboden. The signposting to the Schanfigger Höhenweg begins at the St. Hilarienbrüggli. On the way, you pass the hotel management school in Passugg. The building of the former spa hotel is impressive. The Grida-Praden section of the trail is physically demanding, but the reward is wild and romantic passages in the Steinbachtobel. You then pass the village sawmill in Praden. Afterwards you can see the village church from the 17th century. Then you walk partly on the Churer Alpweg (before 1890) past the larch forest to Tschiertschen. In the village centre is the 15th-century church with exposed relics of late Gothic frescoes and a listed Toggenburg organ from 1820. If you still have energy left, visit Füxliweg. A special attraction is also the Tschiertscher Säge (saw), which is still operated by the water power of the Sagenbach stream.

Visit the Güdahof farm shop - with honey from the region, syrup and jams made from seasonal fruit or herbs from the farm garden, Filisurer ice cream and gift articles to complement the carefully compiled range. Bring a piece of your holiday home with you!

Traders, armies, kings and emperors all crossed the Alps via the Septimer route. Its advantages were the convenient location with a direct north-south link and ideal topographical conditions. Finds of lead slingshot on the Septimer bear witness to the fact that the Roman army made early use of the pass. Above all in the High Middle Ages, the Septimerpass was one of the most important trading routes and brought wealth to the Bishop of Chur. Today, one of Switzerland's most diverse cultural and long-distance hiking routes travels over what was once an arduous Alpine crossing. From Chur to Chiavenna in Italy, it gradually traces a chequered history and leads through three different cultural regions. The natural setting is just as varied. There is plenty to discover, the open space of the high plateau in the Surses, the rocky landscape at the head of the Septimerpass and the Mediterranean mountain valleys of Bergell and Valchiavenna.

The Via Sett is accessible from mid-June to mid-October, depending on weather conditions. The 93 km long long-distance hike from Chur (CH) to Chiavenna (IT) can be hiked in 6 or 7 daily stages. The average walking time per day is 4 - 7 hours, and the stages can be simplified by public transport.

Book Via Sett now at:

www.bike-explorer.ch/touren/hike/sett
BIKE EXPLORER
+41 81 356 22 44
info@bike-explorer.ch
www.bike-explorer.ch

64.01 Chur - Lenzerheide, ViaSett

64.02 Tiefencastel - Savognin, ViaSett

64.03 Savognin - Bivio, ViaSett

64.04 Bivio - Vicosoprano, ViaSett

64.05 Vicosoprano - Chiavenna, ViaSett

64.06 Vicosoprano - Chiavenna (I), ViaSett

Along the mountain road through Praden; Bärenschlucht canyon crossing and on down to Grida-Passugg. Natural pathway from the resort to the Plessurbrücke (bridge). Chur cathedral with two significant Jakob exhibitions and Martinskirchplatz town centre.

This trail from Brambrüesch to Feldis – or the other way around – leads over the gentle plateau with many vistas around the Dreibündenstein. At the stone monument of the former Three Leagues of Rhaetia, you can admire a 360-degree panorama extending from the town’s home mountains surrounding Chur, the Arosa and Lenzerheide, up to the Glarus Alps.

Well visible on the Ringelspitz, lying opposite and reaching up to the Flims Mountains (Segnes, Tschingelhörner) is the UNESCO World Heritage site «Tektonikarena Sardona» (Glarus thrust). In this area, processes of the formation of the Alps can be seen particularly well. The central element is the Glarus main thrust fault, which is as sharp as a blade in an area where older rocks were thrust over the younger material when the Alps formed. The panorama info board at the highest point of the hike (Furggabüel, 2174 m above sea level) provides information about the World Heritage site and all names and altitudes of the surrounding mountain peaks.

The descent leads along idyllic landscapes with snow-covered forests and Alp settlements to Mutta, where you can take a comfortable ride on the chairlift to Feldis. The terrace on the slope of the Stätzerhornkette is the northern-most location in the mountain villages of the Domleschg. Cozy restaurants with sun terraces can be found in Brambrüesch, Mutta, and Feldis for enjoyment and recreation.

This biking tour starts in Chur, a city surrounded by 937 Grisons mountain peaks. There are plenty of things to do and see here in Switzerland's oldest town. Wanting mountain magic or vibrant city life? Chur in the Alps has both. This is a round trip amid magnificent scenery and with gentle climbs and beautiful descents. Leave the pulsating city behind you as you continue along the Plessur towards Meiersboden. This pleasant route goes up to Passugg, where the famous Passugg mineral water has been bubbling out of the Theophil Spring for over 400 years. From Passugg follow the street upwards for a moment. Then turn right and follow the Polenweg to Churwalden. Turn left at the monastery and ride through the Chlosterwald to the Oberhus and then on to Spina. High above the municipality of Malix, the route continues steadily upwards until you get to the Brambrüesch plateau, the location of the mountain station for the Chur mountain railway. Here, several guesthouses offer you the opportunity to recharge your batteries while enjoying outstanding views of the many mountain peaks. The descent takes you through meadows and pastures to the Känzeli, Rosenhügel, Obertor and finally ends in the traffic free Oldtown (or if you prefer a proper trail descent, just follow one of the official freeride trails in the Alpenbikepark Chur). Perfect to finish the tour in one of the many terraces. In early summer this tour is magnificent due to its Alpine flora and fauna.

A view over Chur from the Rosenhügel. Through a cutting, over fields and meadows, to Domat/Ems - built around 7 hills. And along the Senda Sursilvana river to Tamins, where the Vorder and Hinterrhein meet. A visit to Rhäzüns and the famous Kirche Son Gieri with Jakobus display is well recommended.

The Schanfigg region is characterised by the two important towns of Chur and Arosa at the entrance and end of the valley. In between there are small and medium-sized villages that have retained their original character despite the tourist development in Arosa.

5 tips on the Schanfigger Höhenweg:

1. Tschiertschen: This picturesque village was voted the most beautiful mountain village in Graubünden.

2. Arosa: There is much to discover here; the Arosa Bärenland, the Eichhörnliweg (squirrel trail) or loosen up tired hiking legs in the cool waters of the Untersee lido.

3. Sapün and Heimeli mountain inn: The side valley of Sapün is one of the scenic highlights of this long-distance hike. With a bit of luck, you can observe wild animals from the terrace of the mountain inn.

4. Lake Grüensee in Fondei: Lake Grüensee on the Durannapass is too beautiful to simply walk past. Treat yourself to a break.

5. Hochwang: The section between Fondei and Hochwang is perfect as a photo subject: moorland landscapes, flower meadows, sun-baked wooden stables.

The individual Schanfigger stages are between three and six hours long. Since some of the stage locations are served by public transport, there are various options for getting on and off. This allows flexible tour planning to suit your own needs and ambitions.

Route 1: Chur - Tschiertschen

Route 2: Tschiertschen - Arosa

Route 3: Arosa - Sapün

Route 4: Sapün - Fondei

Route 5: Fondei - Hochwang

Route 6: Hochwang - Chur

Enjoy the tour as a multi-day stage hike. Let yourself be spoilt in the rustic "Bergbeizli" or enjoy a picnic in the middle of unique Alpine flora.

Overnight accommodation: in each case at the Etappe location.

Tschiertschen, Arosa, Berggasthaus Heimeli, Berggasthaus Strassberg or Casanna, Hochwanghütte, Chur.

Bahnhof Chur - Tschiertschen - Arosa - Sapün (Heimeli) - Strassberg - Hochwang - Maladers - Chur

The imposing castle ruins of Zignau and Schlans face each other on opposite sides of the gentle Surselva slopes, as if resembling a gateway to mark the beginning or end of this breathtaking bike tour. This tour quite simply has everything a biker could wish for.

An Alpine to high-Alpine route with numerous height metres, testing passes, breathtaking views, remote valleys and sensational trails. A gentle, simple meadow trail winds over the Durannapass, the ascent to the Strelapass is steep, rough and challenging and the Kunkelspass is romantic biking bliss. The top highlight is the seemingly unspectacular section between Filisur and Lenzerheide. This cave, meadow, forest, tunnel and reed-bed trail is great fun and will also give less experienced bikers a true biking tingle.

The technically and physically demanding route is recommended for experienced bikers and best travelled in high summer and early autumn.

Stages:

90.1 Trun–Laax
90.2 Laax–Untervaz
90.3 Untervaz–Küblis
90.4 Küblis–Langwies
90.5 Langwies–Davos
90.6 Davos–Bergün
90.7 Bergün–Lenzerheide
90.8 Lenzerheide–Thusis
90.9 Thusis–Safien Platz
90.10 Safien Platz–Lumbrein
90.11 Lumbrein–Trun

The starting point of this mountain bike tour is the village of Bonaduz, which together with Rhäzüns forms an actual high plateau. Bonaduz is also the gateway to the Rhine Gorge Natural Monument.

After crossing the idyllic forest landscape near Bonaduz on well-maintained forest paths, an ascent follows on a road with little traffic, which leads to Sigl'Ault with great views. This is soon followed by a single trail that leads smoothly down to the panoramic road above the Rhine Gorge. The "Ruinaulta", as the gorge is called in Romansh, is one of the most magnificent and diverse landscapes in the Alps, which was formed by a landslide 10,000 years ago. You follow this road with a magnificent view down below, past the "Zault" viewing platform (photo stop recommended), before finally diving back into the forests and driving back to Bonaduz on extensive forest paths.