The Rose Hill looks back on a long and gloomy past: As early as the 14th century, the hill at the foot of the Pizokel was used - not for recreation, but as an execution site. In 1836 the gallows was dismantled. Soon after, the hill was to be given a new lease of life and it was opened and made accessible around 1850 as the first public landscape park. Where judges were once held, colorful flowers now bloom and a fountain bubbles peacefully at the place where the executions took place. Located just above the city, the park offers a beautiful panoramic view over Chur and the surrounding area.

Access
The Rosenhügel is accessible via the Malixerstrasse (between the Obertor roundabout and the Rosenhügel restaurant), once directly opposite the Rosenhügel restaurant and once halfway between the roundabout and the restaurant. 

Since November 2015, the square at the junction of Vazerolgasse and Storchengasse has been called Gigerplatz. This is in honour of Hans-Ruedi Giger (1940 - 2014), who was born at Storchengasse 17 and later achieved worldwide fame under his artist name HR Giger. Since the renaming of the square, a simple plaque at Giger's birthplace also commemorates the Oscar-winning creator of the alien monster.

In 2021, the Gigerplatz was upgraded with a new intervention on the initiative of the association "Pro HR Giger" and the city of Chur. The newly designed "Storchenbrunnen" fountain from 1880 is, along with the St. Martin fountain, the oldest, largely original natural stone fountain in Chur's old town. As part of the project, the fountain was framed with black natural stones and the HR Giger logo was embedded in the natural stone base plate on the front side. The highlight of this intervention, however, is in the bottom of the fountain. The impressive fountain with the large octagonal water basin received 21 aluminium plates on the bottom, which were cast with a finely chiselled "biomechanical" pattern according to the original casting pattern and now give the fountain a new dimension and make it the "Giger fountain". The same plates already adorn the Giger Bar in Chur West as well as the bar of the same name in the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg. The project is rounded off with a touch-screen console where visitors can find out about the life and work of HR Giger in five languages. News from the Pro HR Giger Association will also be regularly posted there.

A little more than 100 steps lead from the city to Hirschbühl. Located above the old town, the park invites you to linger and discover. The centrepiece of the complex is the so-called Temple of Gifts - a historic pavilion that was originally used to present the trophies of the Federal Shooting Festival of 1842.  It was rebuilt on the Hirschbühl, after it had previously stood elsewhere on the Rosenhügel and was finally restored. Right next to the Temple of Gifts, a terrace invites you to enjoy the view.  A maple tree provides shade on the square, the wall and benches invite you to linger. Also not far from the Temple of Offerings is a show garden with medicinal plants. From Hirschbühl you can continue on gravel paths to the historic park on the Rosenhügel.   Both on the Hirschbühl and on the Rosenhügel there are impressive views towards Surselva, Calanda and the city. 

The season on the Quader ice rink is over - we look forward to welcoming you again from 15 November 2025.

The Quader outdoor ice rink, with its romantic lighting and atmospheric music, is the winter meeting place in the heart of the city, just a two-minute walk from Chur railway station. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the fairy-tale ambience on the ice rink in front of the imposing Quader school building. A separate section is reserved for hockey enthusiasts, while the remaining area is open to people of all ages wishing to practise their ice-skating skills.

Khurer Gnusswaga
The "Khurer Gnusswaga" - Chur food stall - stands next to the Quader outdoor ice rink. The food stall offers homemade dishes for every appetite. A small heated tent next to the ice rink provides cosy warmth where you can enjoy your drink or meal. More information about the Khurer Gnusswaga 

Skating for wheelchair users
The Cerebral foundation has provided the city of Chur with a so-called "ice glider", a platform with its own blades that allows wheelchair users to access the ice. The gliders are designed to adapt to most common wheelchair models. The glider can be used free of charge. See flyer for images.

The Rheinauen in Rhäzüns are one of the last large natural riparian landscapes along the Rhine upstream of Lake Constance; they are among the most intact wetlands in Switzerland. The Hinterrhein rages unfettered between Rothenbrunnen and Reichenau. Each flood changed the course of the river; debris is deposited and transferred, new river islands and meanders are created. In the transition zone between water and land are the wetlands. This is where you'll find sandy beaches, clear groundwater ponds, barren gravel banks, and dense deciduous forests. You can discover an enormous variety of plants and animals in a very small area.

Fontana Park is set in the heart of Chur. It is the perfect place to escape the bustle of the city, to enjoy the atmosphere, or to read a book. In its present form, Fontana Park has reverted to the boundaries of the former Baroque garden from before 1860. With its refurbishment, the park has become a multi-purpose recreation area. The flower parterre in front of the old building still has its original length. Due to the lack of historical sources, the planting has been done in the contemporary style. Changing flower beds alternate side by side with boxwood beds, and potted plants complement the floral aspect.

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.

On a steep promontory over the Hinter Rhine lies the stately Rhäzüns castle (first documented 1288), which once guarded the passage into Domleschg valley. It is the first of a whole sequence of castles and fortresses lining the hills along the Hinter Rhine. During the Middle Ages, Rhäzuns castle was home to the powerful house of Rhäzüns. Today, it is owned by the Ems Group. 

Until today, many of the medieval elements of the building have been retained, especially in the main walls and the foundations. But its overall appearance dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The decoration of facades and interior give the castle significant historical, cultural and artistic importance and a unique character.

Rhäzüns castle is not open to the public.

The sparse ruins of Wackenau castle lie about 3 kilometres north-west of the village on a promontory above the Rhine. The ruin lies within 20 minutes walking distance from a car park west of Bonaduz. Just above the caste hill you can get a great view of Ruinaulta canyon from the panorama platform named after the castle.