Alvaschein is a village in the municipality of Albula/Alvra in the canton of Graubünden and belongs to the Albula district. Situated on a terrace high above the section of the Albula dammed to form the Solis reservoir, the village combines a well-preserved historic center with a striking relationship to the surrounding landscape. The villagescape of Alvaschein/Alvaschagn has been designated a “site of national importance.” This gives your travel plans a clear focus: church architecture and local history shape the village, complemented by its setting on the Albula and the reservoir. Until December 31, 2014, Alvaschein was an independent municipality; on January 1, 2015, it merged with Alvaneu, Brienz/Brinzauls, Mon, Stierva, Surava, and Tiefencastel to form the municipality of Albula/Alvra.
St. Peter Mistail and the Church Murals
The monastery church of St. Peter Mistail was built around 800 or slightly earlier and is the oldest and best-preserved example of the Raetian three-apsed hall church. Three apses define this type of building and give it its name. St. Peter stands on a rocky plateau above the dammed Albula, at the entrance to the Schin Gorge. The church preserves significant wall paintings in four layers. The frescoes and paintings visible today date from around 1400 and are believed to be by a local artist. The early building and the much later painted decoration therefore belong to different historical periods—a specific point of interest if you are interested in architecture and sacred art.
Planning your visit: A woodland path leads to St. Peter Mistail from a parking area near the main road at the turnoff to Alvaschein. Access conditions may vary seasonally, so check current accessibility before your visit. The lowest part of the Solis reservoir can be accessed via the power plant access road. If you plan to include this area, check the current access conditions in advance.
St. Joseph and Its Building History
St. Joseph in Alvaschein tells a different story of construction. At the initiative of the Capuchins, who were active in the Albula Valley at the time, the church was built as a filial church from 1653 to 1655. It was consecrated on June 28, 1663, by Bishop Ulrich VI de Mont, whose term of office lasted from 1661 to 1692. The church was dedicated to Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony of Padua. The construction years and the year of consecration mark two separate stages. The cruciform floor plan of the nave and the high altar dating from 1657, created by Giovanni Giuliano, offer specific insights into the building’s design and furnishings. Following a comprehensive restoration from 1971 to 1974, the church was placed under the protection of the Confederation and the canton.
A village house also features façade paintings by Hans Ardüser (1557–1614), created around 1600. Comparing it with the churches offers a different perspective on the villagescape: at Mistail, the focus is on church architecture and wall paintings, while in Alvaschein, the painted façade of a residential building adds another element. Sacred and secular design thus form two distinct themes in the village’s history.
The Albula and the Solis Viaduct
The Rhaetian Railway’s Solis Viaduct crosses the Albula at a dizzying height. As an engineering structure, it offers a different perspective from the churches and residential building. For travelers interested not only in sacred art but also in railway engineering and the relationship between the landscape and built structures, it adds another perspective to the cultural and historical themes.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Tinizong-Rona, Salouf, Marmorera, Bivio, Alvaneu, Lantsch/Lenz, Bergün, Mutten
Back to the main travel overview: Albula.
