Malans is a winegrowing village and former market town in the BĂĽndner Herrschaft. Winegrowing, architectural history and trails into the mountain region give the village its different facets. When choosing a destination, it helps to distinguish between these themes: some trail descriptions lead to Malans, while others start here and open up the mountain landscape beyond the village centre.
Winegrowing and Village History
Wine has been grown in Malans for more than a millennium; the village also has the oldest vineyards in the Bündner Herrschaft. Completer, also known as the Malanser vine, had almost died out and is now a rarity once again. Massive walls wind along the roads through the vineyards and into the village. Winegrowing and the settlement’s character thus come together in the village, rather than forming two separate themes.
The centre is home to numerous grand patrician houses dating from the period after the village fires of the 17th century. The Reformed parish church is a late Gothic village church and contains six marble epitaphs belonging to the Planta and Salis families. The houses, church and epitaphs point to different aspects of local history: rebuilding after the fires, the church’s architectural style and the two families named above.
The Baroque Bothmar Castle complex has a spacious, multi-part garden. Its core dates from the first half of the 16th century; its present form is the result of an expansion in the early 18th century. The complex is not open to the public. If you plan to view it from the outside, check access in advance.
Trails and Mountain Landscape
The route via Vilan and Valcaus leads to Malans along the Salis Trail. The trail explores the history of the poet Johann Gaudenz von Salis-Seewis. The Malans–Jenins Wine Trail has a different focus: it starts and ends at Malans railway station. The named routes thus differ in their themes and course. Check the conditions for each route before setting out.
The Malanser Älpli Route of Wonder begins with the Älplibahn cable car from Malans, passes the moor and the Sieben Brünnen area, and returns to Älpli. The Obersäss plateau above Malanser Älpli is home to a large, pristine fen of national importance. The Fläscher Seen lakes are outside the actual village centre and can be reached from Malanser Älpli via the ridge and Fläscher Alp. These destinations are therefore about the mountain landscape, not the village centre.
The wider surrounding area offers a landscape of its own: along the Alpine Rhine, gentle hills, green meadows and well-tended vineyards characterise the BĂĽndner Herrschaft. The region has a rich cultural past, and the surrounding villages are considered cohesive and authentic. Numerous wild orchids grow in the forest and near the forest in Malans itself. They are protected and should not be picked.
Getting Here
Malans can be reached directly by train. Additional bus connections are available via Landquart and Bad Ragaz. Check the timetable for your travel dates. This makes it possible to plan your journey without confusing train and bus connections with the separately described trails and mountain destinations.
Discover more destinations: Jenins, Mastrils, Fanas, Says, Untervaz, Maienfeld, Zizers, Igis.
For the higher-level travel overview: Landquart.
