At the Archaeological Park in Zizers, a ground plan marked out with metal strips in the ground illustrates the former royal court. Seating and three information boards invite you to explore. The town also offers church architecture, archaeological traces and vineyard trails with views of the Chur Rhine Valley. When choosing where to stay, it helps to decide in advance what you would most like to focus on: discovering architectural history, going for a gentle hike or taking in the landscape?
Location and getting there
Zizers is a municipality in the Swiss canton of GraubĂĽnden and belongs to the Landquart region. It lies on the right bank of the Rhine in the Grisons Rhine Valley, around 10 kilometres north of Chur. The municipal area stretches from the river, across a slope cut through by the SchlundrĂĽfi and ChessirĂĽfi mountain streams, to a ridge that forms the watershed with the Valzeina valley. To the southeast, the Cyprianspitz reaches the highest point at 1,774 metres. Zizers lies on a gentle slope, surrounded by mountains and wine-growing areas.
Zizers railway station is on the Rhätische Bahn line between Chur and Landquart, which runs every half hour. A PostBus service also runs from Landquart station to Zizers. Checking the timetable before your trip can help you plan your journey.
Archaeology and architectural history
Unique building remains dating from the 8th to 10th centuries have been investigated at Schlossbungert in the municipality of Zizers. They are associated with the royal court of Otto I, mentioned in written records. Measuring at least 25 Ă— 13 metres, one building is the second royal court in Switzerland to have been confirmed archaeologically. The Archaeological Park illustrates the former royal court with its marked ground plan, seating and three information boards.
The churches also tell the story of different building periods. The Catholic parish church of St. Peter and Paul was first mentioned in 955. The present church was built in the 15th century; the Rosary Chapel was added after 1686. The slender tower of the Protestant Church was raised in 1698. The choir and nave followed in 1711, when the church was extended.
Zizers Castle, a three-storey Baroque building, is bordered on three sides by arcades with massive columns; a park lies on the valley side. The octagonal tower with its domed roof forms the centre of the castle and is a landmark of the Zizers region. Friedau Castle played a different historical role: it was once the centre of the bishop’s lower court jurisdiction. Later, offenders from the Fünf Dörfer district were imprisoned there.
Vineyard trails and outdoor activities
The Wine Round Zizers is an easy circular hike through the vineyards and also forms part of the signposted wine trail that starts in Chur. Along the way, views stretch across the Chur Rhine Valley and the surrounding mountain landscape as far as the Calanda. The loop combines vineyards and scenic viewpoints without requiring you to tackle a longer stretch of the wine trail.
For a different kind of activity, there is the Zizers pump track: the asphalt circuit is 240 metres long and has 10 banked turns and 42 rollers. Right next to it is the «Föhrenwäldli» children’s playground, with an open fire pit, wooden tables with benches, play equipment, toilets and parking. The playground and its facilities can be used free of charge during the day when there is no snow.
Landscape and habitats
Zizers includes vineyards as well as slopes, mountain streams and mountainous landscapes. The educational biotope provides a habitat for species found in wetlands and dry sites, and is used for field trips and to inform people passing by. Another distinctive landscape feature is the Rappagugg-Tschalär vineyard zone. Its diverse structure can be seen in dry-stone walls, stone piles, individual trees and shrubs, hedges and scattered meadow plots.
Discover more destinations: Mastrils, Maienfeld, Jenins, Untervaz, Fanas, Landquart Fabriken, Malans, Says.
For the overview of the wider travel area: Landquart.
