A late Gothic winged altarpiece dating from 1511 gives Churwalden a tangible cultural focal point. At the same time, experiences range from the monastery church and the Rabiosa river area to seasonal activities in Pradaschier. Different conditions are therefore important when planning: guided tours of the church are available on request, while the lift and weather-dependent attractions have their own seasonal and operating conditions. Travel by train and bus via Chur; check the timetable.
Valley, River and Heights
Churwalden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Churwaldnertal valley and is part of the Plessur region. The village is located eight kilometres south of the cantonal capital, Chur, on the pass road to Lenzerheide. The municipality covers two contrasting sections of the landscape in the valley, which is crossed by the Rabiosa. The terrain reaches the elevations listed here: 2,574 m above sea level at Stätzerhorn, 2,529 m at Fulhorn and 2,682 m at Parpaner Schwarzhorn.
Downstream, erosion of soft Bündner shale layers has carved a narrow, mostly pathless gorge along the Rabiosa. Below Araschgen, it flows into the Plessur at Meiersboden. The Plessur forms Churwalden’s northern boundary for just under two kilometres upstream as far as Steinbachtobel. The river, gorge and sections of the valley give the municipality a distinctive landscape.
Monastery Church and Art
The former monastery church of St. Mary and St. Michael is a nationally significant monument. The present-day church dates largely from around 1500, and its interior is late Gothic. Two magnificent late Gothic winged altarpieces are among its artistic highlights. One is dated to 1511, giving visitors a specific art-historical detail to look out for. Tours of the monastery church can be arranged on request through the Catholic parish office in Churwalden; arrange your visit in advance.
Seasonal Activities in Pradaschier
The Pradaschier ski area is about seven minutes from Churwalden by chairlift; the top station is at 1,740 m above sea level. The lift operates seasonally. The Arosa Lenzerheide ski area is also accessible from Churwalden. It has 225 kilometres of pistes; lift and piste availability is seasonal.
The Pradaschier toboggan run is over three kilometres long, has 31 bends and descends 480 metres. It is described as Switzerland’s longest toboggan run and is open in both summer and winter, although operations depend on the season and weather. The Pradaschier zipline can also be used in summer and winter. It is described as the first zipline in the Graubünden mountains; its operation may also depend on conditions.
More Activities and How to Get There
The heated outdoor swimming pool offers fun for the whole family and has a kiosk; it operates seasonally. Two hard courts at the tennis facility are located right next to the pool. The natural ice rink is free to use and lit in the evenings; use is subject to seasonal and weather conditions. Another highlight is the educational and demonstration power plant, where a tour explains how water is used to generate electricity. Group visits can be arranged by appointment.
The Churwalden tour starts at the Churwalden Tourist Office, passes through the alpine village of Pradaschier and returns to Churwalden along the Rabiosa stream. Route conditions may vary by season. To travel by public transport, take the train to Chur and then a PostautoGraubĂĽnden bus to Churwalden. The bus journey takes about 25 minutes; check timetables separately.
The valley also has its own culinary tradition: air-drying meat has a long history in the Churwaldnertal.
Discover more destinations: Parpan, Praden, Castiel, Chur, Molinis, Malix, Tschiertschen, Sankt Peter
See the overview of the wider region: Plessur.
