The Niggli houses, a historic village centre and trails through the mountain landscape define Praden. A settlement in the GraubĂĽnden municipality of Chur, it lies on the left side of the Schanfigg valley, about five kilometres as the crow flies southeast of Chur. Praden is a typical Walser mountain village: the settlement is built on the slope, around 400 metres above the Plessur River, and from here the view opens out across Chur and into the Schanfigg.
Village centre and local history
The church of Praden, the Old Schoolhouse and the Old Post Office together form the village centre; the church and schoolhouse stand side by side. The church was built in 1642 as a simple, east-facing building. Inside is a house organ from the 17th century. It is probably one of the oldest church organs in the canton of GraubĂĽnden still in use, and may even be the oldest.
The so-called Niggli houses are another expression of local character. They were built around the middle of the 19th century and feature decorative house sayings that are visible from afar. Place names also tell the story of the village: the settlement was mentioned in German as “Pradener” in 1488; in Romansh, “Prada” is the earlier name and remains in use today. In the village centre, architectural history and inherited place names thus come together in a compact area.
Hiking trails with varied routes
Tschiertschen and Praden share a signposted hiking trail network of around 70 kilometres. The routes differ not only in their landscapes but also in their courses. The trail between Tschiertschen and Praden crosses open meadows and passes through forests. Hikers and bikers share it and are asked to show consideration for one another.
The first stage of the Schanfigg High Trail runs from Oberer Grida via Usser Praden and Inner Praden to Tschiertschen. The described section of the Schanfigg Village Trail leads from Passugg via Praden to Lüen. It passes through meadows and forests, crosses ravines and goes past Maiensäss alpine huts, as well as through villages with characteristic timber houses built using the block construction technique. The trail offers hikers a taste of traditional, authentic village culture. The two routes therefore follow different paths: the high trail connects the named districts of Praden with Tschiertschen, while the village trail places Praden along the Passugg–Praden–Lüen route.
The “Praden – Joch – Parpan (13)” route follows the old Praden Alpine trail via Dürreggen to Untersäss, the lower level of Praden’s alpine pastures. At the upper level, it reaches the Joch viewpoint, which offers views of Chur and the Schanfigg. Above Praden, the Dürreggen picnic area is also located on a hill in a larch forest. It can be reached from Praden and Tschiertschen via hiking trails.
A separate path leads to the Praden mineral spring in a gorge, around 200 metres below the village in the direction of the Plessur. It winds downhill through the forest in a series of switchbacks. Following repairs, it is considered to be in good condition, apart from a few tree trunks lying across it. As trail conditions can change, check them before your visit.
Sound, village festival and getting there
In Ausserpraden, the interactive sound installation “Fernsein” (Far Away) commemorates those who emigrated. There, you can imitate the sound of ocean waves yourself. The Chriesisunntig is a village festival in Praden that takes place about every two years during cherry-ripening season. In Praden, the cherries do not ripen until the end of July. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the current event date.
To get to Praden, take the A13 to Chur and continue from there on the cantonal road. The PostBus runs between Chur and Praden; this makes it possible to travel part of the fourth stage of the Schanfigg Village Trail by public transport. Check the timetable for your journey.
Discover more destinations: Malix, LitzirĂĽti, Peist, Parpan, Tschiertschen, Pagig, Molinis, Churwalden
Return to the overview of the region: Plessur.
