Rueun brings together a route with a history of its own, historic religious buildings and trails through a natural and cultural landscape. The village is a district of the municipality of Ilanz/Glion in the canton of GraubĂĽnden; until the end of 2013, Rueun was an independent political municipality. The Polenweg and its memorials offer a different focus from the chapels and churches, while Minas da Gulatsch combines nature and culture through interactive stations and caves. You can tailor your stay to your interests without trying to fit every theme into a single outing.
The Polenweg and Punt da Rueun
The Polenweg runs along the Rhine from Ilanz to Tavanasa. Interned Polish soldiers built it between 1940 and 1945. At the western end of Plaun Grond, memorial plaques and a wayside shrine commemorate the route's history. The construction period and memorials give the route a clear historical connection.
Official Trail 905 follows the Polenweg and the old wooden bridge to Rueun. Punt da Rueun is a covered wooden bridge built in 1839; the construction contract was signed on December 28 of the same year. If you prefer cycling, you can start a cycling route in Rueun that follows the course of the former mountain race. It follows the Polenweg and crosses the bridge. This lets you include the same historical features in different tours: Trail 905 leads to Rueun, while the cycling route described here can start there.
Churches and chapels as traces of the past
The Catholic parish church of Sogn Andriu was first mentioned in a document around 831. Its tower dates from the 12th century and is Romanesque. The church itself is a Baroque building facing east, with a three-bay nave and a square, narrower choir. The dates refer to different aspects: the early documentary mention, the age of the tower and the architectural style of the church building.
The Catholic wayside chapel of Sontga Clau, also known as St. Nicholas, was built in the 18th century in the western part of the village. It was rebuilt at Rueun's western entrance in 1930 after the former chapel had to make way for the Waltensburg–Andiast connecting road. Its history therefore includes both the older chapel and its later reconstruction.
The chapel of Sogn Francestg, a Baroque building dating from 1642, stands on Panixerstrasse. Remnants of a painting from 1640 have been preserved on the choir vault and choir arch. The chapel of Sogn Antoni was built around 1690. Its wooden altar contains a signed painting of the Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua, dated 1694. Together, these buildings offer different ways to explore architecture and the history of religious art.
Landscape, adventure trail and winter tours
Rueun's territory extends on both sides of the Vorderrhein. It encompasses uninhabited woodland, the valley floor and mountain terrain rising to Fil da Rueun at 2,351 metres. Along the Vorderrhein lies Ogna da Pardiala, an area designated for floodplain protection, where rare plants and threatened and endangered animal species can be found. Numerous Maiensässe, or seasonal alpine farmsteads, lie above and north of Rueun. They were formerly used intensively on a seasonal basis as part of traditional alpine farming; some are now used for tourism.
The Minas da Gulatsch adventure trail leads through a natural and cultural landscape above Rueun. Interactive stations and caves make it an exploratory outing for families, nature lovers and little adventurers. The mine tunnels are home to a rare bat species, the horseshoe bat. To get there, take PostBus from Ilanz towards Pigniu on route 423 and get off at the Minas da Gulatsch stop. Check the timetable and trail conditions before setting off.
The Caglia picnic area is equipped with a drinking fountain, firewood, a grill grate and waste disposal facilities. Benches offer views of Rueun and the Vorderrhein valley floor. Seasonal restrictions may apply to the outdoor facilities.
As a separate winter option, the Fil da Rueun ski tour starts on the road between Rueun and Pigniu, by the chapel of Sogn Francestg. It crosses alpine meadows towards Alp Miez and the long ridge of Fil da Rueun. The same route can also be done as a snowshoe loop. Check winter trail conditions and avalanche restrictions before setting out.
When planning an overnight stay, it helps to first decide which activities matter most to you: for Minas da Gulatsch, the PostBus timetable from Ilanz is relevant; for the Fil da Rueun ski tour, check the winter trail conditions. This way, you can address the practical planning questions that best fit your chosen outing.
Discover more destinations: Flond, Valendas, Trun, Falera, Waltensburg, Breil-Brigels, Ruschein, Suraua
For the broader travel overview: Surselva.
