Schluein is in the canton of Graubünden and belongs to the Surselva region. The church, castle and mills reflect different periods in the village’s history; hiking and cross-country skiing trails run through river, meadow and terrace landscapes. When planning your stay, it is useful to make a simple distinction: should cultural history be the main focus, or would you rather plan your trip around a particular route? This way, you can prioritise buildings and trails according to your own interests.
The Baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul
The present-day Church of St. Peter and Paul was built in the Baroque style between 1710 and 1716. Its interior is decorated with several murals and features five harmoniously coordinated wooden altars. It was placed under cantonal protection as a significant Baroque church. The extensive restoration lasted from 1978 to 1982; the church was consecrated on 5 July 1981. Anyone interested in sacred architecture will find specific features here: the Baroque style, the coordinated altar furnishings and the murals.
Löwenberg Castle and the history of the mills
Löwenberg Castle stands above the village of Schluein. The noble family of von Löwenberg died out as early as the 13th century. Guided tours of the castle are offered in German, Swiss German and Romansh. If you are planning a guided visit, you can take these three languages into account when choosing a tour.
Mulin Sura, the upper mill, is still standing. It was used to pound barley and millet, while the large grain mill has disappeared. Schluein’s traditional mills were still in active use during the Second World War as part of the “Plan Wahlen”. After 1945, they were replaced by Ilanz’s modern Neumühle mill. The castle and mills therefore represent different historical timelines: the noble family came to an end in the 13th century, while the mills were still in use during the Second World War.
Hikes with different routes
The hike from Ilanz via Schluein to Sagogn initially follows the Rhine as far as Schluein’s Erlenwald forest. It then leads from Schluein towards Sagogn along a scenic panoramic trail. The Falera–Valendas route has a different focus: it descends through meadows and fields to Schluein and continues from there to the Vorderrhein. After crossing the bridge, it follows the right bank of the river to Valendas railway station.
The difference between the two routes is clear: towards Sagogn, a panoramic trail follows the Erlenwald forest; towards Valendas, the route includes crossing the river and following the right bank to the station. This makes it possible to choose a hike according to its landscape sections and destination.
Platta Pussenta and cross-country skiing
The Platta Pussenta landscape is encircled by the settlements of the municipalities of Falera, Laax, Sagogn and Schluein. It includes forests, pastures, bushes, paths, meadows and fields. The Sagogn–Schluein cross-country ski trail runs through the terraced landscape, past golf greens and bunkers, and on to Schluein. It includes technically challenging descents as well as climbs. The activities also differ in this respect: on the hikes, the river, Erlenwald forest, meadows or panoramic trail shape the route; on the ski trail, the terraced landscape and its described technical profile are the defining features.
Discover more destinations: Sumvitg, Waltensburg, Sagens, Schnaus, Lumbrein, Rueun, Morissen, Medels Im Oberland.
Back to the main travel overview: Surselva.
