Welcome to the wild east where almost a thousand lakes and hundreds of valleys wait for you. This is the largest canton and home to the most spectacular mountain passes in the country. You find yourself in a land of ancient stone villages where the people speak Romansh. The landscape is massive and ranges from the deep Rhine Gorge to the high peaks of the Engadin.
The roads here are a dream for any driver. You can conquer the Julier, Albula and Flüela passes in one long journey. The Swiss National Park offers a look at a wilderness where nature is left entirely alone. You can visit the glamor of St. Moritz or the quiet stone streets of Guarda. The vibe is rugged and high altitude with a focus on the grand scale of the mountains.
This is a place for massive adventures and long days on the road. You can find thermal baths in Vals or explore the ancient monastery in Müstair. The air is crisp and the light in the high valleys is famous among artists. Graubünden is the king of the mountains. It's a world of discovery that could take a lifetime to see.
Graubünden (canton) highlights
- The Rhine Gorge Drive to the lookout to see the Swiss Grand Canyon where the river has cut deep into white limestone. The scale of the white cliffs and the blue water is massive.
- Bernina Express Route Follow the road that runs alongside the most beautiful railway line in the world over the high passes. The glacier views and the tight curves are amazing.
- Guarda Village Visit a perfectly preserved stone village where the houses are decorated with traditional scratch art patterns. It is the home of the famous Schellen Ursli story.
- Swiss National Park Explore the only national park in the country where nature is left entirely to its own devices. It is the best place to see marmots, eagles, and deer in the wild.
- Landwasser Viaduct Walk to the viewpoint to see a massive stone railway bridge that curves directly into a tunnel in a cliff. It is a masterpiece of engineering.
- St. Moritz Luxury Hub Drive to the most famous high altitude resort in the world to see the grand hotels and the frozen lake. The sun shines here almost three hundred days a year.
- Via Mala Gorge Walk down hundreds of stairs into a deep dark canyon where the road was once a treacherous path for traders. The sheer depth and the rushing water are haunting.
- Vals Thermal Baths Experience a modern architectural masterpiece made of local stone where you can soak in hot mineral water. The minimalist design is world famous and very relaxing.
- Albula Pass Navigate a winding mountain road that feels rugged and remote compared to the busier passes. The landscape of rocks and tiny lakes at the top is very atmospheric.
- Müstair Monastery Visit this church on the eastern border that features the world's best preserved early medieval murals. The quiet valley setting is peaceful and historic.
The local Four
History of Graubünden (canton)
This is the wild eastern frontier where three languages have lived side by side for centuries. The history begins with the Rhaetian people who lived in these deep gorges long before the Romans arrived to build the high mountain passes. For much of its history the region was a collection of independent mountain valleys that joined together for mutual protection against the empires of the north and south.
The history of the region is a story of the pass and the path. High mountain routes like the Bernina and the Splugen were the lifelines of the local economy used by pack mules to carry salt and wine across the Alps. This trade brought wealth to the stone villages where houses are decorated with patterns that look like delicate lace. It was a land of tough travelers and resilient farmers who thrived in a world of snow and stone.
In the late 1800s the discovery of the health benefits of high altitude air turned the region into the world most famous winter landscape. The glamor of St. Moritz drew the global elite but the heart of the province remained in the wild. The creation of a massive national park ensured that much of this wilderness would remain untouched. It is a story of the high and the deep where the road follows ancient trails through the roof of the world.