Chur, Graubünden

Why Chur matters

Chur sits in eastern Switzerland’s Graubünden canton, where routes from the Rhine valley meet roads towards major Alpine passes. Archaeological evidence reaches back to prehistory; the city has been inhabited since Roman antiquity and presents itself as Switzerland’s oldest city.

For visitors, its appeal is practical as well as historic: a compact old town, serious cultural landmarks and direct access to the Rhaetian Railway network fit comfortably around a rail itinerary.

The old town and cathedral

Start at the station and walk into the nearly traffic-free old town. Red wayfinding signs lead through narrow lanes, small squares and preserved historic buildings.

Make time for these stops:

• Arcas: a square framed by medieval house rows.
• St Martin’s Church: completed in 1492 and the Reformed town church since 1526; its south wall has three stained-glass windows by Augusto Giacometti.
• Episcopal Court and cathedral: above the old town, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption was built between 1150 and 1272. Look for Romanesque carvings, the Gothic sacrament house and Jacob Russ’s late-Gothic high altar.

The cathedral and court are the clearest expression of Chur’s long role as a bishop’s city.

Art, archaeology and the city fabric

The Bündner Kunstmuseum holds a major collection of art from Graubünden, including works by Alberto Giacometti. For a different strand of local history, seek out the Roman excavations, which display finds from the Roman period.

Chur is not a reconstructed historic set. Its streets connect Roman, ecclesiastical, guild and modern civic layers in a working cantonal capital. Allow a half-day for the old town if you want to include a museum; use a guided walk or the city e-guide if the architectural detail matters to you.

Rail hub and mountain access

Chur is the principal station of the Rhaetian Railway and a starting point for the Bernina Express to Tirano, Italy. The route uses the UNESCO-listed Albula and Bernina lines, passing the Landwasser Viaduct, high Bernina landscapes and the Brusio Circular Viaduct.

Train note: the Bernina Express requires both a valid ticket and a seat reservation. Regional trains run on the same wider rail corridor and are the useful alternative for a less structured journey. Carry a passport or identity card when continuing by train into Italy.

For an urban-to-mountain contrast, take the cableway from the city centre towards Brambrüesch, Chur’s local mountain and a 1,600-metre plateau with walking and cycling routes.

Getting around

The old town is best covered on foot. The station is the logical arrival point and the start of the signed historic-centre walk. Local public transport is included with the Chur Guest Card for overnight guests, but the Bernina and Glacier Express are excluded.