Porta Romana

From Fluppi in Bad Ragaz, a historic path leads toward Pfäfers, passing through terraced terrain and the highest vineyards in Eastern Switzerland (up to 720 m), once cultivated by the monks of Pfäfers Monastery. This ancient trade route avoided the flood-prone Rhine Valley and continued south via the Kunkels Pass. The area’s name comes from the Roman fortification "Porta Romana." Along the way, up to six-meter-high dry stone walls line the old road. Restored with support from the Swiss Landscape Fund, these walls are built by aligning each stone according to magnetic polarity for long-lasting stability. Today, this forgotten natural paradise is home to over 200 plant species, lizards, rare butterflies, mosses, and valuable dry meadows.