Cultural hike: Tschiertschen - Molinis

Who would have known that a station for the Arosa railway was once planned in Tschiertschen? The question of which route the planned railway from Chur to Arosa should take once stirred passions. In the end, the right valley side was chosen – the options via Tschiertschen or even via Lenzerheide were not used. So at the beginning of our hike, there is a post bus ride from Chur to Tschiertschen. We save the train ride with the Arosa railway for the return trip from Molinis.

From one valley side to the other

The starting point is Tschiertschen at 1340 m. The charming village with its wooden houses invites you to take a stroll. The view of the nearby mountains is enchanting as well. After Arosa, Tschiertschen is the second place in the Schanfigg with a long tourism tradition. The first guesthouses were run together with a farm. The men worked in the fields and stable, the women ran the guesthouse. The construction of the road (1887-94) and the first ski lift in 1952 made Tschiertschen a winter holiday resort. In the 1970s, the ski acrobats of Tschiertschen were well known.

But winter is long gone, which suits us quite well. From the southern end of the village, you follow the minor road to Molinis. It is purely a summer connection; the road is closed in winter. You keep looking back at the beautifully situated Tschiertschen, but the first stop is only at the "alte Sagi", a restored historic sawmill. It is powered by water from the Ruchtobel. Occasionally, there are demonstrations showing how wood was sawn in the past.

After another stretch along the road, the hiking trail branches off to "Gadenstett", a fairly common name meaning "meadow with a stable." Along your path through forest and pastures, you continuously have open views. "Uf Wald" is such an open area, or "Cania." Why not take a break here before the path becomes a bit rougher? On the move again, you circumvent the Canier Eggen, a narrow mountain ridge running north, and come to the Gross Bach, which flows down from the Ochsenalp. After thankfully only a short uphill stretch, you reach the clearing Zana (pronounced Zanà). Molinis, your destination, is already within reach from here. Directly above you is the broad Rungser Rüfi, which has deeply cut into the slope in recent years.

The Molinis Bahnhofstrasse

The bridge over the Plessur at Molinis is marked Bahnhofstrasse. You are on the right track. But as everywhere in Schanfigg, the train keeps a respectable distance from the village. You still have time, and besides, the train runs every hour. So you stroll through quiet Molinis, where there is quite a lot to see: the community center from 1996 that continues the timber construction tradition, the town hall with its open staircase, one of the few old stone buildings, or the small village pub. After refreshments, the ascent to the station is easier. The path there begins at the village brook in the upper part of the village and leads in a nice curve to the minor road and to the railway station.

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management

Visit to the village pub in Molinis

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management

should, once stirred passions. In the end, the right valley side was chosen – the options via Tschiertschen or even via Lenzerheide were not used. So at the beginning of our hike, there is a post bus ride from Chur to Tschiertschen. We save the train ride with the Arosa railway for the return trip from Molinis.

From one valley side to the other

The starting point is Tschiertschen at 1340 m. The charming village with its wooden houses invites you to take a stroll. The view of the nearby mountains is enchanting as well. After Arosa, Tschiertschen is the second place in the Schanfigg with a long tourism tradition. The first guesthouses were run together with a farm. The men worked in the fields and stable, the women ran the guesthouse. The construction of the road (1887-94) and the first ski lift in 1952 made Tschiertschen a winter holiday resort. In the 1970s, the ski acrobats of Tschiertschen were well known.

But winter is long gone, which suits us quite well. From the southern end of the village, you follow the minor road to Molinis. It is purely a summer connection; the road is closed in winter. You keep looking back at the beautifully situated Tschiertschen, but the first stop is only at the "alte Sagi", a restored historic sawmill. It is powered by water from the Ruchtobel. Occasionally, there are demonstrations showing how wood was sawn in the past.

After another stretch along the road, the hiking trail branches off to "Gadenstett", a fairly common name meaning "meadow with a stable." Along your path through forest and pastures, you continuously have open views. "Uf Wald" is such an open area, or "Cania." Why not take a break here before the path becomes a bit rougher? On the move again, you circumvent the Canier Eggen, a narrow mountain ridge running north, and come to the Gross Bach, which flows down from the Ochsenalp. After thankfully only a short uphill stretch, you reach the clearing Zana (pronounced Zanà). Molinis, your destination, is already within reach from here. Directly above you is the broad Rungser Rüfi, which has deeply cut into the slope in recent years.

The Molinis Bahnhofstrasse

The bridge over the Plessur at Molinis is marked Bahnhofstrasse. You are on the right track. But as everywhere in Schanfigg, the train keeps a respectable distance from the village. You still have time, and besides, the train runs every hour. So you stroll through quiet Molinis, where there is quite a lot to see: the community center from 1996 that continues the timber construction tradition, the town hall with its open staircase, one of the few old stone buildings, or the small village pub. After refreshments, the ascent to the station is easier. The path there begins at the village brook in the upper part of the village and leads in a nice curve to the minor road and to the railway station.

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management