Domleschg castle trail

Medium

16.1 km

4:35 h

325 mhd

403 mhd

Show all 11 images

Hike to the many castles in the Domleschg valley.

Overview
Details
Description
Directions
Directions
Waypoints

Plan this tour

Technique

Fitness

Highest Point 805 m

Lowest Point 616 m

Best Season

Jan

Feb

Mär

Apr

Mai

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Okt

Nov

Dez

Start

Thusis, train station

Destination

Rothenbrunnen, train station

Coordinates

46.6982, 9.44034

Details

Description

The diverse and varied cultural landscape of Domleschg is characterized by high-stem orchards, hedges, dry stone walls, and especially by its castles and palaces, which the Domleschg castle trail is dedicated to. It is not intended as a castle educational path but simply as a varied hiking and walking route that leads through the Domleschg cultural landscape and points out the individual ruins, castles, and palaces that present themselves to the interested hiker along the way. The Domleschg castle trail runs through Domleschg between the Thusis and Rothenbrunnen train stations and can also be explored in stages and in combination with PostBus. Short portraits of 15 sites can be found in the handy MiniGuide folding brochure.

The Domleschg castle trail was initiated and implemented by the municipalities of Domleschg, Rothenbrunnen, Sils i.D., Thusis, and the city of Fürstenau in cooperation with Viamala Tourism and the Johann Martin von Planta Foundation based in Domleschg.

Note: Some of the castles, ruins, and palaces are privately owned and not publicly accessible. Here is an overview:

Publicly accessible:

Obertagstein Castle, Thusis

Hohen Rätien castle complex, Sils i.D. (admission adults CHF 5, children CHF 3)

Campi castle ruin, Sils i.D.

Hasensprung ruin, Rodels

Neu Sins ruin, Paspels

Alt Sins ruin, Paspels

Hochjuvalt ruin, Rothenbrunnen (public, rock summit however not accessible)

Private, not accessible:

Ehrenfels Castle, Sils i.D. (youth hostel)

Baldenstein Palace, Sils i.D.

Episcopal Palace, Fürstenau

Schauenstein Palace, Fürstenau

Rietberg Palace, Pratval

Sins Palace, Paspels

Ortenstein Palace, Tomils

Innerjuvalt Castle, Rothenbrunnen

Please do not enter the grounds of the private properties and only view them from the street or the path!

Hidden Gem

Treat yourself to a little refreshment and/or rest break at Lake Canova in Paspels.

Equipment

Weatherproof clothing recommended.

Directions

Thusis train station - Sils i.D. - Hohen Rätien castle complex - Ehrenfels Castle - old Sils i.D. train station - St. Cassian Chapel - Baldenstein Palace - Albula - Cumparduns - Albulasteg - Fürstenau - Planezzas - Klein Rietberg - Almens - Lake Canova - Paspels - Tomils - Mulegns - Rothenbrunnen - Rothenbrunnen train station

Directions

Public Transport

Thusis and the villages in Domleschg are accessible by PostBus. There are stations of the Rhaetian Railway in Thusis, Cazis, Rodels-Realta, and Rothenbrunnen. For further timetable information, please visit the SBB website: www.sbb.ch.

Travel Information

Take exit 22 Thusis South on the A13 and drive towards Thusis/Sils i.D.

Parking

You can find the various parking options in Thusis here. We recommend parking your vehicle at the Marktwiese parking lot.

Waypoints

Outdoor Pool Viamala

Badi Thusis

The Badi Thusis is located in the middle of an idyllic little wood on the north-eastern edge of the village, directly on the Hinterrhein.

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Info Point Viamala

Obertagstein

Living with a view – only for those without vertigo: On all sides, the rock head on which Tagstein Castle stands falls vertically.

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Restaurant Viamala

Guesthouse Post

The Gasthaus Post with Thai cuisine is located in the centre of the village of Sils i.D. and invites you to linger with its beautiful sun terrace.

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Info Point Viamala

Campi

It is beautifully situated, the ruin Campell, and that's where its name comes from: The name camp bel means beautiful field.

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Info Point Viamala

Baldenstein

Baldenstein Castle owes its name to its location on a spur high above the Albula. The name is derived from the Middle High German word bald (= bold, daring).

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Restaurant Viamala

Guesthouse Waldheim

Inn with traditional dishes from the kitchen and exquisite wines from the cellar.

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Fireplace and playground Allee Fürstenau

Fireplace Viamala

Fireplace Allee Fürstenau

The family-friendly barbecue area is located in a forest clearing near the Hinterrhein. The playground invites families to linger.

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Restaurant Viamala

Casa Caminada

The Casa Caminada restaurant in Fürstenau is entirely dedicated to Graubünden, the home of top chef Andreas Caminada.

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Museum Viamala

Stoffelhaus

Wall paintings from around 1400 have been preserved in the Stoffelhaus in Fürstenau, some of which depict a courtly hunting ceremony. In Graubünden, only Brandis Castle in Maienfeld and Rhäzüns Castle still have similar High Gothic secular paintings.

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Fireplace Viamala

Fireplace Canovasee Paspels

The fireplace is located by Lake Canova. This is an inviting place to swim in summer and is well over 20 degrees in summer.

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Lake Viamala

Lake Canova

In the Domleschg fruit and castle country lies the bathing lake "Canovasee", romantic and warm, reaching well over 20 degrees in the summer months.

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Restaurant Viamala

Restaurant Triangel

The Triangel restaurant is located in the Domleschger village of Paspels. Large windows, a terrace and a cosy lounge offer wonderful views of the picturesque landscape, ruins, castles and chapels.

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Bus Station Viamala

Thusis, Bahnhof

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Castle Viamala

Hohen Rätien castle complex

Neither a fortress nor a noble castle. What then? Hohen Rätien has been a mystery for centuries. Perched on a mighty rock high above the entrance to the Viamala Gorge is one of the oldest settlement sites in Switzerland that is still in use today - an extraordinary cultural asset in Graubünden with an eventful history dating back more than 4000 years.

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Castle Viamala

Ehrenfels Castle

Once a ruin - now a youth hostel for groups. With a breathtaking view of the Domleschg.

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Bus Station Viamala

Sils im Domleschg, Dorf

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Bus Station Viamala

Sils im Domleschg, Cumparduns

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Bus Station Viamala

Fürstenau, Fürstenaubruck

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Castle Viamala

Episcopal castle

The town walls of Fürstenau frame the episcopal castle.

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Castle Viamala

Castle Schauenstein

A place of history and good food: Schauenstein Castle is now a culinary stronghold thanks to 19-Gault-Millau-point chef Andreas Caminada.

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Bus Station Viamala

Fürstenau, Schloss

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Bus Station Viamala

Pratval, Dorf

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Ruin Viamala

Ruine Hasensprung

Built in the 13th century - destroyed during the Schams feud in 1415: an inconspicuous ruin on the edge of Pratval.

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Bus Station Viamala

Pratval, Rietberg

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Castle Viamala

Castle Rietberg

A thriller, as only history can write it!

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Ruin Viamala

Burgruine Neu Sins / Canova

A rarity in the valley of castles and palaces: the Neu Sins castle ruins are the only round tower far and wide.

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Bus Station Viamala

Paspels, Dorf

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Castle Viamala

Castle Sins

A castle with a changing face: Sins Castle in Paspels is just over 300 years old.

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Ruin Viamala

Burgruine Alt Sins

The ruins of the four-storey residential tower are a striking eye-catcher and a landmark of Paspels.

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Bus Station Viamala

Tumegl/Tomils, Curschiglias

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Castle Viamala

Castle Ortenstein

The largest castle complex in the valley of castles and palaces: the stately Ortenstein Castle below Tomils towers majestically over the Domleschg.

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Bus Station Viamala

Tumegl/Tomils, Mühle

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Bus Station Viamala

Rothenbrunnen, Giuvaulta

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Bus Station Viamala

Rothenbrunnen, Dorf

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Ruin Viamala

Ruine Hochjuvalt

Castle site with a distant view: only the western corner of the once five-storey tower still rises into the sky on a rock in the middle of the valley near Rothenbrunnen.

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Ruin Viamala

Porta Rhaetica

The defensive bastion is located at the entrance of the Domleschg, where the valley flanks almost touch each other. For seven centuries, this dam controlled transit traffic on its way to Splügen and the San Bernardino Pass.

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Bus Station Viamala

Rothenbrunnen, Abzw. Bahnhof

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Bus Station Viamala

Rothenbrunnen, Bahnhof

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