Experience the best of Chur

Chur lies in the Rhine valley in eastern Switzerland, at the mouth of several Alpine valleys, and is the capital of Graubünden. People have lived here for several thousand years, and its car-free old town has cobbled lanes, painted fountains and a cathedral of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with a famous carved altar. The language of the region, Romansh, is still heard in the valleys around.

Narrow-gauge mountain railways begin at the station and climb to Arosa and St Moritz, the latter line running through a UNESCO World Heritage railway landscape. Cable cars rise to the Brambrüesch plateau above the town for walking and views. West of Chur, the Rhine has carved the gorge of the Ruinaulta. Maienfeld, the village of Heidi, and Liechtenstein are a short way to the north.

Bündnerfleisch, thin slices of air-dried beef, capuns, dumplings wrapped in chard leaves, and the sweet Engadine nut tart are the regional specialities. Alpine cheeses and hearty mountain stews warm the winter months. Skiers head for the nearby slopes from December, and summer walkers come for the high trails.