Arosa Attractions
The popular summer and winter resort of Arosa seems in a world of its own, lying as it does in a sheltered hollow in the high valley of the Schanfigg, surrounded by mountains, well away from the main traffic routes of the Grisons. The road from Chur, almost 1,200 m/3,937ft below, to Arosa is 30km/19mi long and has many bends; there is also a narrow-gauge railroad, opened in 1914, which takes just under an hour to reach the resort.
The first settlement in the Arosa valley, then accessible only by troublesome bridle-paths, was initiated about 1220 by the monasteries of Churwalden and Sankt Luzi in Chur, and soon afterwards the population was increased by some families brought in from the Valais by the Barons of Vaz. From 1320 to 1851 Arosa belonged to the parish and commune of Davos, but thereafter became an independent commune. In the 15th C. the village had a population of only 150. The little village church was built in 1490. In 1575 most of the mountain pastures were sold to the town of Chur, which still owns some land in the commune. By 1850 the population had fallen to no more than 50. In 1875, however, the post road from Chur to Langwies was constructed, and in 1890 it was extended to Arosa; in 1880 the Seehof hotel was built to provide accommodation for visitors. By the turn of the century Arosa had made a name for itself as a health resort, and in 1913 it ranked briefly as the leading resort in the Grisons. By 1930 the population had risen to 3,724. The first ski school was opened in 1933, and the first three cableways were constructed in 1939.
The first settlement in the Arosa valley, then accessible only by troublesome bridle-paths, was initiated about 1220 by the monasteries of Churwalden and Sankt Luzi in Chur, and soon afterwards the population was increased by some families brought in from the Valais by the Barons of Vaz. From 1320 to 1851 Arosa belonged to the parish and commune of Davos, but thereafter became an independent commune. In the 15th C. the village had a population of only 150. The little village church was built in 1490. In 1575 most of the mountain pastures were sold to the town of Chur, which still owns some land in the commune. By 1850 the population had fallen to no more than 50. In 1875, however, the post road from Chur to Langwies was constructed, and in 1890 it was extended to Arosa; in 1880 the Seehof hotel was built to provide accommodation for visitors. By the turn of the century Arosa had made a name for itself as a health resort, and in 1913 it ranked briefly as the leading resort in the Grisons. By 1930 the population had risen to 3,724. The first ski school was opened in 1933, and the first three cableways were constructed in 1939.
Cableways
Cableways from Arosa station to the Mittlere Hütte (2,013 m/6,605ft) and the Weisshorn (2,653 m/8,704ft; 15minutes, restaurant) and from the lower station "Am Wasser" (1,830 m/6,004ft) to the Hörnligrat (2,493 m/8,180ft; 15minutes; mountain hut, serviced).
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Maran
To the north of Arosa is the mountain village of Maran, a favorite objective of walkers, reached on the "Eichhörnliweg" (Squirrel's Path). There are easy mountain walks over the Strela pass to Davos and by way of the Aroser Weisshorn to the Parpaner Weisshorn.
Schanfigg Local Museum
The Schanfigg Local Museum in Arosa presents the history of iron-mining and winter sports.
Hours
June 17 to October 18
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
December 17 to April 18
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 | 14:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Townscape
With excellent facilities for walkers and climbers in summer and skiers in winter, provision for a great variety of sports and more than 150km/93mi of footpaths, Arosa has developed into a leading resort.
Other features of interest are the Late Gothic church (1493) in Inner-Arosa and in summer a miniature railroad operates at the Arosa Kulm Hotel.
Arosa is an attractive town, with hotels dispersed about the beautiful sheltered valley and numerous small lakes. The tree-line passes through the resort, so that the skiing areas are almost completely open. The road from Chur runs from the Obersee (Upper Lake, 1,740 m/5,709ft; rowing boats), beside the railroad station, above the Untersee (Lower Lake 1,694 m/5,558ft, in a charming wooded setting, past the Kursaal and up above the tree-line to the Alpine meadows of Inner-Arosa, sloping gently uphill. Driving is prohibited in the town after dark.
Other features of interest are the Late Gothic church (1493) in Inner-Arosa and in summer a miniature railroad operates at the Arosa Kulm Hotel.
Arosa is an attractive town, with hotels dispersed about the beautiful sheltered valley and numerous small lakes. The tree-line passes through the resort, so that the skiing areas are almost completely open. The road from Chur runs from the Obersee (Upper Lake, 1,740 m/5,709ft; rowing boats), beside the railroad station, above the Untersee (Lower Lake 1,694 m/5,558ft, in a charming wooded setting, past the Kursaal and up above the tree-line to the Alpine meadows of Inner-Arosa, sloping gently uphill. Driving is prohibited in the town after dark.
Winter sports
For winter sports lovers Arosa offers natural and artificial ice rinks (curling); toboggan run; cross-country skiing; ski-bob runs; ski-lifts on Tschuggen, Plattenhorn (2,318 m/7,605ft), Hörnli, Carmenna (2,177 m/7,143ft) and Alp Prätschli. The most popular ski runs are on the Weisshorn (2,657 m/8,718ft), Brüggerhorn (2,429 m/7,970ft; chairlift) and Hörnli (2,497 m/8,193ft); on all three are serviced ski huts.
A quiet, family-style resort, Arosa in the eastern canton of Graubünden is made for beginners and intermediates because of its long, wide runs. A real plus for families is that all the lifts and restaurants are within easy walking distance of the hotels.
A quiet, family-style resort, Arosa in the eastern canton of Graubünden is made for beginners and intermediates because of its long, wide runs. A real plus for families is that all the lifts and restaurants are within easy walking distance of the hotels.
