Domleschg Valley (Rothenbrunnen to Feldis)

The portion of the Hinterrhein tour through the Domleschg to Thusis is 11km/7mi. ( It is well worth the extra 1.5km/1mi). Just before the Rothenbrunnen railroad station the road forks and the road to the left crosses the Hinterrhein and comes to the village of Rothenbrunnen, under high rock walls, with the ruined castle of Ober-Juvalta. It has a chalybeate (iron-bearing) spring containing iodine (bottling plant).

Farther on, beyond the bridge over the Scheidbach (on right), is the large Ortenstein castle (754 m/2,474ft), with an early medieval keep and 15th C. domestic quarters.

350 m/1,148ft south is the ruined pilgrimage church of St Lawrence. 3km/2mi from the road junction a mountain road (not dust-free, with some steep gradients; in winter open only as far as Scheid) runs up on the left via the village of Tomils or Tumegl (800 m/2,625ft; Late Gothic church with an altarpiece of 1490 and 16th C. wall-paintings) and continues with many bends, through Unterscheid and Oberscheid to (8km/5mi northeast) Feldis or Veulden (1,472 m/4,830ft), a health resort in a sunny spot commanding extensive views (cableway from Rhäzuns).