Rhine River - Hinterrhein Driving Tour

Beyond Clugin, on the right of the road, in the hamlet of Bad (Romansch Bogn), there is an alkaline chalybeate (iron-bearing) spring, the water of which is piped to Andeer. On the bridge over the Pignieuer Bach, which flows down from Piz Curvèr (2,976 m/9,764ft), is a 15th C. Latin inscription.

The road south from Reichenau, where the Vorderrhein and the Hinterrhein join, crosses the Hinterrhein and runs along a terrace above the left bank of the river to Bonaduz. From Bonaduz (660 m/2,165ft; pop. 1,000) a road goes off on the right via Versam to Ilanz and Disentis. Here a road goes off on the right via Versam to Ilanz and Disentis. The main road (signposted to Thusis) continues south on the terrace above the river. High up on the left can be seen the Late Romanesque chapel of St George, with fine wall-paintings of the 14th-15th C. and a Late Gothic carved altar (key at Rhäzuns station).

The new road (N 13) runs above Andeer in a wide curve, twice crossing the old road on bridges and passing below the village of Bärenburg (1,042 m/3,419ft). Through the trees can be seen the ruined castle of the same name; to the right is an artificial lake. The road then traverses a tunnel of some length and crosses the Averser Rhein to reach the junction, at Avers, with the old road coming up from Andeer on the right, which gives access to the Rolfa gorge and the Avers valley.

From Mathon the N 13 expressway continues south up the Hinterrhein valley, coming in 3km/2mi to the village of Clugin, on the left bank of the river (to right of road), with a picturesque little Romanesque church. 500 m/1,641ft southwest of the village are the ruins of Cagliatscha castle.

A rewarding excursion can be made into the beautiful high valley of the tumultuous Averser Rhein, which is divided into two parts by a narrow defile - the Romansch-speaking Val Ferrera and the German-speaking Averser Tal (Avers valley). It is reached on a good minor road (18km/11mi to Cresta) which branches off the old road to the Rofla gorge, passes under the expressway and then continues up the wild Val Ferrera, first on the left bank and then on the right bank. 3.5km/ 2mi up this road is Ausserferrera.