Chur Attractions
Chur, capital of the Grisons canton and oldest town in Switzerland, has developed into a considerable intellectual and cultural attraction thanks to its excellent strategic situation at the end of some of the most important passes through the Alps and also its mild climate.
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Cathedral
This 12th to 13th C Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral displays a fine interior with a 15th C altar by Jakob Russ of Ravensburg.
Church of St Lucius
Above Chur's cathedral to the east are the former monastic church of St Lucius, with a round Carolingian crypt (eighth C.), a seminary for the training of priests and a theological college.
Old Town
Below the Bishop's Court is the Old Town of Chur, with interesting old buildings of the 15th-17th C.
19th C. horse-drawn carriages
In Chur's Romantik Hotel are Swiss horse-drawn carriages, harnesses and bells from the 19th C.
Benedikt Fontana Monument
Southeast of Chur's Postplatz is the Fontanaplatz, with a monument to Benedikt Fontana, leader of the men of Grisons in the Battle of the Calven gorge in 1499.
Bishop's Court
Chur is situated on the River Plessur, which here flows into the Rhine. It is dominated by the picturesque Bishop's Court (Bischöflicher Hof), an extensive group of buildings surrounding the Hofplatz, on the site of a Roman fort.
Chur-Brig-Zermatt-Gornergrat-Zermatt - Scenic Rail Trip
This scenic rail route features the beautiful Rhone Valley scenery, Oberalp Pass and Furka Tunnel.
Didaktische Ausstellung Urgeschichte
A hands-on exhibit of prehistoric tools and fossils.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
Guides
Audio-visual presentations available.
Fine Arts Museum
The museum consists of around 6000 works from all areas of fine art from the mid-18th century to the present day. Works by Swiss artists are featured including: Giovanni, Augusto and Alberto Giacometti, and also by Giovanni Segantini and Angelika Kauffmann.
All values are in Switzerland Francs
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 20:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
| Adult | CHF 7.00 |
| Concession or reduced rate | CHF 4.00 |
| Child 16 & under | FREE |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Municipal Theater
To the northeast of Chur's Natural History Museum is the Grossratsgebäude (Great Council Building), converted in 1958 from the old Armory, which also houses the Municipal Theatre (Stadttheater).
Regierungsplatz
In Chur's Regierungsplatz are the Vazerol monument, commemorating the union of the three Rhaetian leagues in 1471, and the Regierungsgebäude (Government Building), known as the "Graues Haus" (Gray House), with the cantonal chancery, the chamber in which the Little Council meets, the cantonal library and the state archives.
Rhaetian Museum
Located in a baroque house, this exhibition features the region's cultural history and folk art from the middle ages to the early 20th century plus antiques from the Mediterranean.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Pentecost Sunday (Whit Sunday) - Christian (May 27)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Pentecost Sunday (Whit Sunday) - Christian (May 27)
St Martin's Church
At the end of Chur's Reichsgasse St Martin's church (Protestant: originally eighth C., rebuilt in Late Gothic style 1476-91) has stained glass by A. Giacometti (1917). The fountain of the same name (1716), in front of the church, depicts a Roman soldier; it was erected in 1910 by A. Bianci as a copy of the original by F. Hundertpfund, which is lost.
Town Hall
In Chur's Reichsgasse is the Rathaus (Town Hall), built in 1465, with the Citizens' Council Chamber (1538: 17th C. tiled stove), and the Town Council Chamber (1494: collection of precious stones). The trapezoid roof and the cross vaulting of the Town Hall are of 16th C. origin.
Chur Surroundings
Bad Passugg
4.5km/3mi from Chur on the Lenzerheide road is Bad Passugg (alt. 780 m/2,559ft: Hotel Kurhaus), which has chalybeate (iron-bearing) springs in the Rabiosa gorge (drinking-fountain).
Calanda
From the south side of Chur a cableway ascends in two stages to Brambrüesch (1,600 m/5,250ft), from which there is a chairlift to the Dreibüdenstein (2,180 m/7,153ft): walks and climbs on Pizokel and up Calanda (2,806 m/9,206ft: wide views).
Tshiertschen (health resort)
From Bad Passugg drive via Praden (1,160 m/3,806ft) to the health resort of Tshiertschen (1,343 m/4,406ft: pop. 200; two ski-lifts). From here it is a two-hour climb to the Churer Joch (2,038 m/6,687ft) and a rewarding three-hour walk to Arosa (equally good in the reverse direction).
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