Oberhalbstein Attractions

Beyond the Bivio a road climbs to the Julier pass, 2,284 m/7,494ft), with the stumps of two columns which probably belonged to a Roman shrine on the pass. To the right, is a small lake. The road now descends the rocky valley of the Ova, past Piz Julier (3,385 m/11,106ft), on the left, to a lookout with a magnificent view of the Bernina massif (4,049 m/13,285ft). It then continues down to Silvaplana, where it enters the Engadine.

The road from Mon climbs for 30km/19mi via the old village of Bergün (1,376 m/4,516ft) to the Albula pass (2,312 m/7,588ft).

The Rhätische Bahn railroad line winds its way across the romantic countryside between Bergün and Preda through tunnels and viaducts. In early 1985 a "railroad history walk" was opened with information boards at regular intervals.

In the highest part of the Oberhalbstein valley is Bivio (1,776 m/5,827ft; pop. 250), so called (Latin bivium, "roadfork") because a busy medieval road, now represented only by a bridle-path, branched off here and ran over the Septimer pass (Pass da Sett, 2,311 m/7,582ft). In Bivio four different languages are spoken: German, an Italian dialect from the Val Bregaglia, Ladin and the Surmeirian dialect.

Bivio is a town with numerous year-round outdoor activities available such as skiing, skating, snow boarding, fishing, hiking or hunting.

Cunter (1,182 m/3,878ft) is a beautifully situated village frequented both by summer visitors and by winter sports enthusiasts. From here a narrow road (8.5km/5mi) runs southwest via Riom up to Radons (1,864 m/6,116ft; also reached by cableway from Savognin), from which Piz Caquiel (2,970 m/9,745ft) can be climbed (four hours).

The road to the Julier pass runs up from the Albula pass to the limestone wall of Crap Sès, above which the next stage of the valley opens up - Oberhalbstein ("above the rock").

The road from Tinizong runs via Mulegns to the step above this, on which is Lai da Marmorera (1,680 m/5,512ft; parking), an artificial lake with a capacity of 60million cu. m/2,118million cu. ft. Further along the road, on the left, the new village of Marmorera replaces the old village which was submerged by the lake.

Up the Oberhalbstein valley from Savognin is Tinizong (1,232 m/4,042ft; pop. 360), on the site of the Roman station of Tinnetio. In the parish church (1647) is a carved altar (Late Gothic, 1512) by Jörg Kändel of Biberach in Swabia. At Rona (1,420 m/4,659ft) the road reaches the next "step" in the valley.